USA > Maine > History of the Thirteenth Maine regiment from its organization in 1861 to its muster-out in 1865 > Part 3
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The captain then, with almost inconceivable stupidity or malice, gave the order to throw over the anchor. The order was, most unfortunately, obeyed ; and the steamer, soon forging ahead a few fect, ran upon one of the flukes, which stove a hole through her bottom, near the bow, nearly as large as a man's body. Through this the water poured in a torrent, flooding the forward part of the vessel up nearly to the middle deck, and fix- ing her bow immovably upon the shoal. Then appeared the benefit of the two bulkheads ; for while the water in the forward compartment rose to the level of that out-
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side, the rest of the vessel remained dry ; so that hope, though faint, was not entirely lost.
No one, without understanding well the circumstan- ces, can fully realize the danger which then menaced those on board the Mississippi. We were hard aground on one of the most dangerous shoals on the coast of the United States, and in a locality notorious for the sud- denness and violence of its gales ; the forward compart- ment was full of water ; there were fifteen hundred souls on board, and the Jand, although in plain sight, was so far distant that the few boats belonging to the steamer could not have landed all the people in less than three days, and on a hostile coast at that. There was no friendly vessel in sight ; but from the rigging, with a glass, could be plainly scen the Confederate forts near the mouth of Cape Fear River. There secmed no prob- able means of escape from either drowning or capture.
Still no possible expedient was left untried ; although but little help was received from the captain of the steamer-who, from some cause. was in such a condi- tion that he could not even tell from his Nautical Al- manac whether the tide was rising or falling. A signal of distress was hoisted and minute guns were fired ; while some of Gen. Butler's staff, after examining the Almanac, reported falling water, and that it would not be high tide till about 8 P. M. A little past noon a vessel, flying American colors, came in sight and cau- tiously approached. A staff officer was sent on board, who learned that it was the U. S gunboat Mount Ver- non, Capt. Glisson, one of the Wilmington blockading fleet. They had seen the smoke of our minute guns, although unable to hear the report, and had come to learn what was the trouble. Capt. Glisson offered all the assistance in his power : so, after a consultation, a large hawser was attached to the Mississippi and renewed attempts were made to get her afloat. It was so little past low water, however, that nothing was accomplished ;
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and at one time even the Mount Vernon was in serious danger, for her stern struck the ground heavily three times but did not stick.
By-and-by a northwest wind began to rise and threat- ened a rough night. It was evident that more heroic measures must be taken, so the boats were set at work conveying troops from the Mississippi to the Mount Ver- non ; while a detail of men engaged in throwing over- board the shells which had been loaded at Fortress Mon- roe. The engines of both vessels were still kept at work; and after 7 P. M., when over two hundred men had been transferred and several tons of shells thrown overboard, the Mississippi began to move, and about ten minutes before high water she was once more afloat.
All can imagine the cheers that then arose from the decks of both vessels; but only those who have escaped from deadly peril can fully realize how heartfelt they were. But although the worst was past the Mississippi was not yet out of danger. Her forward compartment was full of water, bringing her several foet down by the head, so that neither the screw nor rudder would work efficiently, and the wind was rapidly rising to a north- west gale. The chain cables, weighing several tons, were carried aft, and the gun moved amidships, so as to trim the vessel as much as possible. Acting-master Sturgis of the Mount Vernon was left on the Mississip- pi, he having been detailed by Captain Glisson, at the request of Gen. Butler, as a competent officer and coast pilot. Then, preceded at a short distance by the Mount Vernon, the Mississippi steamed ahead slowly, till about midnight both vessels anchored in the lee of the land not far from the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
Next morning, after a survey of the injured vessel, it was decided to go to Port Royal, S. C., for repairs. All who had been transferred to the Mount Vernon were returned to the Mississippi, except Que staff officer of the 13th; who, although like a guide post pointing
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the way to heaven, had, apparently, no personal desire to go there by water ! He, therefore, remained on the uninjured vessel and sent in his resignation, which was promptly accepted by Gen. Butler.
