^ i J I "~7 ^ * THE GREAT REBELLION. ■■Gather iiij the fragments tliat luilhing be lost." iXOTES OF CONVERSATIONS A VOLUKTEEIf OFFICEK IX THE UXITEJ) STATES XAVY, ON '^orkawt C »T^w [oT' THE PASSAGE OF THE FORTS BELOW NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 24th, 1862, AM) OTIIKU POIXTS OF SKKVICE ON THE MISSISSIPI'I JUVEM DUHING THAT YEAR. ^Stj Asht^-r i^t^loT i.B8 OP V^ASH'.H • ilcuT t-Tarh: ...^ 1868. > ONLY lOO COPIES PRINTED. I; coy /f 5 wVjlv.L^ -^ F K A Nil* A 1. O U T K K I. r i: I N T . Captain Goriiam Coffin Taylor, of the city <.f Now York, received tlie appointment of Volunteer Master's Mate in tlu^ U. S. Nav}-, in tlic forepart of jVovember, 1 SG'i . lie ininiediately proceeded, under oiders, to Wash- ington, and i-eported at the Navy Yard tlier(>, and was phaced, together witli a Jiuniber of others— Captains, Mates and Second Mates, volunteers from the merchant service— under in- struction in tli(^ pecidiar duties of tlie luivy — " The lore of tlir bold aiul the Itravr." An (experience of ten years at sea as hoy, seaman, mate and captain, had given him all the (pialiiication in practical seamanship, and sailor- craft generally, that could he de- sired. In December h(^ was ordered to riiiladelphia, and attached to the l^ciold, gnn-hoat. The United States gunboat Sciofa, a steamer, schooner rigged, of five hundred tons burthen, was a formid- able vessel of her class, carrying a 20-pounder Parrott riile on her top-gallant forecastle ; an Xl-inch Dahlgren on a pivot amidship, and two 24-X3onnder brass howitzers on her quarters ; a third howitzer was added after her arriv- al in the Gulf. She was built and fitted awa}^ at Philadelphia; whence she sailed on the 17th of December, 1861, under command of Lieut. -Com'g Ed- waedDoxaldsox, th(> oldest lieutenant in the nav3^, to join the "AYestern Gulf Squa- dron " at its rendezvous at Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico ; she arrived out on the 8th January, 18C'2. In a short time Captain Daa'id (^ Fakragut hoisted his "Flag" as Commander-in-Chief of the naval forces destined for the reduction of Xew Orleans, and the opening of the Mississij)pi above that point. Marvelous stories were circulated of the tremendous ob- stacles to be encountered ; mighty iron-clad rams of novel con- struction, and other vessels of great power, vauntingly pro- claimed by the "Rebs" and their friends to be impregnable and irresistible ; Fort Jackson, on the west side of the river, mounting nearlv a hundred guns of most formidable character ; Fort St. Philip, ()i)p()sit(> ; and, in addition, an enormous cliain stretched across the river, borne on hulks, at a point to ob- struct the passage, under the guns of the Fort : all combining to present a resistance appearing to many as im2)0ssible to be overcome by any forces that the Government would be able to pi-esent against it. By the forepart of April tlie Sciota, with most of the vessels of Flag-officer Faeragut's Sciuadron, had entered the river, and were lying at the "head of the passes," whilst the last touches of preparation for the approaching great conflict were given ; amongst which, the trilling incident of the Sclofa being- sent out to. Isle au Breton, one of the sand kej's just outside of the river, conveying a schooner for a load of beach sand, to strew on the decks of the vessels in action, to jirevent them Irom being splashy and slix)pery with blood, was latlier sug- gestive, the boys, who had never been in action, thought, of the ""raw-head and bloody-bones'' kind of work before them. AVliilst the attack on the forts was impending, the fleet was visited by the commanders and other officers of the English and French war vessels lying in the river, and who had been up to the city and observed the measures for defence ; and it Avas stated that they were all very emphatic in expressing their opinions that the attempt to silence or pass the forts must prove a failure, involving the defeat and probable destruction of the fleet. Doubtless "the wish was father to the thought,'' for old Cockney Johnny, the old thief, and Johnny Crapeau, too— "and be cursed to them!"— were both open!}- in symimtliy and fraternity with the Jolinny liebs. 