Incidents and Anecdotes of the Civil War

Front matter

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF THE CIVIL WAR. BY ADMIRAL PORTE^f AUTHOR OF "ALLAN DAEE AND BOB LET LE PIABLC," ETG. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 1, 8, abd 5 BOND STEEET. 1885. COPYEIGHT, 1885, By D. APPLETON AUD COMPANY. All rights reserved. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. — Rejoicings in Washington at the Secession of South Carolina 7 II. — Plan to save Fort Pickens — Disloyalty in the Nayy Department — Stealing a March on the Secretary of the Navy 13 III. — Incidents at Pensacola — Two Distinguished Travelers who Prove to be Old Acquaintances — A Memorable Breakfast 26 IV. — Delay at Pensacola — Attack on Fort Morgan — Pensacola Abandoned — A Remarkable Specimen of a Southern Unionist 36 V. — The Attack on New Orleans — Surrender of the Forts — The Ironclad Louisiana 47 VI. — Ericsson and the Monitor — An Interview with the Great Engineer 57 VII. — Plans for the Capture of New Orleans — Conduct of the People on our Taking Possession of the City — General Butler's Administration 63 VIII. — Ascending the Mississippi — Odd Specimens of Confederates — A Plantation Mansion — Doubting Moses .... 82 IX. — Plans for the Capture of Vicksburg — Unfortunate Delays — The Mortar Boats at Vicksburg — A Spy and an Attempted Surprise 95 X. — Return Down the Mississippi — Passing Natchez — A Rose in the Desert 104 XI. — On Board the Harriet Lane— Cockpit Battery — Standing by the Country's Flag— Lee, First Lieutenant of the Harriet Lane — His Sense of Duty — Slaughter on Board — Havoc of Revolutions 108 XII. — In Washington — Scene at a Newport, R. I., Club — Slandered by a Woman — Indignities to General Stone — Visit to President Lincoln — Mr. Seward — Appointed to Command the Mississippi Squadron — General McClernand .

CONTENTS. 4 CHAPT1-* PA°" XIII— Interview with General Grant at Cairo— First Meeting with General Sherman— Our Flag Hoisted over Arkansas Post— General Grant and the Siege of Vicksburg — Hoax on the Vicksburgers 124 XIV.— General Grant's Plans for Taking Vicksburg— The Yazoo Pass Expedition— Naval Evolutions in the Woods— Piles of Cotton Burned by the Confederates — Mr. Tub, the Telegram-wire Man— The Pass at Rolling Fork— End of the Steele Bayou Expedition 136 XV.— A Council of War— Passage of the Fleet by the Batteries of Vicksburg — General Sherman Visits the Fleet in its Passage — Wooden Guns on Cart-wheels — A Handful of Corn and a Dead Confederate Soldier . . . 174 XVI. — Naval Battle at Grant Gulf— Three Commissioners from Washington to Examine into the Conduct of Affairs — One of the Commissioners in a " Long Shirt " — Tar and Feathers — Landing of the Army at Bruensburg — Amusing Story of an Iowa Regiment — First Meeting with General A. J. Smith — A Confederate Ram .... 180 XVII. — Siege of Vicksburg 188 XVIII. — A Chief of Staff and a Chief Cook — Democratic Meeting in the Backwoods of "Egypt" — A John Gilpin Race . 201 XIX. — Sherman Starts from Memphis to go to Chattanooga — Finds a Thirty-pound Shot in his Stomach — The Navy Relieve Him — Bridges and Ferry-boats in Abundance — Reaches Chattanooga in Time 208 XX. — Who Started the Red River Expedition 1 — Japhet in Search of a Father — General A. J. Smith makes a Forced March of Thirty-two Miles — Captures Fort De Russy — Second Capture of Alexandria — General Banks arrives in his Headquarters Boat, Black Hawk — Champagne and Cotton Bagging — A Derelict Hospital Steward — A Review of " Ragged Guerrillas " — A. J. Smith's Soldiers criticise Banks's Army — Tears won't make Soup, Chicken Will — I hope You enjoy Yourself on my Horse — Mrs. Holmes gives the Admiral a Good Character — Mrs. Holmes's Story about the Cotton Trade — The Navy becomes Demoralized — Blocked Out at Shreveport River — Gun-boats Turn Back in their Tracks — Banks Defeated — The Navy Defeats General Green's Army — The General's Head Shot Off — A Horse with a Headless Rider — Safe Arrival at Grand Ecore — Banks Born under a Lucky Stab 212 XXI. — The Army Propose to Move away from Grand Ecore — Sinking OF THE EASTPORT — PuMP HER UP — EaSTPORT BLOWN UP — The Cricket comes to Grief— Gun-boat Fleet Caught in a Dilemma— Providence Supplies the Man to Relieve Them — A Row with a Military Governor ....