The wind having moderated, both vessels weighed anchor and started. As many men as could be used were kept constantly at work pumping and bailing till we reached Port Royal. As a means of keeping the men occupied it was a success ; but it had about as much effect in lowering the water as a hand bellows would in checking a tornado. When off Charleston the Mount Vernon returned to her station at Wilmington, and one of the Charleston blockading fleet took her place as con- voy ; and about 5 P. M., March And, we anchored in Port Royal. Next day the Mississippi was taken around to Seabrook Landing, on Skull Creek, about seven miles from Hilton Head, where we landed.
As there was not time the first night to unload the tents, our battalion was quartered for that night near the wharf, in a shed built for stowing hay or cotton, and floored only with loose poles. The pole floor was not a comfortable bed at the best ; and to add to the discom- fort a strong north wind blew during the night, so the men suffered terribly with cold. As no transport could be obtained to take the place of the Mississippi, it was necessary for the troops to go into camp while she was unloaded and received temporary repairs sufficient to enable her to proceed on her voyage ; so next day the tents were unloaded and pitched in an old cotton field some distance from the wharf, where we had a liberal amount of exercise in preparing a spot for camp and drill-ground.
Regular drills began, and, varied by occasional de- tails for fatigue duty on board the Mississippi, contin- ued till March 9th, when the battalion struck tents and embarked on the steamer Matanzas, which happened to be available ; it not being thought best to put more than
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the Massachusetts regiment on board of the Mississippi.
We will now bid good-bye to the Mississippi; but will first say that before leaving the harbor her captain, by going contrary to the advice of the naval officers, ran her aground so hard upon a bank of oyster-shells that the troops had to be taken off again ; and even then it required all the tugs in the harbor to get her afloat. For this he was removed from command and was placed under arrest on board of the Matanzas ; his place being taken by Acting-master Sturgis, the officer detailed from the Mount Vernon.
Next morning the Matanzas dropped down to Hilton Head, where we remained till just before dark on the 13th, when we once more started for our destination. We soon found that our condition had not improved by our change of steamers, but very much changed for the worse. The Matanzas, although a good vessel, was so small that she could only carry our four companies by being badly crowded, and was also filthy and badly in- fested with vermin. What made our condition still worse was, we were kept on short rations of fresh water.
In a few hours after leaving Port Royal we began to realize that we were approaching a warmer climate. The schools of porpoises lazily rolling along, in single file, like boys playing " Follow my Leader ; " the flying- fish darting through the air. generally near the surface of the water but sometimes rising higher than the deck of the vessel ; the semi-transparent Physalia, known to sailors as the Portugeese man-of-war, floating fearless of wind or wave; the gulf-weed, sometimes only single stems and sometimes in masses covering many square rods : and, more than all the rest, the balmy air of the Gulf-stream, proved ummistakably, that, for the present at least, we had left winter behind us.
For two days we steamed along in sight of the un- settled coast of Florida, its abandoned lighthouses giving their aid to the passing vessel only by daylight. March
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16th we rounded Cape Sable, and, just clearing the dan- gerous keys, the architecture of the frail coral worm, took a course somewhat north of west. The voyage pro- ceeded without any further incident worthy of mention, except a somewhat uncomfortable but not dangerous squall in the evening of the 18th.
On the 20th we came in sight of what at first seemed to be the sails of a large fleet of boats, the resemblance being aided by the fact that there were several large vessels just beyond. As we drew nearer, the sails took the form of tents and we began to see men moving about ; but they all seemed to be floating on the water, no land being visible. At last we were near enough to sce that they were on an island of sand which barely rose above the surface of the water. This was Ship Island, and here Gen. Batler's division was rapidly organizing; bnt we had arrived there in the midst of a severe norther, which rendered landing impracticable for two days. We were informed that the rest of the regiment had arrived and had gone into eamp nearly two weeks be- fore. March 22nd, just before dark, the wind went down, so that we landed ; and thus ended a voyage which had given the men an experience of the perils of the sea such as happens to but few in the same length of time.
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CHAPTER III.