8 The MoKTAK Flkkt. of twenty vessels, t(H)k ]u)siti()iis at laiigvs of n mile and a lialf to over two iiiili^s fiOoO to 3G80 yards) from the Forts, and in dne time o})ened on tliem, and kcjit up a continual i\vo for live or six days and niiilits. with cftocts tliat have never l)een surpassed, if equalled, in any former or uiodern gunner}'. The xSV/fVr?, with the Flag'-offieev and a nnnibcn- of other bif/ wi(/s, including the General commanding the co-operating mili- tary force, and some of the principal wise ones of his staff, on board, M'as several times ])ushed up, scouting, toward the forts to reconnoitre, and see how things looked, and diaw their tire, to judge of the powers and i-ange of their artillery. The boys were not a little amused at the effects on the different members of the quarter-deck part}', of the approach of an occasional well-directed shot from Johnny Eeb ; whilst the old bull-dog, the Flag-officer, Avith glass in hand, stood on the horse-block, bolt upright, staunch and immovable as the stunqi of the maimnast, with a — "There comes one ! — then^ ! ! — there!!!'' And, as tlie shot fell into the water, ''Ah, too short; finely lined, tho'I" — the doughty General, and the greeney^ of his ''fail," -ducked and bobbed, and dodged in a manner to greatly excite the merrnnent of the '"blue jackets"* forward. Sailors have, g(>nerally, a quick eye for the ridiculous, in what- ever passes within thinr notice, especially with those raidving over them. The R(d)s w(>re very active in the employment of eveiy means of annoyance — sending down, almost nightly, fire hulks and immense rafts piled u]) Avith bhizing combustibles, which kept tlio wliole fleet on tlie alert in figliting tliem off. One night a very formidable raft was coming clown, and a gun-boat, just ahead of the Sclota, hove up her anchor to run clear of it, the current, getting a sheer on her, carried her down on to the f>ciof(f, and started Iter anchors, and the two fell athwart the hawse of one of the frigates (the Mississippi) when the raft struck them, and caused, for a few moments, much excitement in all three of the vessels. They succeeded, however, by great exertions, in slioving it off, with some damage by fire to the head-gear of the Sciota; and before she could get disentangled and out of the scrape, she lost her mainmast. Her foremast was subsequently knocked out of her in one of her engage- ments up the river, and she performed her work, during the latter part of the summer, entirely hare of poles. The formidable rebel chain was most gallantly and adroitly unshackled or cut, under the cover of night, and an openino- made in it sufficient for the vessels to pass through, j)revious to the movement of the fleet up to the attack. All things being in readhiess, and the "bomb fleet" having been for several days incessantly " j)um2:)ing thunder" into the devoted forts, the morning of the 24th of April had been ap- pointed for the decisive movement ; and accordingly, all hands were turned up, at the aj^pearance of the Flag-officer's "two red lights" just after midnight, responding to the summons on board our ship, and, in fact, throughout the fleet, with great spirit and alacrity, all in high glee and eager for the fray. The morning was dark ; a heavy damji mist hung over the 10 Avater, Some two or three liours were spent in '• backing and tilling "^ — ^-awing about — getting tlie vessels into their respective positions. After the iirst excitement of the "rattle nj) " was over— time 'hanging lieavv with them — Taylor and another steerage officer went below and played dominoes for pastime (that being the highest grade of "sport" allowed in a man-of- war), until "all hands to quarters" was called, when, stretch- ing their limbs, and shaking off their languor, they budded on their swords, with revolvers on the belts, and rushed to the deck and took position at theu- several divisions : young "VYoodttaed, an embryo Acting Middy, having the rifle on the forecastle ; Foster, Acting Master, the Xl-inch Dahlgren amidships ; Taylor, the three howitzers on the quarters ; and McFarl vxd, Sailing Master, at the con. The fleet moved oti gallantly, in two lines, up to the work — the Sci'ota, being Ko. 1 of the gunboats, leading the second division of gunboats, in support of the flrst division of shii^s (the port column), led by the Commander-in-Chief in the Ilcirtford.'