A Race for the Old Flag.
he next day," continued the ensign, "the squadron again got under way and steamed down the river, and came to anchor above, and almost within range of, the heights of Grand Gulf. A casual observer would hardly have thought that the bluffs which arose so majestically, like grim sentinels watching over the lesser heights around them, were bristling with hostile batteries, ready to dispute the further advance of the Union fleet; for, so carefully had they been concealed, that nothing suspicious could be discovered. But we were not deceived. We knew that the trees which covered the bluffs, and waved so gently back and forth in the breeze, concealed fortifications of the most formidable kind, and that Union blood must be shed before they could be wrested from the traitorous hands that had constructed them.
"During the week of inactivity that followed, many an impatient eye was directed toward the heights which, now so quiet, were soon to be disturbed by the noise and confusion of battle. At length the flag-ship was seen approaching, and every one was on the alert. Two more days of inactivity passed, however; but on the third morning, just after the crews had finished their breakfast, signal was made to commence the attack. The anchors were weighed, the men called to quarters, and the fleet bore down upon the rebel stronghold, which was soon enveloped in the smoke of battle.
"The Concord led the advance. For two hours the battle raged with great fury on both sides, the rebels stubbornly holding their ground, in spite of the storm of shells that thinned their ranks and tore up the ground about them. During this time the Concord had again become unmanageable, on account of the strong eddies in the river, and had worked into a position scarcely two hundred yards from the batteries, from which she could not be extricated. It was impossible either to advance or retreat without running into the bank, and if she attempted to round-to, her destruction was certain. Of course, we below, being busy fighting our guns, knew nothing of our danger; but the captain, although as brave a man as ever trod a ship's deck, was not a little dismayed when he found himself in this perilous situation. He did not expect to bring his vessel safely out of the action, but he stood in the pilot-house and issued his orders with as much coolness as though he were going through the regular daily exercise, instead of being under the hottest fire the enemy could rain upon his vessel.
"In the mean time, I had been sending my shells as rapidly as possible toward the rebel gunners, whom I could see moving about in the batteries. Up to this time not one of my men had been injured; but, just as I was in the act of sighting one of my guns, there was a stunning crash, and a vivid light shone for an instant in my eyes, accompanied by a terrific explosion. I saw the air filled with smoke and splinters, heard appalling cries of terror and anguish, and then all was blank. A shell had entered the casemate above the port, killing and wounding several of my crew, and a piece of heavy timber, which had been detached from the bulk-head by the explosion, struck me on the head, and laid me out senseless on the deck.
"When I was restored to consciousness I was lying on a mattress in the engine-room, and anxious faces were bending over me. I remember of mistaking the doctor and his attendants for the men belonging to my gun's crew, and imagining myself still in battle, I gave the order to 'Train that No. 2 gun a little further to the left, and fire;' then I became insensible again.
"About the middle of the afternoon I awoke from a refreshing slumber, but, of course, could not imagine how I came to be in that situation. I felt of my head, which was covered with bandages, and of my arm, which was done up in a sling, and finally the remembrance of the scenes through which I had passed came back to me like a dream.
"While I was wondering how the fight had terminated, and who had come out victorious, a sailor, who had been appointed to act as my nurse, entered the engine-room, and approached the bed on tip-toe. From him I learned that the Concord had been under fire for five hours and thirty-five minutes; that we had been only partially successful, not having silenced all the batteries; that the fleet, with the exception of one vessel, which was lying a short distance above the bluff, and occasionally sending a shell into the batteries to prevent the rebels from repairing the damage which they had suffered, were at their old anchorage again; that the Concord had been struck thirty-five times by heavy shot, but, although quite badly cut up, was not permanently injured; and that our vessel would soon be ready for action again, the entire crew being busily engaged in repairing the damages she had sustained.