The Abomination of Desolation.
Oh! for one draught of cooling northern air! That it might pour its freshness on me now; That it might kiss my cheek and cleave my hair, And part its currents round my fevered brow! Ocean, and sky, and earth! a blistering calm Spread over all! how weary wears the day! Oh! lift the wave, and bend the distant palm, Breeze! wheresoe'er thy lagging pinions stray, Triumphant burst upon the level deep, Rock the fixed hull and swell the clinging sail! Arouse the opal cloud: that o'er us sleep, Sound thy shrill whistle! we will bid thec hail! Though wrapt in all the storm-clouds of the north, Yet from thy home of ice, come forth, Oh, brecze, come forth! | Epes Sargent.
LONG the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico, from the Appalachicola to the Rio Grande, stretch- es a sand-bank which has been and is still being thrown up by the waves of the Gulf. Most of the way it has risen slightly above the surface of the water in a chain of low islands. In Florida, Louisiana and Texas, many of these islands have become connected with the main land, forming numerous bays, cach of which is a good harbor but has its mouth obstructed by a bar. In Mississippi, however, the islands are at a distance of about twelve miles from the coast. The larger ones are four in number and are known as Petit Bois, Horn, Ship and Cat Islands; Cat Island being the westerly one.
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With the exception of a few sand-hills, thrown up by the wind and being often changed in form by the same canse, their surface rises but little above ordinary high tide. Their substance is principally white sand ; scat- tered through which are the remains of various fish, thus giving it sufficient fertility to support a limited amount of vegetation. On Horn Island there are some tracts of coarse grass which are used to some extent for the posturing of cattle, thus giving the island its name.
The body of water between these four islands and the coast is known as Mississippi Sound. The deepest wa- ter in the sound is not much more than twenty feet, and in the middle of the sound is generally about thirteen ; from this it gradually grows shoaler towards the shore, so that on the main land wharves more than half a mile in length are necessary in order to reach nine feet of water. The sound is ordinarily a safe anchorage ; but occasionally there is so heavy a southeast gale that the waters of the gulf overwhelm the islands, and the moun- tainous waves roll unobstructed upon the shore of the main land. The sound, also, in connection with Lake Pontchartrain, furnishes to light draft vessels an inland passage between Mobile and New Orleans.
Ship Island, which was used as a rendezvous by the British in the campaign against New Orleans in the winter of 1811, is five or six miles long and about half' a mile wide. On the south side is a strip which is ov- erflowed by the highest tides, and midway between the two ends of the island this low tract extends across to the north side. This traet, when dry, is smooth, Jevel, and hard, thus forming an excellent drill-ground. The cast end of the island, in 1862, was mostly covered with a forest of pines; while the only vegetation on the west end was a few scattered patches of sweetbrier, rushes and cactus. At the west end of the island, the channel was deep enough for the largest vessels: and near that end on the north side there was deep water so near the
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shore that only a short wharf was needed. On this des- olate spot, where Butler's expedition for the capture of New Orleans was then organizing, our regiment found itself once more united. Drill, both company and bat- talion, was now practiced with energy and thorough- ness ; the island affording, to the fullest extent, the fa- cilities which had been lacking in Augusta. There were also occasional brigade drills and frequent inspections ; and about April 10th, after all the troops had arrived, there was a grand review.
We soon learned by sad experience, that although the island, as a rendezvous, possessed conspicuous military advantages, its only recommendation from a sanitary point of view was its pure air. The only water obtain- able could be endured to avoid dying from thirst, but was not an enticing beverage. It was procured by dig- ging wells from three to six feet deep in the sand. The water in these wells rose and fell with the tide; and, although it was called fresh, it had several distinct fla- vors, among which were those of salt, gunpowder, and creosote. At its best it was only fit for immediate use ; for a bucket of it standing over night would develop an odor of such unspeakable vileness as ought to make it a powerful disinfectant. It had, however, the economic advantage that it rendered the administration of cathar- tics by the regimental surgeons a decided superfluity.