^ Large fires were built on the shores by the Rebs, to light up the river and expose the vessels to view from the forts and bat- teries, and as they came within range they were opened upon with a tremendous cannonade. Meanwhile, the bomb vessels kept pouring into the forts a perfect torrent of their terrific mis- siles ; Taylor counted thirteen shells in the air at one time, all speeding, screaming, at the devoted objects of the attack. The river was full of rebel vessels — gunboats, fire-ships and fire- lafts drifting down, giving the appearance of a sea of flame, into the midst of which the fleet was pushing, and. altogether, ••• "The i-.car eld ILa-fford r—^h<: YxmwGiT. 11 presenting a scene awfull}' tenil)le, and grand be.yond de- scription. Captain Pouter, coinmandlug tlie Mortar Fleet, in a dis- patcli to tlie Secretary of tlie 'Navy, written the next day, bL- fore he liad heard from above of the resnlt of the movement, remarks : "The sight of this night attack was awfully grand. Tli- "river was lit up by rafts tilled with pine-knots, and the " ships seemed to be literally fighting in an ocean of flame and ' ' smoke. "I am in hopes the ships above fared as well as we did, "though amid snch a terrible fire. It was gratifying to see "that not a ship w\avered, but stood steadily on her course; " and I am in hopes (and I see no reason to doubt it) that they " now have possession of New Orleans." The prescribed order for the movement of the vessels was disregarded after passing throngh the opening in the chain ; each one, as she got throngh, pushed on at the top of her speed, and engaged the forts and the Reb gunboats as she encountered them. Of the five ships and twelve gunboats composing the fleet, the Sclota was the fourth one to attack the forts and pass them ; the ^%r^ma, and another gunboat (both very fast), and one of the large ships, preceded her. The action soon became o-eneral; the Sclota opened from her whole batteries, Avhich were served with vigor and spirit, aiming, in the darkness, at the flashes from the forts. Taylor took position on the after V2 liatch vtlie ward-room sky-liglit \ so as to liave a good oversiglit (^f liis tliree guns, two of wliicli were trained to port on Fort Jackson, and the third to starboard on St. Phillip, and direct- ing and cheering on his men to their utmost eftbrts of activity. The lire from the heavy ordnance of the forts was tremeudons, and tremendously was it responded to by the fleet. It was estimated that the lire from both sides— the fleet, the forts, the rebel vessels, and the batteries on the shore — numbered six hundred guns within a square mile, and worked with a rapidity unparalleled in previous times. Well did Flag-officer Fakka- GVT say. in his flrst letter to the Secretary of the Xavy. '• Suc7( aiin\ I imar/ine, tlie world 7ias rarehj seen .'" On the Scioto., every man. although but few of them had ever been under Are, evinced the utmost unqualifled bravery, and to a degree that was truly remarkable : all was glee and jollity with them — cheering, shoutmg. and joking at every incident. And when a shot would come crashmg through the bulwarks, or sides of the vessel, the inquiry was general, and with deep interest, ''Who's hitf "Who's hurt r' Xo one concerned for himself, but all anxious about their shipmates ; in fact, not a man was wanting, in the slightest degree, in the highest qualitication of " a biave Yankee tar I" Just alter the Sciofa had passed the front of Fort Jackson, and still within range of the Are from its heavy guns, a large rebel armed steamer, the Besolufe, came near her ; and, as soon as discovered in the darkness and smoke, the Sciofa was training her batteries on her, they called out from her, ''Don't Are, for God's sake!— we surrender!" The Fleet Captain, who commanded a division of the gunboats, was. Avith liis pennant 18 (his divisional "Hag"'), on tlio Sclota, and directed the First Lieutenant to send a boat to board her. A cutter was "Called awa}'," and Taylor — whose position with his Howitzer Divi- sion on the quarter-deck, being close to the Lieutenant — hear- ing the order of the Fleet Captain, turned to tlie Lieutenant and asked if he might go in the boat. The Li/^f' seemed startled at the reckless daring of the request, and answered, " Wh}'— a— yes — if you w/s7i to!''