"My head and arm pained me considerably; but, being under the influence of some powerful medicine which the doctor had administered, I soon fell asleep, from which I was awakened by the rolling of a drum. Hastily starting up, I found the engineers at their stations, and I knew, by the tramping of feet on the deck above me, that the men were hurrying to their quarters. The 'ruling passion' was strong with me. I had grown so accustomed to yield prompt obedience to the call to quarters, that I quite forgot I was wounded. Springing up, I at once pulled on my clothes—an operation which I found rather difficult on account of my wounded arm—seized my sword, which lay at the head of the bed, sprang up the stairs that led to the main-deck, and ran forward to take command of my division. As I passed the door of the dispensatory, I was confronted by the surgeon, who, holding up his hands in dismay, exclaimed:
"'Mr. Morton! Do you know what you are about? Where are you going?'
"'Going to quarters, doctor. Didn't you hear that drum?'
"'Get below, sir, instantly,' was the doctor's answer. 'Get below! and don't let me catch you on deck again until I give you permission. Get below, I tell you, sir!' he continued, in a louder tone, seeing that I hesitated. 'Haven't you got sense enough to know that you are dangerously wounded? I am surgeon of this ship, and have authority to enforce my commands.'
"Of this I was well aware, and I was obliged to retrace my steps to the engine-room, where I lay down upon the bed.
"The morning's fight having convinced the admiral that, although the batteries had been partially silenced, they could not be completely reduced, without the co-operation of the land forces, he returned to his old anchorage, for the purpose of convoying the transports which were to run by the batteries and ferry the troops across the river below. The latter followed close in the wake of the gun-boats, on which the batteries opened quite as briskly as in the morning. The iron-clads replied, and under cover of their fire the transports passed the batteries in safety, after which the gun-boats also ran by, and assisted in carrying the troops across the river. In this fight the Concord was struck but twice, and no one was injured. As soon as she had been brought to an anchor, the doctor entered the engine-room, and, after regarding me for a moment with an expression that I could not understand, said:
"'You're a nice one, ain't you?'
"'Why, doctor, what's the matter?' I asked.
"'You don't wish to get well, I guess.'
"'O, yes, I do! But I am not badly hurt; there was nothing to hinder me from taking my station.'
"'You will allow me to be the judge of that, if you please,' returned the doctor. 'But I have got a room fixed up for you on deck. Do you feel able to walk up there?'
"'Certainly. I am not hurt, I tell you, doctor,' I repeated. 'I can outrun, outjump, or outlift you; and yet you take as much care of me as though I was badly wounded.'
"'Well, you've got a big hole in your head anyhow,' said the doctor, as he took my arm, and assisted me up the stairs, in spite of my assertions that I was 'able to walk alone.' 'It's an ugly-looking wound. Just take my advice now; let me put you on the sick-list for a day or two, and you will be all right.'
"'Well, don't keep me on the list any longer than is necessary,' I answered, knowing that I would be compelled to submit to the doctor's requirements, whether I wanted to or not. 'I do detest a life of inactivity. I want to be doing something.'
"I was furnished with a bed in the ward-room, for my own quarters had been almost demolished during the late fights, and during the two days that followed, I passed the time miserably enough. Every able-bodied man on board the ship was engaged in repairing damages, while I, being closely watched by the doctor, was obliged to remain quiet. My wounds troubled me very little. On the third day after the fight, to my immense relief, my name was taken off the sick-list, and I was allowed to return to duty.
"The next morning after this, signal was made from the flag-ship to get under way, and resume the attack upon the batteries at Grand Gulf. As we approached the heights, a column of smoke, which was seen arising over the trees, told us that the rebels had abandoned their fortifications. The gun-boats touched the bank at the foot of the hill at about the same moment; and, as the Concord's bows touched the shore, the captain thrust his head from the pilot-house, and shouted:
"'Get ashore there, you sea-cooks! Get ashore there, and hoist the Concord's flag over that fort on the top of the hill! Off you go—run like quarter horses!'
"The sailors did not need a second bidding, but, leaving their quarters, they made a general rush for the place where the boat-ensigns were stowed, and if one of the men succeeded in securing a flag, he was instantly seized by half a dozen others, who desperately struggled to wrest it from him, that they might have the honor of planting it upon the rebel heights, while he struggled as furiously to retain it. All discipline was at an end. The sailors, wild with excitement, were struggling and shouting below, while the captain stood on the quarter-deck, almost beside himself, for fear that his men would be behind, for the crews of each vessel were jumping ashore, bearing in their hands the flags which they had determined to plant upon the deserted fortifications.
