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reconnoissance of Columbus. As they drew in sight of the

batteries, a steamer bearing a flag of truce from General Polk came out to meet them. The account is given in the following report of the commodore:

"U. S. FLAG-STEAMER CINCINNATI, MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
NEAR COLUMBUS, KY., February 23, 1862.

"SIR,-I have the honor to report that, in company with General Cullum, chief of General Halleck's staff, with four iron-clad boats, two mortar-boats, and three transports, containing one thousand men, I made this day a reconnoissance in force toward Columbus to ascertain its condition; and when near the batteries a flag of truce came out to communicate with us, the result of which will be seen in the inclosed papers. The object of the reconnoissance being attained, and finding that fire from the mortars would lead the enemy to plant guns where they could

Newspaper Correspondence.

243

reach them with their batteries should we again open upon them with a larger number of mortars, I concluded to return to Cairo; and there we must remain until the gun and mortar boats are completed, as otherwise the flotilla will be demoralized for want of time and means to properly prepare for active service. The army will not move without gunboats, yet the gun-boats are not in a condition to act offensively at present. On this subject I will soon write more fully. A telegram will be sent to the Department on my arrival at Cairo, referring to the events of to-day. I am your obedient servant, A. H. FOOTE, Flag-Officer.

"The Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.

"P. S.-Columbus evinces no signs of an evacuation or dismounting of guns. The batteries seem to be intact, and we saw great numbers of tents and troops."

Before noticing a correspondence with General Polk on the subject of a “flag of truce," which forms a curious episode of itself, we introduce a part of the letter of a newspaper correspondent, dated February 24th, which gives a lively, chatty description of this sail down the Mississippi and its sudden termination:

"A little after daylight the gallant Commodore Foote hobbled painfully aboard the Cincinnati, and almost immediately after the whole fleet was steaming down the river. From the moment of starting, the regular line of battle was observed, the four iron-clad boats leading, abreast, the Cincinnati a mile to the rear, and close behind this the transports and mortars. The five transports seemed more for show than use. However, it was the Sabbath, and beneath the warm beams of the first sun we had seen for weeks, we pushed merrily ahead, absorbed in our devotions and the weather, and not caring to be captious, or to ask too many questions.

"A little before noon we steamed into Lucas's Bend, and saw, two miles below, across a promontory that ran out from the right bank, the tent-crowned bluffs of Columbus. A shot from a heavy gun came booming over the water, conveying to us an invitation seemingly to fight. Another followed, and then another-the latter a cogent invitation of some one hundred and twenty-eight pounds in weight, that plunged into the river a short distance to the left of us, and sent the water splashing skyward like a water-spout. A heavy gong sounding in the boats sent the men to quarters; guns were run in, every thing and every body was in

place, the mortar-boats were hugging the shore to gain uninterruptedly a position a little lower; and from all appearance I expected in another instant to witness a repetition of the Fort Henry and Donelson tragedies. However, just as the guns seemed on the eve of belching their sulphureous thunders against Columbus, a rebel transport steamer rounded the point of the promontory with a flag flying from her jackstaff. She rounded the point close under the guns of the iron boats, and commenced whistling, as if asking permission to hold a conference. A whistle from the flag-boat gave the permission; a tug ran down to her, lay alongside a short time, ran back, and then the Cincinnati ran down, took position between her and the Columbus batteries, and dropped her anchor. "A deputation was soon after seen to leave the rebel transport-the Red River and go aboard the National gun-boat. For three long hours the boats lay there, and many and wild were the conjectures as to what was going on. All agreed unanimously that a surrender was going on -none doubted that he would take dinner or supper in Columbus. Finally, a stir was observed in the gun-boat, and the tug put off, carrying back some officers to the transport. Now for Columbus,' said every body; and in imagination we had already penetrated the securities of that stronghold, and were rambling among its water batteries, its land batteries, rifle-pits, breastworks, redans, abatis, bastions, redoubts, palisades, lunettes, and the Lord only knows what else, when three flags glided up the staff on the flag-boat, and Master - of the Carondelet, with the remark, 'That's to close up, probably,' opened his signal-book, and, with a look of incredulity, read, 'Fall in line.'

"But there seemed to be no mistake. The Cincinnati bore straight up the river for Cairo-black, grim, and uncommunicative; and shortly after we had all taken our places, and were slowly following our leader.