CONTENTS. 5 ohaptib Pi0H XXII. — Take Command of North Atlantic Squadron — Renew an Old Acquaintance — A Visit from General Butler — The General's Flag-Ship blown up — Save the General from a Ducking — The General visits the Malvern with a Plan of Powder-Boat to blow up Fort Fisher — An Ensign sets the Plan to Music and Rhyme — A Steamer and One Hundred and Fifty Tons of Powder required to do the Work — The Admiral, in the Excitement of the Moment, Telegraphs for Fifteen Thousand Tons of Powder — The Chief of Bureau of Ordnance offers him Mount Vesuvius and Niagara Falls to do the Work with — The Powder-Boat Disturbs the Sentinels at Fort Fisher — Fort Fisher does not blow up worth a Cent — A Trap set for Blockade-Runners — An Irish Torpedo-Boat — Fall of Wilmington 261 XXIII. — The President visits City Point — Becomes a Guest on the Malvern — Anxiety to have the Army Move on the Enemy's Works — Two Miracles — Evacuation of Petersburg — Three Little Kittens — President Refuses to see Vice- President Johnson and Preston King — How Much will You Take for that Trick4? — Visit to Petersburg — Three Cheers for Uncle Abe — Can't We Make a Noise? — Four Confederate Ironclads blown up — The President Visits Richmond — An Ovation Worthy of an Emperor — A Negro Patriarch — Entrance into Richmond — A Bouquet of Flowers from a Pretty Girl — President Lincoln in President Da vis's Mansion — Return on Board the Malvern — A Visit FROM THE LATE JUSTICE CAMPBELL — A VlSIT FROM DUFF Green — Complications — Return to City Point — A General WHO WENT OFF IN A FlZZLE 281 XXIV. — General Sherman Arrives at Goldsboro' — Sherman Calls on the President — Council on Board the River Queen — President Lincoln's kind Intentions toward the Confederate Armies — Let Them have their Horses to Plow WITH, AND THEIR MuSKETS TO SHOOT CrOWS WITH — "THERE are no Southern Railroads ; my Bummers have Taken them all up " — why such a howl at the north ? — lee Surrenders — The President returns to Washington — Send Officers with Him to Protect his Person — His Death — There Lies the Best Man I ever Knew .... 312 XXV. — Corporal Foster and his Dog

Chapter I. Rejoicings In Washington At The Secession Of South Cabolina

During the Presidency of James Buchanan, and just previous to the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, I was ordered to the cornmand of the Coast-Survey steamer Active on the Pacific coast. I could not conceive why I was thus ordered, except that ships and officers were at that period being sent out of the way. This, too, at a time when the Southern States were threatening to secede, and it seemed probable the Government would require the services of all its officers to maintain the integrity of the Union. At that moment I was in a despondent frame of mind, and troubled with the most gloomy forebodings. I felt that a crisis was impending that might influence all my prospects in life and cast me upon the world without resources and with a large dependent family. I sought consolation by visiting the houses of Southern members of Congress in Washington whom I knew, but obtained little satis faction from the sentiments I there heard expressed.

