444
THE JVESTERN FLOTILLA,
distinctness, enshrouded by a blnishwhite glare of light, and then herform for the next minute would be-come merged in the intense darkness.”
When opposite Battery No. 2, on themainland, \ the smoke-stacks blazedup, but the fire was soon subdued. Itwas caused by the soot becoming dry,as the escape-steam, which usuallykept the stacks wet, had been sentinto the wheel-house, as already men-tioned, to prevent noise. With suchvivid lightning as prevailed duringthe whole passage, there was no pros-pect of escaping the vigilance of theenemy, but there was good reason tohope that he would be unable topoint his guns accurately. Againthe smoke-stacks took fire, and weresoon put out; and then the roar ofthe enemy’s guns began, and fromBatteries Nos. 2, 3, and 4 on themainland came the continued crackand scream of their rifle-sliells, whichseemed to unite with the electric bat-teries of the clouds to annihilate us.
While nearing the island or some shoal point, during a few minutes oftotal darkness, we were startled by the order, “ Hard a-port! ” from out-brave and skillful pilot, First Master William R. Hoel. We almost grazed theisland, and it appears were not observed through the storm until we wereclose in, and the enemy, having no time to point his guns, fired at random.In fact, we ran so near that the enemy did not, probably could not, depresshis guns sufficiently. While close under the lee of the island and during alull in the storm and in the firing, one of our pilots heard a Confederate officershout, “ Elevate your guns! ” It is probable that the muzzles of those gunshad been depressed to keep the rain out, and that the officers ordered the gunselevated just in time to save us from the direct fire of the enemy’s heaviestfort; and this, no doubt, was the cause of our remarkable escape.
\ The Confederate land batteries above New teryNo. 1. They proceeded in silence, and were un-Madrid were ten in number—five on the eastern observed until within a few rods of the fort, when aside of Island Number Ten ; four (Batteries No. 5, flash of lightning discovered them to the sentries,4, 3, and 2) opposite the island on the mainland, who fired. Our men, who did not reply, were soonas shown on the map (p. 437), besides Battery No. climbing up the slippery bank, and in three min-1, two miles above the island.— Editors. utes more the six guns were spiked, Colonel Rob-
During the dark and stormy night of April 1st erts himself spiking a huge 80-pounder pivot-gun.Colonel George W. Roberts, of the 42d Illinois Reg- Some of these guns had been previously dismount-iment, executed a brilliant exploit. Forty picked ed by our fleet, and were now rendered doubly use-men, in five barges, with muffled oars, left for Bat- less.—H. W.