^ Taylou ordered the cutter down, and as he spraiig into it, called on his division for volunteers, when all his men tumbled forward in a moment to the gangway, and many of them into the boat. He selected six, and sent the others back to their guns; and with his six "armed up" with cutlass and revolvers, he pushed off in search of the prize, which had drifted by, down into the fog and smoke, out of sio'lit. The file on all sides was terrific, but they "gave way, with a will," and after pulling half a mile or more, dodging about anudst the terrible fire, and through the crowd of vessels, of both sides, that seemed to fill the river, found their customer, with his head run into the mud, and aground on the bank of the river, just above Fort Jackson ; they ran alongside, and she being high up out of water, and no chain-plates or projec- tions of any kind to hang on to, it was a problem, for a mo- ment, how to get on board of her ; which, however, was soon solved by several of his men taking Taylok by the feet and raising him square up, and fairly tossing him on to the deck of the rebel, where a scene of carnage and suffering met his e^^e, such as he had never before witnessed. The Resolute, just be- fore encountering the Sclota, had received smashing broadsides from one of the large ships as she passed her, which had ter- ribh' cut up and almost annihilated her ci'ew ; upwards of a 14 liundred of them lay in lieaps, dead and wounded, and some mangled liorriblr. Two of Taylor's crew followed liim to the deck of the rebel, and, pistol in hand, '' stood "by him." On inquiring for the commanding officer, the Second Lieutenant, who met him at the side of the vessel, informed him that the Captain was up on the hoiler-deck, mortally wounded, and that the First Lieutenant was in command; Taylor then required to be conducted to the commanding Lieutenant, and proceeded, flanked "by his faithful supporters, to the upper deck, wliere the Lieutenant was in attendance on the dying Captain. As he ap- proached them, the Lieutenant came forward to meet him, and, drawing his sword, tendered it, saying, "/ surrender tlie sliij? to you, sir /^^ Taylor received the sword, and extending his hand to the lieutenant shook hands with him, and held a few minutes' conversation on the condition of the ship and of the crew. Whilst they stood talking togethei', a beautiful bright-eyed boy, of some ten or twelve j'ears, approached them ; the Lieutenant said he was the Ca]3tain' s soil, called him Eugene, and told him they were all prisoners. Taylor, finding the vessel hard aground, and impossible to be moved, turned to the Lieutenant, and the Second Lieutenant, who had joined them, saying, "Gentlemen, you will please get into the boat and go Avitli me, I have no time to spare;" and also told Eugene that he, too, must get into the boat, designing to protect and take care of him amidst the confusion. The little fellow straightened himself up, and replied, '' jYo, sir.' I will stay Avith my father ; he is wounded, and I am going to stay with liimaslongas he lives." Taylor was surprised and amused at the spirited and saucy air, and yet feeling manner in which he was ansvrc^red, and told the bo}' that he was a tine fellow 15 —"a brick''— and might remain with liis father, and must do everything in his power for liis comfort. As they moved forward toward th.4r boat, they had to pick their' steps among the dead and dying and wounded ; and as he stepped over a poor fellow, terribly mangled, who moaned out, "Oh, for Clod's sake, give me some-Avater !" Taylor called out, with the instinctive tone of authority, "For'ardtherel" and receiving from half a dozen the accus- tomed "xiye, aye, sir," he continued, "Some of you bring some water for this poor fellow, and put something nnder his head, and lay him more comfortably." The saddened look of o-ratitude and tenderness that the wounded man turned up to the speaker was inexpressibly touching, and started a tear that subsequent scenes of carnage and suffering have failed to move. Taylok, with his prisoners, tlu' two Lieutenants, then pushed off on his return to his own