"Arriving at Cairo, a rush was made for the commodore. No use. Never was a drum tighter than the hero of Henry and Donelson, and the sorrowing crowd departed."

The flag of truce, to all appearance, was simply an expedient to obtain knowledge of the strength of the National forces. Whether it were so or not, its result was favorable to our cause, as it was at once followed by the evacuation of Columbus. The reader can form his own judgment of the case from the facts and the correspondence. General Polk sent by the transport this letter:

A Flag of Truce.

245

“HEAD-QUARTERS, FIRST DIVISION, WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

COLUMBUS, KY., Feb. 22, 1862.

"Presuming you will be willing to reciprocate the courtesy shown to the families of officers of the United States Army, after the battle of Belmont, in allowing them to visit those officers who were prisoners within my lines, I take the liberty of sending up, under a flag of truce, the families of several of our officers who were captured at Donelson. These are the families of General Buckner and Colonels Hawson and Medeira. They are accompanied by Colonel Russel and Messrs. Vance and Stockdale as escorts; also by Mr. Mass.

"Hoping you may find it convenient to send these ladies forward to their husbands, I have the honor to remain, respectfully, your obedient servant, L. POLK, Major-General, commanding.

"To Commanding Officer U. S. Forces, Cairo, Ill."

This was answered as follows:

6

"UNITED STATES FLAG-STEAMER CINCINNATI,' MISSISSIPPI

RIVER, NEAR COLUMBUS, KY., Feb. 23, 1862.

"GENERAL,-Your letter of the 22d instant, received to-day by the hands of Captain Blake under a flag of truce, nearly within range of your guns and in the presence of our armed forces, at half-past twelve o'clock today, will be answered to-morrow by a flag of truce at the same point of the river at which this was received.

"Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

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"ANDREW H. FOOTE,

Flag-Officer, commanding Naval Forces, Western Waters; "GEORGE W. CULLUM,

"Chief of Staff and Engineers, Department of Missouri.

"Major-General L. Polk, commanding at Columbus, Ky."

On the same day came this second letter from General Polk :

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• HEAD-QUARTERS, FIRST DIVISION, WESTERN DEPARTMENT, COLUMBUS, KY, Feb. 23, 1862.

"To A. H. FOOTE, Flag-Officer, commanding Naval Forces, Western Waters; GEO. W. CULLUM, Brig.-General, Chief of Staff and Engineers: “GENTLEMEN,—I have received your note of this date, acknowledging mine of yesterday asking permission for the wives of certain Confederate States officers to visit their husbands who had been made prisoners of war at Fort Donelson.

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"The application was based on the fact that I had on a former occasion granted a similar request made of me in behalf of the wives of Colonels Dougherty and McClerkin, captured at Belmont, and the assurance of the commanding general at Cairo that he would reciprocate the courtesy if events should make it desirable.

"I note that you say my letter was received under a flag of truce, 'nearly within range of your (my) guns, and in the presence of our (your) armed forces.

"As to the flag appearing in the presence of your armed forces, and nearly within range of my guns, it was purely accidental. The ladies, whose safe conduct the flag was intended to secure, arrived at this post from Nashville on the evening of the 21st instant. Preparations were made to send them up under a flag on the 22d, and my letter was written and intrusted to Captain Blake. The departure of the flag was prevented by the heavy fall of rain. They left this morning, the boat taking its departure from a point considerably below my batteries, from whence your position in the river (five miles above) was not visible. It appears that several guns were fired from the fort prior to the departure of the boat; but as my artillery officers are constantly practicing, the firing attracted no particular attention; and the presence of your armed forces in the river, it seems, was not known to the officer in charge of the flag until after his boat had passed around the point.

"This statement of facts, I am informed, has already been made to you by Captain Blake; and it is repeated here only because of the remark above quoted, which you have taken pains to underline.

"Allow me to assure myself that officers of your rank and reputation could not impute any improper motive in sending a flag of truce. I would be unwilling to believe such a suspicion could be entertained by any mind except one conscious of its capacity to venture upon such an abuse. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

"L. POLK,

"Major-General, commanding Confederate Forces."

The next day this dignified though sharp response was sent by a flag of truce from the National head-quarters:

"CAIRO, ILLINOIS, February 24, 1862.

"MAJOR-GENERAL L. POLK, commanding at Columbus, Ky. :

66

“GENERAL,—In answer to your request to reciprocate the courtesy shown to the families and officers of the U. S. A., after the battle of Bel

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