Reminiscences of Two Years in the United States Navy

by John M. Batten

A pilot wishing to cross with a packet-boat before or in front of the Oneota's bows, from a landing on the Cairo side of the river to the Kentucky side, ran the boat into the Oneota, and the packet was sunk. The packet-boat was laden with passengers, who were all saved.

Don Carlos Hasseltino was chief engineer of the U.S. monitor Catawba, but spent most of his time on board the U.S. monitor Oneota, and was one of the mess-mates of that vessel. I associated with him constantly from October 6, 1865, to January 16, 1866. He was a jolly, kind, sympathetic, and intelligent associate. In height he was about six feet, and had a large, wiry frame. His hair and eyes were black; he wore a black moustache. He never gave offence to any one, but would not suffer himself to be insulted. He carried two Derringers in leather pockets buttoned to his pantaloons above the hips. He was very polite and chivalrous; woe to the person that gave offense or offered insult. I insert here a sketch of his life.

[From the Cincinnati Enquirer of 1880.]

"A LIFE OF ADVENTURE.

"GENERAL DON CARLOS HASSELTINO'S STORY OF HIS STARTLING
CAREER—REBEL SPY AND UNION OFFICER—HIS ADVENTURE IN THE ARMY IN
PERU AS A CUBAN REFUGEE.

"General Don Carlos Hasseltino was met by an Enquirer reporter on a Wabash train the other day. His life has been one of adventure. Previous to the war he graduated at Oxford, in Butler county, in the same class with the gallant Joe Battle, who, with his brother, fell beside their father at Shiloh, while fighting under the flag of the Lost Cause. After graduating he went to Hamilton and read law with Judge Clark, who acquired some notoriety at Hamilton by his advocacy of the right of secession in 1860-61. When the war begun, Hasseltino determined to risk his fortunes with the Confederacy. He started South under the pretext of escorting to her husband in Tennessee Mrs. Dallie, the wife of Adjutant Joe Battle, of the Sixth Tennessee. They passed south from Louisville on the last train which left that city before the war, and arrived at Nashville. From there, young Hasseltino went to Montgomery, Ala., then the Confederate capital, where he was appointed Major, and a little later Lieutenant-Colonel; and was ordered to Pensacola, Fla. When that place fell into the hands of the National troops, he was captured; but within a day or two he made his escape. His next point of duty was at Fort McHenry, from whence he went to Louisville and bought for the Confederate troops a quantity of supplies, and succeeded in getting them safely within the Confederate lines. When General Grant was advancing upon Fort Donaldson, he went out as a spy, and spent most of three days with the Federals. Being recognized, he was ordered to be shot at nine o'clock in the evening, but in the rain and darkness made his escape, and reached the fort at daylight the next morning, drenched and almost frozen. Upon his report being heard, it was decided to evacuate the fort with most of the forces. From Island No. 10 he fell back to Memphis; and, believing that nothing would stay the victorious march of the Union arms, sent in his resignation, which was accepted.

"SECURING A PASS NORTH.

"When the Federals occupied Memphis he remained here, trusting to nerve and luck to get away. To his horror he learned the next day that Colonel Alexander, of the Forty-eighth Indiana, with whom he was at college, was made Provost Marshal of the post, and that no one could leave the city except on a pass issued by him. He had some knowledge of French, and had grown quite a beard since leaving school, and he determined to take the risk. Walking into the Colonel's room, with many shrugs and gesticulations he asked for a 'Permissio San Louie,' and urged it with such vehemence that the Colonel finally said to his assistant, 'Give the d—d Frenchman a pass to St. Louis.' While going up the river he was in constant dread of recognition, but fortunately did not meet a soul whom he knew. Hardly had he landed when he met a former school-mate and intimate friend from Hamilton, who was then Assistant Engineer in the Navy. His friend knew that he had gone south, and accused him of being in St. Louis as a spy. This he denied, and then told him all the details of his adventures, and finally appealed to his friend for advice as to what he should do or where he should go, for he began to feel unsafe there. His friend advised him not to return to Hamilton, where he would be in certain danger; and finally suggested that he apply for an appointment as an assistant engineer in the navy. 'Why, I don't know a steam-engine from a horse-power,' was his answer. But his friend proposed to help him out, and provided him with a lot of books, which would teach him all the theory; and at them he went; and in six weeks he went before the Examining Board and passed as a first assistant engineer, and was ordered to duty on the gunboat Essex, the flag-ship of Commodore Porter, who was in command of the Mississippi river flotilla. This was jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire. He knew nothing practically of the engine, thinking then, as he told his friend, that 'the pumping engine must be for the purpose of moving the vessel sidewise.' But luck was on his side. While lying in port, or before going to duty, he got a few talks with Commodore Porter, and succeeded in getting to the rank of Chief Engineer in the navy, and assigned to duty on the staff of the Commodore. If those who read this will take the trouble to read the report of the Secretary of the Navy to Congress in 1864, they will find that that official transmitted to Congress that part of Commodore Porter's report which embraces a report of Chief Engineer Hasseltino on the construction of iron-clad gunboats, and recommended the adoption of the report.

"INSPECTING GOVERNMENT IRON-CLADS.

"After the close of the ill-fated Red river campaign, Hasseltino was ordered to St. Louis to inspect and superintend the construction of the iron-clads which were being built by McCord & Co. But just before leaving his vessel he had a quarrel with a fellow-officer, whom he challenged; but when the challenge was declined he opened on the other party with a battery of Derringers, fortunately missing the object of his aim.