ship. All this work was done with but six men, and the Resolute had, perhaps, fifty or more of her crew remaining unhurt, and was still within range of the forts and under the fire of the rebel vessels, particularly the o-unboat MeRea, wliich lay abreast, and kept up a sharp and "constant fire directed at the boat, but, luckily, the party escaped being hit by any of them. After getting into the boat, Tayloii, having the surrendeivd swm-d in "his hand, suggested that it would be convenient to have tlie scabbard also, when the Lieutenant unclasped the belt and handed it ov(M% to accompany the sword ; remarking after- 16 Avards, on board the JSciofa, that the request, so coolly made when under such a crushing lire, and with such perilous sur- roundings, showed a degree of "cheek,'' and freedom from excitement, that was remarkable. The passage back was, if possible, more perilous than the outset ; the lire around them, from the rebel vessels, seemed heavier and closer. The density of tlie smoke, and the dim gray of the morning, had long shut out from their sight their own vessel ; and as they were pulling in the direction of where they expected to find her, they discovered an odd, black, non- descript-looking tiling moving out from under the shore directly across theii' course. Taylor could not imagine what it Avas, but was informed by his jirisoners that it was the famous ram JIanasso'S. They seemed elated at her near approach and apparent likelihood to intercept and perhaps recapture them : but Taylor, not exactly relishing that conthigency, altered his course, making a wide detour to avoid her ; and, after a long- pull, dodging about amongst the vessels, regained his own sliii^ in safet}'. His Captain, having lost sight of him for so long a time, had given him up as lost — sunk or captured, certain — and had given the order to "go ahead," abandoning him entirely. His Sailing Master, and others, exclaimed against it, reminding him that the boat was still out, when he, apparently rather re- luctantly, held on, and in a little while discovered the boat in the distance, under the smoke, and in due time took her up. Taylor was welcomed from his })erih)us coijage with warm congratulations by all on board. On presenting his ]>risoners to FhM^t-Captain Bell, he was complimented by him in the 19 liigliost tonus, fur liis daring adveiituiv, and upon its succL'ssful terminatio]!, playfully remarking, ''Why didn't you board that ram, and capture and "bring Iter in, too i it would have made your fortune!" Tayloii replied that that was hardly practicable with only six men. "Why, yes it was," said the Captain, "she has but sixty men, and //o/f and your six could have boarded and carried her, sure I " AVhcn the fleet had come to anchor, Tayloi', was directi^I to report the surrender to the Commander-in-Chief, and accord- ingly repau-ed on board the Flag-ship, and reported to Flag- officer Faekagut the surrender of the Resolute, and the bringing oft' her Commander, and at the same time delivered to him the sword. The Flag-officer inquired minutely into the particulars, and seemed much interested in the affair; asked who com- manded the boat. ''I (lid, sir,"' said Taylok. "Wh3',"said he, "you are a gallant felloAv ;" extolled his exploit, and com- l)limented him highly, shaking his hand very warnd}' and cordially, and inquired his name, adding, "Take this sword, sir, and keep it as a trophj' of 3'our braverr, ajid a memorial of THIS GLOKious DAY ! " All of which was, of course, not a little gratifying to a young and ardent spirit that had gon(^ forth so gallanth' in search of " Tlie bii1)l)li; rcpMlation." 