One night in December, 1860, on my way home from a visit to Congress, where I had listened to a great deal of incendiary language from Southern members and plenty of vituperation from Northern ones, a gentleman met me in the street and informed me of the secession of South Carolina. The news, though not unexpected, was startling, and, viewing the matter in the most philosophical light possible, I proceeded homeward to carry the unpleasant intelligence. On my way I had to pass the house of a distinguished Southern gentleman whom I knew well and for whom I entertained a high regard. I had always heard him discuss the questions at issue be tween the North and South in the most dispassionate manner, what ever may have been his course in Congress. There were a dozen carriages standing before the door, and the house was all ablaze with lights, making the interior look cheerful enough, while a drizzling rain rendered everything gloomy without.

Those were not the days of well-lighted streets and asphalt pave ments. Washington was a city of muddy highways, and corpora tion moonlight was more frequent than convenient. As I entered the mansion the lady of the house, in bonnet and shawl, was descending the stairs. She was a magnificent woman, greatly esteemed in Washington society for her genial manner, and admired for her wit and intellect. Had she aspired to do so, this lady might have been the leader of fashion in the Federal capital, but I do not think her ambition ran in that direction. She had a small and select circle of friends, mostly Southern people, and chiefly affected politics. Her heart was fixed on what she called the emancipation of the South from Northern thralldom, and with her handsome person and dignified bearing she seemed worthy to occupy the loftiest position.

As this lady saw me she exclaimed, "Ah, captain" — for so she always called me — " I am so glad to see you ! I want you to escort me to the White House. The horses are sick, and I am going to walk over." "It is impossible for you to walk," I replied, "through the rain and mud ; but there are ten or twelve hacks at the door, and I will press one of them into your service." So saying, I called a carriage, helped the lady in, and got in after her. "I was under the impression," I said, as we started, "that you were having a party at your house, seeing it so brilliantly lighted up, and I thought I would venture in uninvited." "No, indeed," she replied, "but we have received glorious news from the South, and my husband's friends are calling to congratu late him. South Carolina has seceded, and, 0 captain !

" she con tinued, with increasing fervor, "we will have a glorious monarchy, and you must join us ! " "Yes," I said, "and be made Duke of Benedict Arnold." WASHINGTON BEFORE THE REBELLION. 9 " Nonsense ! " she exclaimed, " but we will make you an ad miral." "Certainly," I replied, "Admiral of the Blue, for I should feel blue enough to see everything turned upside down, and our boasted liberty and civilization whistled down the wind." " What would you have ? " she inquired. " Would you have us tamely submit to all the indignities the North have put upon us, and place our necks under their feet ? Why, this very day my blood fairly boiled while I was in Congress, and I could scarcely contain myself. That old Black Republican, Mr. , was berating the Southern people as if they were a pack of naughty children.

However, I was indemnified in the end, for Mr. Rhett took the floor and gave the man such a castigation that he slunk away and was no more heard from. We can stand these outrages no longer, and will take refuge in a monarchy — a glorious monarchy ! " "Of course you will be queen," I said. "Well, I should be happy to serve under such a beautiful majesty, but somehow I like this homely republicanism under which I have been brought up, and so I will stick to it ; but don't repeat to others what you have said to me, for it might compromise your husband." "Ah," she exclaimed, "he thinks as I do ! " Just then we reached the White House. I helped the lady from the carriage and escorted her into the great hall. I proposed to take my leave, but she insisted on my remaining, saying, " I want to tell the President the good news."

Heavens and earth ! thought I, what will happen next ? " No, thank you," I said, "I will take some other opportunity to see the President," and, taking my leave of the lady, I went out and never 6aw her afterward. I rode back to the house to return the borrowed carriage, and, when I reached the door, heard sounds of merriment issuing from the mansion, and was induced to step into the parlor. As I entered I was welcomed with boisterous shouts by a dozen gentlemen, only two of whom I had ever met before. They em braced me, and insisted on my drinking with them, but this I de clined, thinking there had been too much drinking already. I can only compare the scene to Pandemonium. " The people all acted like the jacks at the Nore, And ran the Palmetto flag up to the fore, Where all ranted and raved, and their language, O dear!