Unsuitable diet added to the discomfort of the troops. Owing to the season and to the long sca voyage, it was next to impossible to obtain fresh vegetables. The army rations were probably as good as could be obtained, but they furnished little variety and were sometimes dan- aged by salt water. During a portion of the time there was issued from the post bakery soft bread that was so cx- cessively sour that but few of the men would eat more than enough of it to barely sustain life. Soon after it began to be issued there could be seen on the north
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shore of the island a winnow of loaves which had been thrown away.
To the effects upon the troops of unwholesome water and unsuitable food, was added that of the heat, which during the latter part of the time we spent there, was almost unendurable. The island is not far north of the tropics, and, with an almost vertical June sun shining upon the dazzling white sand, not only was the heat like that of an oven, but the reflection from the sand was
torturing to the eyes. In spite of all the efforts of the medical staff, the sick list of the regiment was frightful ; and the percentage of deaths, as well as discharges, was large. Diphtheria, scurvy, fever, chronic diarhoa, and general debility, the latter greatly aggravated by home- sickness, allowed the surgeons but little spare time.
Insect pests were numerous-individuals, if not spe- cies. Ordinary flies were very annoying, especially in the hospitals, where it seemed almost necessary to have an attendant to each patient in order to keep them out of the faces of the helpless invalids. Some of the regi- ments were badly troubled by fleas ; the Thirteenth, fortunately, not among the number. This, however, could not be said concerning the Pediculus vestimenti, familiarly known among soldiers as the "grayback." The clothing of the four companies which came from Port Royal on the Matanzas, had become populous with these despisable vermin ; and from them, or from some other source, they were soon distributed through the regiment. About the only practicable way of destroy- ing them was by boiling ; and as, owing to scarcity of fuel, this could not be done as often as was necessary, one or more " skirmishes" became a part of the regular daily routine. The midges, or sand flies, were terribly annoying to the soldiers, especially while on dress-pa- rade. As this ceremony took place at sunset, just when the midges were most active, it is to be feared that the thoughts of the soldiers, while standing at parade-rest,
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would sometimes need to be represented in print by a long row of dashes. The Great American Mosquito was there, both numerous and bloodthirsty ; but they were found so much more numerous at our next station, that some of the old soldiers now cherish the fond delu- sion that there were no mosquitoes on Ship Island.
The duty required of the men was probably no harder than was necessary, and would not have seemed hard under favorable conditions ; but it appeared severe to men enervated by the sudden change of climate and weakened by disease. As there were but few teams, nearly all the fuel had to be " toted" by the men from the upper end of the island. Most of our supplies had also to be carried from the wharf to our camp, a distance of nearly a mile; but a few weeks after our arrival a plank walk was built, which made that work much easier.
Drill usually occupied from four to six hours per day. while the heat and dampness of the climate rendered necessary a large amout of labor to keep the arms and equipments in respectable condition. There was a large amount of guard duty ; three different guards being. de- tailed, viz : a camp guard, a picket guard across the middle of the island, and a headquarters guard near the wharf. After about May 20th, when this was all de- volved upon the Thirteenth by the departure of the last of the other regiments, each man on duty had to be on guard every other day. The fatigue began at the same time to be excessive, owing to there having been a large amount of stores collected there, all of which our regiment had to reload for forwarding to New Orleans.
For some time the fatigue duty seriously interfered with drill ; so much so, that many days there were few men available for drill except those who had been re- lieved from guard duty in the morning. Several times some emergency required large details of men to work all night. About this time also, for several weeks there
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were forty men from the Thirteenth detailed on trans- port steamers, the crews of which were somewhat short- handed. After most of the stores had been reshipped and the detailed men returned, the amount of fatigue duty, was much reduced ; and, to some extent, guard duty also, so that the regiment could pay much more attention to drill; and before leaving the island it at- tained such a state of discipline that Gen. Weitzel, af- ter reviewing and inspecting it without any previous notice of his coming, said he had never seen a better regiment.
