Year: 1868

found that the executive was the only Off
Ger on the boat that knew anything of his


duty. The Captain of the boat ranked en-.
sign commanding, and was superannua-


ted preacher! and with the exception of


the executive the rest were clerks, fresh
from the band-box, and knew positively
nothing; and not one of our officers had
ever seen service where gunpowder was


used. The crew were nearly all veterans,
| and about half were skedaddlers from the
Confederate army, but like my partner and
] they had no visible means Of support,


and no employment, as the whole country
was, dangerously afflicted with war on the


brain.
After getting our guns on board con-


sisting of two 80 lb. riAed Parrots, and six


24 lb. brass howitzers, and our ammuni-
ton, we started for Cairo, to report to the
Admiral. On the first day out the Cap
tain mustered the crew and rated his petty
officers; he then preached homily on


morality, making it high crime and mis-


demeanor to drink, taste, smell, or snug
gle, spirituous liquors on his boat, and
called on his officers to support him; but
in less than two hours after, his steward
snuggled me a>good glass of cognac from
his private stores, and told me whenever l


became seriously sick he would most fra


ternally "tap the cask" again for me, as


he Thought the ration too large for one


man for q. year. e'ge ''iii '1 ai..si-i gsi
On arriving at Cairo we were inspected


and dispatched down the Mississippi, to


patrol Che river, between Memphis and
Vicksburg. Now the whole Mississippi
feet were stretched out on this river and
its tributaries for the laudable purpose of
| protecting the nop-aggressive citizens, as


the whole country was infested with bands
Of skedaddlers from the Confederate army,
who were levying black mail on every one.
On arriving at our station we were in,
formed that band of those brave soldiers


had captured, ,plundered and sunk, gov
ernment transport Of sick soldiers return


ing home. We got under weigh and pro-


ceeded to where she was sunk, and found
her on the Arkansas side, run ashore, but


no sign Of men on board A masters


mate, very pious grocery clerk, was sent


ashore with an armed party Of twelve men,
to get what information he could and to


search a planters residence which lay i'm


mediately back of the levee, and if any


arms were found to arrest and bring aboard


all white men on the premises. I, being


one Of the crew, was detailed with two


others to deploy and feel the way to guard


against ambush. So, having the centre,
| was the first over the levee, and seeing q


negro coming toward me, l asked, him if
there were any white men at the house.
He answered Yes. Marsa at home" I


told him 10 run like turkey, and tell him


we were going TO search for guns, and he


put out for the house. Finding the coast
all clear, We halted for the line to come


up, and l reported one scared negro. The


valiant masters mate stationed us around


the premises, and taking us three, enter
ed and told the planter Ca very aged man)


that he would like some information of the


sinking Of that steamer. The old gent


told him he knew nothing of it, only that


he was awakened in the night by some one


knocking at his door, and on going to see
who it was, he saw four men, one of whom


ordered him to get them some breakfast,


and after doing SO they filled their hayer"
| sacks and told him he might take his pay


out of the steamers load laying at his Ian


ding, but If she was not burnt before ~


o'clock, they would burn him, and left


The mate then told him his Instructions


were to search for arms, and commenced


by searching him, and found very small


silver mounted four-barrel pocket pistol,


which he appropriated We then search-


ed the house and finding nothing DANGER


GUS We went on board taking the planterl


with US. He was asked if he had taken


the oath of allegiance, and answered in the


negative, saying he did not require it, as


he was not much Of a beligerent. He was
sent ashore, and a boats Grew were detail-


ed to 60 and kill as good. beef as could


be found, for, the crew needed fresh pro-
visions, and to get all the vegetables pos
sible. And the Captain told the planter
to present his bill to the Quartermaster


General. As I never volunteer my SER


vices, and was not detailed, know moth


ing of what passed ashore, but the officer


brought off a magnificent violin with him.
VOLUNTEER,