Was so full of billingsgate 'twas shocking to hear. Cooney and lawyer, politician and sage, And the craziest men of the palmetto age, With defiant looks, Full of crotchets and crooks, Were chafing and swearing and scowling so black As hosts sometimes do when the dinner's put back. Yet few of the folks at that chivalric fair Seemed willing to think — nor a curse did they care — That a sword hung over them just by a hair. Old Clootie was there, and said all was right ; 'Twas he held the bottle, and urged on the fight, And stood up in his place, With his stoical face, His hands meekly folded, as if he'd say grace, While Rebellion was moving at an awful fast pace." The only person who seemed to preserve his equanimity was the master of the house, who sat, calm and smiling, conversing with an uproarious friend who had partaken deeply of the flowing bowl.

When I had an opportunity I asked the host quietly if there was anything in this excitement, and if it could be possible that the Southern States would secede. "What more do they want?" I inquired. " They have a majority in the Senate and in the House, and, with the Supreme Court on their side, they can make laws to suit themselves." " Yes," he replied, his bright eye almost looking through me, "most people would be satisfied with that. <l ' Better to suffer from the ills we have, Than fly to others that we wot not of.' "But you will join ns," he continued, " and we will make you an admiral." "Thank you," said I, "but I am going to the California gold mines, and when the South and the North have done quarreling, and all you seceders have come back and taken your seats in Con gress, I will join the navy again."

"You must join us," he said, "for we will have a navy to be proud of." A few weeks later my friends left Washington for the South, regretted by all who knew them. Their house had been the rendezvous of the most brilliant and refined persons at the capital. The clever women of the South met there to discuss the prospects WASHINGTON BEFORE THE REBELLION. 11 of a Southern confederacy or monarchy, and to urge on their slow moving husbands in what they considered the path of duty. These ladies saw in the distance the gleam of the coronets that were to encircle their fair brows, and certainly none were more fitted, by the graces of mind and person, to wear them than the beautiful Southern women who formed the bright galaxy of stars in Wash ington society. As to the lady whom I accompanied to the White House, she shone, like Venus, brighter than all the other planets, and her de parture cast a gloom over the firesides of the friends she left behind in Washington, soon to be overshadowed by the stirring scenes at the outbreak of the civil war — the tramp of legions of soldiers through quiet streets where, since the rebuilding of the Capitol, had been heard nothing more stirring than " Sounds of revelry by night," or the simple pageants which accompanied the President to and from the Capitol at the quadrennial inauguration.

No wonder the capital and its surroundings seemed stupid to these vivacious Southerners, and that their hearts were not satisfied with our plain republican trappings. An opera-house or two, half a dozen fine theatres, and a court, or the semblance of one, at the White House — something more in the style of the present day — might have prevented the catastrophe which overwhelmed both North and South. The Romans understood these things better than we. They omitted nothing to keep the people amused ; they even had the street fountains at times run with wine, and the investment was worth the money spent. But what could one expect at a court presided over by an old bachelor whose heart was dead to poetry and love ; who sat at din ner with no flowers to grace the festive board, and never even wore a boutonniere on his coat-lapel ; who eschewed everything like official state, and was content to live out his term of office in plain republican simplicity ?

What was there to attract charming women to an administration like that of Abraham Lincoln, conducted with even more sim plicity than that of his predecessor, and only to be appreciated by sturdy republicans that despised all the vanities of a court and took no stock in monarchy ? Barren and dreary as the fair Southerners left the city of Wash ington — to which they intended to return when a Southern court should be established — it has since risen from its ashes like a Phœ nix, and blooms as it never did before. The angels of heaven smile serenely over the happy meeting of those who did all they could to imbrue their hands in each other's blood, but she who once moved radiant amid the throng is still ab sent from the Federal capital. " She was superb — at least so she was thirty summers ago — As soft and as sallow as autumn, with hair Neither black nor yet brown, but that tint which the air Takes at eve in September, when night lingers lone Through a vineyard, from beams of a slow-setting sun ; Eyes the wistful gazelle's, the fine foot of a fairy, A voice soft and sweet as a tune that one knows.

