345
God , believe also in me? ” u Well, what should he have said ? ” inquired thefather. “ Why, he ought to have said, ‘ Let not your heart be troubled: yebelieve in God , believe also in the gun-boats .’ ”
On arriving at Cairo, I found Representative Elihu B. Washburne , after-ward our minister to France , waiting for an opportunity to visit the army,then in Missouri , in the neighborhood of Island Number Ten, cooperatingwith Admiral Foote in the reduction of that stronghold. We embarkedtogether on a small tug-boat which carried the mail down to the fleet. Wearrived and landed alongside the flag-ship Benton , and were cordially greetedby Admiral Foote. I presented a letter which I had brought from the Secre-tary of the Navy. We withdrew to his cabin to consider the plans of thefour new gun-boats. Mr. Washburne was sent to the Missouri shore. Afterdiscussing the plans of the new boats for fifteen or twenty minutes, wereturned to the deck.
At the time we landed, the Benton and the other boats of the fleet wereanchored between two and three miles above the Confederate forts, and werethen throwing their shells into the enemy’s works. When we boarded theBenton Admiral Foote had his lorgnette in his hand, and through it waswatching the flight of each shell discharged from the guns of his ship. Heresumed this occupation when we came up on deck, until, after a shot or twohad been fired, one of his officers approached and handed him a dozen ormore letters which had been brought down in the mail. While still convers-ing with me, his eye glanced over them as he held them in his hand, and heselected one which he proceeded to open. Before reading probably four lines,he turned to me with great calmness and composure, and said, “ Mr. Eads,I must ask you to excuse me for a few minutes while I go down to my cabin.This letter brings me the news of the death of my son, about thirteen yearsold, who I had hoped would live to be the stay and support of his mother.”
Without further remark, and without giving the slightest evidence of hisfeelings to any one, he left me and went to his cabin. I was, of course,deeply grieved; and when he returned after an absence of not more thanfifteen minutes, still perfectly composed, I endeavored to divert his mindfrom his affliction by referring to the plans and to my interview with hisbrother. I told him also the anecdote of his little niece which his brotherhad related, and this served to clothe his face with a temporary smile. Ithen asked him if he would be kind enough to assign me some place whereI could sleep on the Benton that night. It was then probably 3 o’clock inthe day. He replied that I must not stay on board. I said that I had comedown for that very purpose, since I wanted to see how the Benton and theother boats worked under fire. I was not particular where I slept; any placewould do for me; I did not want to turn any of the officers out of their rooms.
With a look of great gravity and decision, he replied:
“ Mr. Eads, I cannot permit you to stay here a moment after the tug isready to return. There is no money in the world which would justify mein risking my life here; and you have no duty here to perform, as I have,which requires you to risk yours. You must not stay,” emphasizing the