"I stood at the hatchway, looking down upon the struggling crew beneath, regretting that my wounded arm—which still continued to pain me at intervals—prevented me from entering as a competitor, when I was aroused by:
"'Mr. Morton! I know you want this, sir.'
"I turned, and found one of the quarter-masters holding out a flag to me.
"'Certainly I want it,' I answered. 'Thank you;' and seizing the flag, I sprang upon the hammock-nettings. At this moment the doctor discovered me, and shouted:
"'Mr. Morton, what are you about, sir? Remember, I only put you on light duty. It will be the death of you, if you attempt to run up that hill.'
"But I was excited, and, without waiting to answer, sprang overboard. I was so anxious to be first, that I could not waste time to go below, and leave the ship in a proper manner. The moment I touched the water, I struck out for the shore, and as I clambered up the bank, I found crowds of men from each vessel running at the top of their speed toward the hill, all bent on planting the glorious old flag on the pinnacle, for the possession of which they had fought so long and desperately. But far in advance of all of them I saw one of the engineers of the Concord. I was both pleased and annoyed at this—pleased that the ship to which I belonged should have the honor of hoisting the Stars and Stripes over the rebel stronghold, and annoyed that I could not be the person who was to raise it. But it was not my disposition to be discouraged. As I had few equals in running, I determined to overtake the engineer, and, if possible, to beat him.
"As soon as I reached the top of the bank, I commenced running, and was soon ahead of many of those who were far in advance of me when I started. The engineer, in the mean time, also proved that he was no mean runner; and the little flag which he carried over his shoulder moved far up the mountain, dancing about among the rocks and bushes like a will-o'-the-wisp, seeming to recede as I advanced. Soon I had passed all of my competitors with the exception of this one, and the race was now between us. Up, up we ran. I soon discovered that I was gaining at every step. Presently I was so close to him that I could hear his quick, heavy breathing. We were rapidly nearing the fort that crowned the crest of the hill, and I redoubled my exertions. The engineer did likewise. It seemed as though the sight of those battered fortifications had infused new life into him, for he ran at a rate that astonished me; and when I reached the top of the hill the little banner had been planted on the breastworks, and my rival lay on the ground, panting and exhausted. Cheers, long and loud, burst from the gallant band standing at the foot of the hill, who had been interested spectators of our movements, and their shouts were answered with redoubled energy by the crew of the Concord, who, in their joy at seeing their own flag planted on the fort by one of their own officers, forgot all the sacrifices they had made to accomplish that end.
"In a short time the heights were covered with men, who busied themselves in completing the destruction which the rebels had commenced. At dark all returned on board their respective vessels, which moved out into the stream a short distance, and anchored. I paid dearly for my foolishness in jumping overboard, and then running that distance in the hot sun; for two days after that I was confined to my bed, and finally, at the doctor's suggestion, I was dumped into an ambulance and sent by land to the hospital-ship. I was well again in two weeks, and learning that a naval battery was to be mounted on shore, volunteered to assist in working it, received permission, and am ready to face any new dangers for the sake of the old flag."
The next day, while Frank and his companion were fighting the battery, the former was surprised by the appearance of a strange officer, who brought orders for him to report on board his vessel without delay. He obeyed the summons, and found that the Trenton had been ordered up the Yazoo River, and that he had been sent for to take charge of a division whose commanding officer had been sent to the hospital. As soon as he arrived on board, the vessel was got under way, and, in company with the flag-ship and several gun-boats, which they found waiting for them at the mouth of the Yazoo River, they started toward Haines' Bluff. The report was, the attack was to be a 'feigned' one, but Frank thought, from the pounding the Trenton received, that it might as well have been a real one.
The fight was continued until dark, when the vessels dropped down out of range of the batteries and anchored.