The monotonous round of drill, fatigue and guard duty was so seldom varied by any more interesting ser- vice, that it may not be thought trifling to mention briefly, two excursions which portions of the regiment made to the main land. The latter part of May, Gen. Dow, who was then in command on the island, learned that some of the secessionists in Pass Christian, a little village almost directly across the sound, had been mak- ing threats of hanging or maltreating the few Union men in their vicinity. For this reason, it is supposed, he took six companies of the Thirteenth and made the place a flying visit. Leaving camp at 2. A. M., we went on board the steamer Sallie Robinson, and making rather a late start, arrived at our destination about 7.30 A. M. We soon landed. marched up into the village and stacked arms in a beautiful grove of pines. There we remained for several hours, while the General trans- acted, or tried to transact, the business for which he went. We then reembarked and went to Shieldsboro, or Bay St. Louis as it is now called, where we made but a short stop, and then returned to the island, reach- ing camp about 6 P. M. The result of the expedition I am unable to give, as no report of it appears in the War Records !
The above expedition was made June Srd, and what- ever were its objects or results, it was very soon appar-
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ent that it had no effect in preventing ill-treatment of Union men. Occasional refugees, both white and black, succeeded in reaching the island, all bringing the same information and reporting the leaders in the outrages, both actual and threatened, to be Rev. Mr. Sill, Mr. Hearn the village recorder, and a Mr. Seal. It was re- solved to attempt their capture, either for punishment or to hold them as hostages for the good behavior of their associates. Gen. Dow, therefore, ordered a detail of two hundred men to cross the sound for that purpose.
In the night of June 21st, they went on board of the Steamer Creole, crossed the sound, and reached Pass Christian about daybreak. They quickly landed and marched to the house where the desired parties were supposed to be, but they could not be found. The at- tempt was not entirely fruitless, for Mr. Hearn's son-in- law and another man who were in the house, were seized and brought away. The steamer then started for Bay St. Louis to destroy some property which was of milita- ry advantage to the enemy, to procure some fresh beef, and to bring away some Union men who were said to be in that vicinity without the means of escaping.
When the steamer reached the bay a party of twenty men, under a Lieutenant, were sent in small boats up Wolf river, which empties into the east side of the bay ; while the main body on the steamer went up Jordan's river, which empties into the west side. As the steam- er proceeded up the river, Union refugees were taken on board till the cabin was full, and several head of cattle were obtained. The steamer went up the river several miles to where there was said to be a ferry, the intention being to destroy it ; but on reaching the place the boat was found to have been removed, so the steam- er put about and started to return.
After proceeding some distance down stream, orders were given to stop and destroy a saw-mill which was not far below. Just then the steamer was fired on by a
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party of about twenty guerrillas, who, armed with dou- ble-barrelled shot-guns, were concealed in a thicket near the bank. The attack was entirely unexpected ; the officers and refugees were at dinner in the cabin, and the men were taking their ease, their guns being stacked on the lower deck.
For an instant all was confusion, but the men quickly rushed to their arms, Before they could use them the guerrillas fired a second volley and then took to their heels. Several shots were fired at them, but none of them were killed and probably none hurt. After the firing was over an investigation was made to learn its result. It was found that much damage was done to the windows and wood-work of the boat, and that sey- eral of the men had bullet-holes through their clothes, but that no one on the boat was injured, either soldier or citizen.
When the firing commenced the captain of the steam- er, who was stecring, let go of the wheel and lay down to escape the bullets, several of which seemed to be meant for him. Then the steamer, unguided, swung around and grounded so solidly that it was impossible to get her afloat before night. A strong picket guard was therefore posted on shore, and it is perhaps unnec- essary to remark that it was a watchful onc.
There was no disturbance during the night, and about daybreak the steamer, having got afloat, continued on her way down the river. There was now considerable anxiety about the detachment which was sent up Wolf river ; but on reaching the bay they were found there all right. Nothing of any special importance had hap- pened to them ; but, owing to the long absence of the steamer, they were afraid that the main body had been captured, and were just preparing to start for the is- land in their boats when the steamer came in sight. They were taken on board and the whole party returned
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