Running the Blockade. 285 the river were alike hidden in the black shadow of the thunder-storm, which had now spread itself over all the heavens. The time seemed most opportune for starting: the order was given, the lines cast off, and, with her barge of hay on one side, and another with coal on the starboard side, the gun-boat rounded out heavily and slowly, and laid her course down the river. In order to avoid the puffing sound of the high-pressure engine, the escape-steam was led into the wheel-house, where its harsh voice was muffled-a device which probably led to their discovery by the fire from the chimneys. For half a mile every thing went smoothly and quietly, and all thought they might succeed in passing the batteries unobserved, when suddenly a bright, steady flame rose several feet high from each chimney-top, and for a moment it seemed as if the steamer was carrying aloft two immense torches to light her on her way. Her upper decks and all about her brightened for a moment in the red glare. Strange as it may appear, what was deemed by all a serious accident, which would bring upon them at once the enemy's fire, created no movement in the rebel batteries. When nearly opposite the upper fort the chimneys again took fire, and at once the sentinels there gave the alarm to the fort below by firing their muskets. 66 Signal-rockets were sent up both from the mainland and the island, and a cannon-shot came from Fort No. Two. It was evident that the alarm was now thoroughly given. Not a shot, however, came from the upper battery-a fact which showed how thoroughly its dangerous guns had been silenced by the party that had landed and spiked them.* This, and the drifting away of the floating battery, had had very much to do with the safety of the Carondelet. "But one course was now possible for the officers of the gun-boat. The vessel was at once put under full head of steam, and was urged down the river at her utmost speed, for the rebels were now making swift preparations at every gun that could be brought to bear. The storm was then at its height; and its fearful character, which would have been thought dangerous at any other time, was welcomed as increasing the chances of escape. The darkness was so intense as to shut out earth and heaven alike, except as lighted momentarily by the lightning's glare. The gleam and roar of the guns of the batteries could scarcely be dis *This is not entirely correct, as it is known that Fort No. One fired shots within twenty-four hours after the spiking, and fired at the boat this night. tinguished from the flash and the thunder of the cloud. The fires of heaven and earth were mingled, and none could tell whether the deck were shaken by the explosion above or the cannon below. The rain fell in the sweeping torrents of a summer shower. Shot and shell, and rifle and musket balls, sang and shrieked and roared around so as to be heard above the storm. Each flash of lightning revealed the rebels loading, training, and firing their guns as the boat came within range. The steamer also was disclosed for a moment; but as she was moving swiftly with the current, it was nearly impossible to get her range; it was eviIdent that what is called a chance shot would strike her. Most of the balls and shells flew high above her, owing to the fact that the alternations of light and darkness were so rapid as to deceive the enemy's gunners as to the gun-boat's position. She was much nearer to them than they supposed, and they fired at a wrong elevation. The boat was guided as close along the bank as she could safely run-where, indeed, it would have been difficult to depress their guns so as to strike her, even had she been plainly seen. At this point their greatest danger was not from the rebel batteries: the current was not only rapid, but shifted from side to side with the sharp curve of the stream; and bars also ran out from either shore. The intense darkness prevented the pilots from knowing the exact position of the boat; and the pilots learned their position only as they caught glimpses of the shore by the flashes of lightning. On the forecastle the lead was kept going, and the depth of water was constantly reported. It contributed largely to the steamer's safety that she had on board Captain Hoel, first-master of the Cincinnati, who had been engaged in navigating the Mississippi for more than twenty years. This gentleman stood on the deck, exposed to the double torrent of rain and bullets; and, watching for each momentary revelation which the lightning made, gave directions for steering the boat. The gleams of lightning, the momentary report of the soundings, and his intimate knowledge of localities, enabled Captain Hoel to judge correctly, in the main, of the gun-boat's position. Once, however, during the passage she was in great danger of being lost. The steamboat and her barges, of course, presented a very large surface to the current, and this gave her occasionally a heavy sheer. In the darkness and the blinding rush of the storm this was not always on the instant noticed. Caught in this manner by the swift stream, she was drifting toward a dangerous bar, where she would have grounded under the guns of the batteries, when a broad flash lit up the river a moment, followed instantly by the sharp, repeated command, Running the Blockade. 287 'Hard a-port!' and she obeyed her helm, and regained the current just in season to save her. 66 Contrary to expectation, they found no battery at the foot of the island, where it was reported that one of the long-range guns had been planted. The floating battery, which had drifted from its moorings at the head of the island, was three miles below, and this remained to be passed. As the Carondelet was not in a fighting trim, she kept close to the Missouri shore, the battery firing only a few harmless shots as she passed; and then the peril of the passage was over, and exulting shouts burst from the crew and the soldiers; and the signal-guns were fired announcing their safety to the fleet above; and soon the gun-boat rounded to at New Madrid, welcomed by bonfires and every possible exhibition of joy. All felt that the fate of Island No. Ten at length was sealed. In rounding to, a slight accident occurred, through a misunderstanding of an order by the engineer, and the boat was run hard aground; but after an hour of effort, by shifting some of the bow guns to the stern and bringing all the men aft, she was safely backed off, and the perilous voyage was over at 1 A.M."* Foote sent the following dispatch to Pope: "U. S. FLAG-SHIP 'BENTON,' OFF ISLAND NO. TEN, April 4, 1862. “GENERAL, - The gun-boat Carondelet, Commander Walke, left her anchorage this evening at ten o'clock, in a heavy thunder-storm, for the purpose of running the fire of the batteries on Island No. Ten and those lining the Tennessee shore, to join your forces at New Madrid. By a previous concerted signal of three minute-guns, twice fired at intervals of five minutes, which have since been heard, as near as the heavy thunder would enable us to ascertain, leads me to hope that the blockade has been run successfully, although the batteries opened upon her with fortyseven guns while passing. "I am, therefore, so exceedingly anxious to hear the fate of the noble officers and men who were so readily disposed to attempt the hazardous service, that I beg you will immediately inform me by bearer if Commander Walke have arrived with his vessel, and the condition in which you find her and her officers and men. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, A. H. FOOTE, Flag-Officer. "Major-General Pope, commanding Army at New Madrid, Mo." * Boynton's "Hist. of the Navy during the Rebellion," vol. i., p. 549 seq. |