20 '^ State of Xew Yoijk, 'vIjiiikat' of Milfi'aky RF('oin>. '-''EAircct from a Jc((t^aii;c of tlu^ forts A'ostcrday, one of tlie most ''gallant incidents was tlie capture of the Besolute (relbel) by "the Sciota. Masters Mate Taylok, of the latter, boarded " the Jiesolute, in an open boat, nnder the hot fire, and received " the sword of its Commander, wliich the Flag-officer i')resented " to him for his conspicuous gallantr}' and bravery."' But, alas I for tho S(\piel. TJiis Avas the first, and bi'lieved to be the onty Na}:at sicord surrendered on that glorious occa- sion ; and the feat of the young officer was not surpassed, in personal gallantry and heroism, by any individual act on that day ; and yet, in all the reports, all that aj^pears of it is in Fleet-Captain Bell's report, who, in speaking of the Captain of the /S'c/oto,'^* says he ^^ sent a boat's crew to taltc j^ossessloii of an armed steamer wlilcli surrendered to liim'!'''' That, posi- tively, IS ALL I ! notwithstanding Captain Bell was know- ing to all the particulars I I ! But then, the hero of the exploit was only a ^^ Volunteer ."' — albeit a sou of the Empire State, of good character and repute, qualified by ten years' experience at sea, through all the grades of the merchant service, for au}' l)Osition on any ship ; Avhilst his grudging Commander was a "Regular," or fossil of the old fogy, SAvallow-tailed pattern I * If Captain Doxai.dsox, of llio .'^W'-^/c. ma ilc any report, himself, at all, it is not luiblislu'il willi tl;c others. 21 It has been said that emry '•^regular"' officer received lioiior- able mention, and most, if not all of them, promotion I Strong mnst have been the confidence of the authorities in the deep-rooted patriotism and devotion to the sacred cause of the country, tliat permitted them to thus trifle witli the aspira- tions for distinction and renown of tlie galhant feHows wlio rushed forward " In the battk'-path of duty," in that "dark and trying hour,'' and treat their gallant and chivalric services with neglect, contumely and scorn I All, well I thus wags the world ! The next day, the fleet, in its progress \v^ the river, attacked and silenced extensive batteries at Chalmette, just below New Orleans. The Sciota took the inside tracJc, rushing in to "short range," and bore a most conspicuous share in the action. There had been a large force actively Avorking on the rebel fortifications, wliich extended for a mile or more on the bank of the river ; and, in clearing up on the approach of the fleet, great quantities of tools and implements, and wheelbar- rows, were piled up as high as they could be thrown, like a great hay-stack. A 24-pounder shell, from one of Taylok's howitzers, struck the stack, exploding in the center of it, and sent the wheelbarrows Z;/^'//z/7/ some high in the air, and scat- tering fragments in every direction, and made a tremendous splutter generally, which raised great shouts and laughter throughout lialf a dozen of the nearest vessels of the fleet. "See the wheelbarrows! — ha! ha! Hey, the wheelbarrows! 22 Ho! — give -em anotluT I " with lilve slioiits and clu'crs, was heard in every direction from the vessels near them. The fleet ancliored in front of tlie city, tlieir gnns tiained on some of the most important points, ready to open lire in a mo- ment, should needs be. The authorities and the people, feeling tlie heel of the proud and victorious Northmen on their necks, were in no ver}^ comi)laisant mood, and had to he sharply dealt with. The ^^ciota proceeded, in a day or two, on up the river, in the van of the operations in that direction, and was constantly engaged, during the whole summer, in cruising up and down the river, scouting, skirmishing and fighting, and occasionally shaking up the rebel population on its borders. The boys had a varied and sometimes amusing experience in the diversified adventures they encountered in trading w^ith the "contra- bands" for chickens, eggs and other luxuries ; and in disciplin- ing and rattling the seceshers, sonu times including the women, on the banks of the river. One day, as they WTm? running up, a party of ladies, in front of a stately mansion on the bank of the river, made themselves very conspicuous by waving a rebel flag over their heads when the ^^clota was in front of tliem. A boat was sent ashore and brought the party, including the head of the family, on board. Tlie fair Rehs were greatly exercised at the dilemma in wliich they found themselves, and vehe- mently protested that it was only a party-colored net shawl, or "'Nubia,'' that theA^ w(>re waving /// (■0)}q)Juuenf to tlie 28 boat, and a great deal of that sort of hash ; but tlie Quarter- master was too old a salt to "be "beguiled "l)y sucli nonsense, and maintained that it was a verital)le re"l)el tiag — that he eould not "be mistaken, as he liad his glass on it the whole time ; which seemed