I belong to the 9th Indiana Cavalry. I had just gone to bed and fallen
asleep, when all of a sudden I was awakened by some horrible noise. I
sprang out of bed and found the cabin full of flame and the passengers
all jumping overboard. The water for a while around was covered with
people struggling for life. I never heard such terrible and mournful
wailings. The glare of light showed a scene such as never before had
been witnessed. I happened to find a log after swimming some distance.
There was eight of us started on this log; before we reached the wood,
however, four of them gave out and sank to rise no more. I had at first
got hold of a shutter, but finding some one else who needed it worse
than I did, I gave it up. I reached the wood on the log and got on to a
tree. I was rescued from my uncomfortable position about daylight from
the little island opposite Mr. Fogleman's house. We found one who had
reached the wood, his name being Wm. Curtiss, of Company F, 1st Virginia
Cavalry. He was almost in the agonies of death, and had clutched the
limb to which he had caught, and could not be taken from his position
until the limb was cut. Mr. Fogleman's house was opened to us, and we
had every attention shown us that could be under the circumstances.