Frank Before Vicksburg Part 16

"'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 a.s.sisted me up the stairs, in spite of my a.s.sertions 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 pa.s.sed the time miserably enough. Every able-bodied man on board the s.h.i.+p 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-s.h.i.+p 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 sh.o.r.e, the captain thrust his head from the pilot-house, and shouted:

"'Get ash.o.r.e there, you sea-cooks! Get ash.o.r.e 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 ash.o.r.e, 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 compet.i.tor, 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 s.h.i.+p in a proper manner. The moment I touched the water, I struck out for the sh.o.r.e, 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 s.h.i.+p 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 pa.s.sed all of my compet.i.tors 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 anch.o.r.ed. 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-s.h.i.+p. I was well again in two weeks, and learning that a naval battery was to be mounted on sh.o.r.e, volunteered to a.s.sist 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-s.h.i.+p 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 anch.o.r.ed.

CHAPTER XVI.

The Rival Sharp-Shooters.

About half-past four o'clock, on the succeeding morning, just after Frank had come off watch, and was dozing in his berth, he was awakened by a loud crash. Starting up, he discovered his looking-gla.s.s in fragments, and the pieces scattered about over the floor. While he was wondering what could have been the cause of the accident, he happened to discover that the bulk-head behind the looking-gla.s.s was splintered, which looked very much as though it had been done by a musket-shot; and, at the same instant, he heard a shrill whistle, with which he was perfectly familiar. He also heard a rustling in the bunk above him, and Mr. Williams, his room-mate, sprang suddenly upon the floor, exclaiming:

"My goodness, Mr. Nelson! the rebels are shooting at _us_."

"I see they are," answered Frank, coolly, as he slowly arose from his berth and commenced drawing on his pants; "just see our looking-gla.s.s!

But where are you going?" he asked, finding that his room-mate was frantically gathering up his clothing.

"I'm going to get below as soon as I can," was the answer. "Don't you know that this room isn't iron-clad?"

"Yes, I know that. But what's your hurry?"

Mr. Williams did not stop to reply, but, having collected all his clothing, opened the door and sprang out on deck. One bound carried him to the gangway that led to the main-deck, and in a moment more he had disappeared. Frank was laughing heartily at the comical figure his timid room-mate had cut, when another shot came cras.h.i.+ng through the bulk-head, and lodged in the mattress in the berth above him, showing how narrow had been Mr. Williams's escape. This made him think that he also had better be getting below. He waited, however, until he was entirely dressed, and then walked slowly out on the quarter-deck, and took refuge behind the wheel-house, intending to make himself acquainted with the nature of the attack before going below. The officer of the deck and the quarter-master on watch were the only persons in sight, and they, too, were standing behind the wheel-house for protection.

"What seems to be the matter, Mr. Martin? Are we likely to have a brush?"

"O no," answered the latter; "a few rebels have taken possession of the battery from which we drove them yesterday, and are trying to pick some of us off. Did you see 'Nuisance' when he came out of his room? He ran like a streak, but came very near being winged, for a ball struck the deck not six inches from him."

At this moment the captain appeared, and went into the pilot-house, that he might investigate matters without running the risk of being struck by the bullets. He had scarcely closed the door, when a ball carried away the latch. Had he been a moment later, he would certainly have been killed.

"A close shave," said he, with a laugh. Then raising one of the windows of the pilot-house, he shouted, "On deck, there!"

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Mr. Martin.

"Get under cover as quickly as possible; and, Mr. Nelson, see if you can throw a few sh.e.l.ls among those fellows, and drive them out of there."

It was not an easy task to get under cover, for, the moment they showed themselves, the bullets whistled about them like hail-stones. But, after dodging from one stanchion to another, using even the sky-lights for concealment, they succeeded in reaching the main-deck, where they were safe. Frank ran into the turret, while Mr. Martin and the quarter-master dived down the hatchway, and ran up into the pilot-house.

"Turn out, you first division, and cast loose that No. 2 gun," shouted Frank, as he reached the gun-deck, where the crew were still sleeping soundly in their hammocks. "Turn out lively, lads."

The men at once sprang out of their comfortable beds, and, as soon as the deck was cleared of the hammocks, the gun was cast loose. A moment afterward, a hundred-pound shot plunged into the battery, raising a cloud of dust; but the rebels had seen the flash of the gun in time to throw themselves behind the embankment and escape.

"On deck, there," shouted the captain, through the trumpet. "That was very well done. Try them again, and fire a little higher, and a trifle further to the left."

"Very good, sir," shouted Frank, in reply; and the gun was again pointed, and another breach was made in the battery, but a loud, derisive shout was sent back in reply, showing that the shot had been without effect.

For nearly an hour the fight was kept up, Frank using his gun as rapidly as possible, and the rebels replying with their bullets, which rattled harmlessly against the Trenton's iron mail, until the captain, finding that it was impossible to dislodge them, gave the order to cease firing.

As soon as Frank had seen the gun secured, he left the deck and went into the ward-room. It was filled with officers, who had been awakened by the firing, and were engaged in an animated conversation on the probabilities of having breakfast.

"If the rebels continue to shoot at us, I don't know what you can do, gentlemen," said the caterer. "You know that the galley is on deck, and I can't send the cook up there, where he will be in danger of his life.

When you get hungry you will find plenty of hard-tack and pickles in the paymaster's store-rooms."

"O no," said the executive officer, "I am not going without my breakfast. There's no danger."

"If you will go on deck, and remain there five minutes," said the caterer, "I'll agree to cook some breakfast for you."

The proposition was accepted by the executive officer, and the two men went on deck, and walked toward the galley. They reached it in safety, when the executive said, triumphantly:

"What do you think now? I told you there was no danger."