Something in her there was set you to thinking of those Strange backgrounds of Raphael, that hectic and deep Brief twilight in which Southern suns fall asleep. Thou abidest and reignest forever, O Queen Of that better world which thou swayest unseen." It is not my intention at this late day to reflect upon the motives of those whose acts brought about such desolation. Let them rest in peace, and may the future bring back to us those who once formed the most refined and delightful society at the capital. They will find the Federal city improved and beautified, ready to receive them with warm hearts and friendly greetings. The capital will smile as of yore when the bright galaxy of Southern ladies which once illumined its halls again take their places in a society they are so well fitted to adorn.

And those clever men of the South — the successors of the great statesmen who played such a prominent part in our early history may they realize the task before them of reconstructing their several States and making their people feel that we all belong to one country, which, if united, can be made the grandest in the world. INTERVIEW WITH MR. SEWARD. 13

Chapter II. Plan To Save Fort Pickens

— DISLOYALTY IN THE NAVY DE- PARTMENT — STEALING A MARCH ON THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. Mr. Lincoln had been installed in the Presidential office, and the subject of relieving Fort Sumter was under discussion. A small squadron was being fitted out for the supposed purpose of relieving the fort, the final action of which was to be guided by Mr. 6. V. Fox, afterward Assistant Secretary of the Navy. My orders to California were still hanging over me, and I had even engaged my passage in the steamer from New York, and was taking my last meal with my family, when a carriage drove up to the door. It brought a note from the Secretary of State (Mr. Seward), requesting me to call and see him without delay ; so, leaving my dinner unfinished, I jumped into the carriage and drove at once to the Secretary's office.

I found Mr. Seward lying on his back on a sofa, with his knees up, reading a lengthy document. Without changing his position he said to me, " Can you tell me how we can save Fort Pickens from falling into the hands of the rebels?" I answered, promptly, "I can, sir." " Then," said the Secretary, " you are the man I want, if you can do it." " I can do it," I said, as Mr. Seward rose to his feet. Those familiar with the history of that period will remember that Lieutenant Slemmer was holding Fort Pickens with a small force and had refused the summons of General Bragg to surrender, and all the naval guns and munitions of war that had fallen into the Confederates' hands were being placed in position behind earth works, preparatory to opening on the Union lines. It was to save Slemmer and the Union works that made Mr. Seward so interested in this affair.

"Now, come," said Mr. Seward, "tell me how you will save that place." I had talked with Captain (now General) Meigs a few days before about this matter. That officer broached the subject to me, and it appears first suggested the matter to Mr. Seward, and the latter, being anxious to show the Southerners that the Government had a right to hold its own forts, and seeing the likelihood of our losing Fort Sumter, listened very kindly to Captain Meigs's sugges tions. Our plan was to get a good-sized steamer and six or seven com panies of soldiers, and to carry the latter, with a number of large guns and a quantity of munitions of war, to Fort Pickens, land them on the outside of the fort under the guns of a ship of war, and the fort would soon be made impregnable — that was all. I repeated this to Mr. Seward, and said to him, " Give me command of the Powhatan, now lying at New York ready for sea, and I will guarantee that everything shall be done without a mis take."

Mr. Seward listened attentively, and, when I had finished what I had to say, he invited Captain Meigs — who had come in in the mean time — and myself to accompany him to the President. When we arrived at the White House, Mr. Lincoln — who seemed to be aware of our errand — opened the conversation. " Tell me," said he, " how we can prevent Fort Pickens from falling into the hands of the rebels, for if Slemmer is not at once relieved there will be no holding it. Pensacola would be a very important place for the Southerners, and if they once get posses sion of Pickens, and fortify it, we have no navy to take it from them." " Mr. President," said I, " there is a queer state of things ex isting in the Navy Department at this time. Mr. Welles is sur rounded by officers and clerks, some of. whom are disloyal at heart, and if the orders for this expedition should emanate from the Secretary of the Navy, and pass through all the department red tape, the news would be at once flashed over the wires, and Fort Pickens would be lost for ever.