to take the starch out of the lady secesliers. The Captain gave them the assurance that wherever that Jlag should wave, in his presence, wheth(n' in the hands of men or women, lie sTiOuld fire upon it. He then dismissed thmi with a respectful but decisive reproof. At another time, they were passing a large nunnery estab- lishment, a ''full regulation" affair, standing a little way back from the river, a short distance above New Orleans— a French flag was hoisted on it. A Iwat was sent with a message to the Lady head man, directing that the flag be taken down, and that nothing but the national flag should fly in sight from the river. Madame was highly incensed at the Insulting order, and complied, with a good deal of grimace and evidence of bad feeling. A few days afterward, in passing the establish- ment, the same flag was again flaunted in their faces, when the Captain sent a party to bring it off, which Avas done in short order. The boys were marched into the house without parley, and lip to the top of it, and secured the flag sans ceremonie, to the great horror of the inmates at th(^ sacrilegious outrage and desecrati(ui of their immaculate establishment, into which a man'siooi never had, and they pretended never was to, enter. Tliev made a terrible hellibaloo and sputtering about it ; but the only satisfaction they got was the jvssurance that if the in- terdicted flag was again displayed, it would be flred upon at sight, without parhn' or notice. 24 They pavticipated in knocking and bnrinng Grand Gulf, and sniasliino' Natchez, some. Wlien the aftair at Baton Rouge came off, the Sciota happened to be at New Oi^eans en. dis- hahi'IIe, her engine "being overhauled. On getting the order, t^he pushed up, as soon as possible, in douhle qv'tck, but was just too late for a chance in, and her share in pounding to death her quondam acquaintance, the ram Arkansas. She had a prominent part in the attack, on the 28th June, on the batteries at Vicksburg, driving their garrison out, and after a sev(>re tiglit. passing by them, u]). In the forepart of July, Captain Donaldson's health being much impaired, he retired from the command, and was suc- ceeded by Lieutenant-Commander Lowhy, late First of the Brool'lyn. Whilst h'ing (xuietly at anchor near the mouth of the Yazoo, above Yicksburg, on the morning of the fifteenth of July, they were attacked b}', and had a sharp conflict with, the new rebel iron-clad ram Arkansas, as she ran through the fleet, downwards ; and then, on the same day, they attacked her in turn, and the batteries of Yicksburg, under which, being badly crippled in the morning's fight, she had taken shelter; and, after giving them a good hammering, run by them, down. They were daily, and ahnost hourly, fired at bv, and skir- mishing with. Guerillas laying in the brake on the shores of the river. Tayloi:, having the howitzers, it Avas frequently his duty to thr()\v a few rounds of grape or shrapnel, and occasion- :i.) ally a shell, pointing at w]iori> tlic vrhifrs of wliltc smoke ixiflTcd nj) from tli- d(^n8(^ tliickets, to disperse t]ie aniKn'anee. One day in tlie latter part of September, as the Sc/'ofa, with two other boats, was nnining qni<'tly np the river, sconting for adventure— being close under the east bank, some sixty or seventy mi](^s up from New Orleans— a large drove of cattle was discovered on the shore ; it had been swum across the river a sliort distance above, on its way from Texas, bound for the rebel camps in the vicinity ; a hint, in the sliape of a cannon shot from the Sclota, was given to the conductors of the drove, to "heave to," as others, as well as Johnny Rid), might liave an appetite for fresh beef. After considerabh^ effort to scatter and stampede their charge, tliey concluded, under the running tire of musk(^try directed at tliem, to give it np. Details from the gunboats were landed to take charge of the cattl(\ The drove was found to consist of sixte(m hundred head ; they were driven to an adjacent i^lantation on the l)ank of the river, and corralled; and the conductors placed in confinement in a church hard hy, to the great annoyance and disgust of the good 2)C(dre in charge of it ; he, evidentlj^, not deeming a coni- l)any of wild Texan cattle drivers a ver^^ interesting or credit- able congregation. Taylom and another officer were sent in command of the details from the Sc/'ofa, for the guarding of the corral, and keeping uj) night and day pickets, to prevent a surprise and stampede. They found the service anything but agreeable, b(nng amongst a hostile population, and without an}- knowledge of what ndglit be near them, or how soon they might be rushed ui)on by (fueiiillas from the high cane witli which the conntrv was covered. Many amusing, and some 2G j^erilous incidents occurred, from tlio scouts and sentinels mis- taking each otlier in tlie niglit for enemies, and in dealing with the darkies for chickens and turkeys, and such other dainties as could be had. They were thus emploj'ed for live or six da3''s and nights, until the arrival of steamers from Xew Orleans, that were sent for, to conve}^ the cattle down. After they were embarked on the transport steamers, they all started down the river. As they apj)roached Donaldsonville, on the 4tli of Oc- tober, a large crowd of women and children were seen gathered on the Levee, and the Captain came to the conclusion at once, that there was trouble a-brewing. "There could not," he said, "be such a gathering of women without mischief coming out of it I" The Sciota was on the load, and as she came abreast of them, sure enough, the women suddenly sliedaddled to the roar, and live or six regiments of robs, numbering upwards of 2000, with six pieces of artiller}^, which had all been completely nmsked by the women, suddenly rose up on the Levee, and opened a territic tire at not over fifty 3"ards distance. The Sciota,, being in advance, received the brunt of the lire of the whole body. Lieutenant Swasej', her first Lieutenant, was killed by a 6-pounder shot. The fire was returned with strik- ing effect. The Sciota rounding to, to make a clean thing of it, had driven the Johnnies to cover, and out of range by the time the other boats, which wore the rear-guard of the transj^orts, got in for a share in the scrimmage. AYlien Donaldsonville was taken possession of, a short time afterward, one Itundred and eighty odd new graves were counted in the church-j^ard, inscribed with the names of men avIio had died on the Aiit of Octoher ! — very suggestive of the effect of the tire from the Sciota; not the least telling of which was the grape and can- 27 iiister liberally fiirnisliod from Tayloii's liowltzcrs ; and tliore must have been very many wounded in addition. It was said, when the f: up and handed him the followmg : ''U. S. Gunboat Sciota, "Xew Orlean!^, La., Jan. 2, 186§. "Sin: It gives me great pleasnre, in parting with yon, to "testify to your nniform good conduct, zeal and conrage while ' ' under my command. I hope that on the restoi-ation of your "health, yon will be ordered to some service which will again "give you an opportunity to serve yoiiv country as faithfully "as you have done on hoard of this vessel. "I am, yours very trnl}^, "R. B. LOWRY, ''U.-Ccm.U. S. Xari/. "To Acting Master's Mate, "CI. C. TAYLOR, The Captain, observing that it was "a cutter'' that was in waiting, ordered it np, and directed his (ua "Called away" for the occasion ; and, as they pnlled off from the shii^, the crew rushed to the sides and rigging at the call to "Cheer ship," and gave three cheers for Mr. Taylor, with an earnestness and en- thusiasm indicating the deep feelings of interest and resi:)ect that prom])t(^d the movement. The boat's crew laid on their oars whilst the cheers were given. Taylor, standing in the stern sheets, raised his cap in token of acknowledgment and 29 a])i)reciatio]i of the C()mi)]lin(']it of the wa nil -li parted fclloAvs—compaiiioiis in so many Baltics and perils tliat tliey liad Kone throiio-li together, iiglitiiig in ih,. cause of the Constitution and Govern- ment of their countiy, and in snpi)oit of its glorious old flag, " Proud iKiniicr of the Irce ! " Tlic sky-l)orn stars, nnd glorious colors tliree ! " J U LY, 18 6S. HE NOAv .slet<:ps, calmly and sweetly. • THE BRIOIIT-DKEAMED SLUMBER OF THE BRAVE," WHERE -\VE LAID }irM, AMIDST HIS AXCESTRAL -KITH AND KIX," BENEATH THE SOH, OF FAIRVIEW CEMETERY, MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY. /. ^f y «*«fc ■')' i;VJ';//:r// •Jl'!'i 'U / .^ ■ 1