But if you will issue all the or ders from the Executive Mansion, and let me proceed to New York with them, I will guarantee their prompt execution to the letter." "But," said the President, " is not this a most irregular mode of proceeding ? " " Certainly," I replied, " but the necessity of the case justi fies it." " You are commander-in-chief of the army and navy," said Mr. Seward to the President, " and this is a case where it is necessary MR. SEWARD TAKES THE INITIATIVE. 15 to issue direct orders without passing them through intermedia ries." " But what will Uncle Gideon say ? " inquired the President. " Oh, I will make it all right with Mr. Welles," said the Secre tary of State. " This is the only way, sir, the thing can be done." At this very time Mr. Welles was — or supposed he was — fitting out an expedition for the relief of Fort Sumter.

All the orders were issued in the usual way, and, of course, telegraphed to Charles ton, as soon as written, by the persons in the department through whose hands they passed. Mr. Seward was well aware of this, and he wanted to prevent such a thing happening in this instance. Mr. Welles, no doubt, had the Powhatan on his list of available vessels, and may have relied on her to carry out his plan for the relief of Sumter. Orders had been sent for the several vessels to rendezvous off Charleston on a certain day, but, strange to say, no orders had been issued for the Powhatan to join them, for reasons that will appear in the course of my narrative. I observed one thing during this interview, and that was that the best of feeling did not exist between the heads of the State and Navy Departments.

Mr. Seward doubtless thought that he had not been as much consulted as he ought to have been in the fitting out of the expedition for the relief of Sumter. He looked upon himself as Prime Minister, and considered that the Secretary of the Navy should defer to him in all matters concerning movements against those in rebellion, in which opinion Mr. Welles did not concur. Mr. Seward was by nature of an arbitrary disposition, and wanted everything done in his own way — not a bad qual ity on occasions, but apt to create confusion if persevered in in too many cases. In this instance it was eminently proper that the Secretary of State should take the initiative. In the course of the conversation Mr. Lincoln remarked : " This looks to me very much like the case of two fellows I once knew : one was a gambler, the other a preacher.

They met in a stage, and the gambler induced the preacher to play poker, and the latter won all the gambler's money. 'It's all because we have mistaken our trades,' said the gambler ; 'you ought to have been a gambler and I a preacher, and, by ginger, I intend to turn the tables on you next Sunday and preach in your church,' which he did." It was finally agreed that my plan should be carried out. I wrote the necessary orders, which were copied by Captain Meigs and signed by the President, who merely said as he did so, " Sew ard, see that I don't burn my fingers." The first order was for me to proceed to New York and take command of the steam frigate Powhatan, proceed at once to Fort Pickens, run across the bar and anchor at all hazards on the in side, where I could cover the fort and co-operate with Captain Meigs while he was landing the troops, which were to go in a steamer chartered for the occasion.

The second order was for the commandant of the New York navy-yard, directing him to fit out the Powhatan with all dispatch and with the greatest secrecy, and under no circumstances to inform the Navy Department until after the ship had sailed. The third order was to the commanding officer of the Pow hatan, informing him that circumstances required that the utmost dispatch and secrecy should be observed in fitting out the ship, and that it was necessary for the President to confide the execution of his plans to some one who understood them thoroughly, in order that they might be carried out ; that for this reason he was com pelled to detach Captain Mercer from the command of the Powhat an, but that, having the highest confidence in his abilities and pa triotism, the President gave him the option to select any other ship in the navy, etc.

Armed with these documents, I bade the President good-day, and, in company with Captain Meigs, proceeded to the headquar ters of the General-in-Chief, General Scott, then the military ora cle, without whose authority no troops would have been granted. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes was at that time General Scott's Military Secretary, and when we called on the general he showed us into the anteroom, where Meigs unfolded to him our plans and instructions, requesting that the general would grant us an audi ence as soon as possible. When Keyes delivered the message, General Scott gruffly in quired what we wanted, and, when informed, said, " Tell Captain Meigs to walk in ; I won't see any naval officer ; he can't come in." The fact was, the general at that moment was suffering from a severe attack of gout, which made him unwilling to see anybody outside of his military family.