AN EXCITEMENT--SINKING OF THE CINCINNATI--SKY PARLOR HILL--MOVING
PROSPECTS.
With the dawn came the old unrest and distrust, for the shells were again
falling quite thickly around us; and I passed an hour or two in continual
shrinkings and exclamations. At length our tormentors passed farther on,
and I again felt relieved from anxiety.
At ten or twelve o'clock, we saw, in spite of the continual falling of the
shells, gentlemen hurrying toward the river. Soon we heard the Confederate
river batteries booming loudly, and then all was silent. What could it
mean? I did not venture to look without; and so I sat waiting for some one
to come to me. At last a friend appeared, who, in the most triumphant
manner, told us that the Confederates had routed the Federal fleet. The
gunboats had formed in line of battle, sailing down majestically, with the
Cincinnati--one of the finest boats in the river navy--leading the
attack.
She came rapidly down around the point of the peninsula--the signal guns
silent--when the battery, containing the Brooks gun, opened on her, as she
came within range. The first shot cut down the flag; the second struck her
side; and the third, the Brooks ball, with the steel wedge, cut into the
iron plates near the water's edge. She turned immediately, and steamed
back up the river in a sinking condition. The remaining boats, also,
changed their course and retired. The Cincinnati had scarcely turned the
point, when she sank near the shore.
"Ah! yes!" said the Major, "had it not been for the fortunate sinking of
the Cincinnati, you would have become conscious of a fearful warfare
raging in the city. Had the boats gotten opposite and engaged our
batteries, the firing would have been terrific."
The Major also told us that many ladies had been so much interested in the
expected engagement, that they had gone up on Sky Parlor Hill for a better
view.
It has been said that the Federal guns have never been sufficiently
elevated to throw shell and shot so high as Sky Parlor Hill; yet, I should
not like to risk my life for mere curiosity sake, when it was not possible
to be of any service.
The Sky Parlor Hill is so called from its extreme height, being a portion
of the bluff that stood where the principal commercial street now stands,
the grading of the city having taken most of the elevation down. The hill
now occupies about a square--the distance of two squares from the
river--and is a prominent feature from all parts of the city. A rugged
drive winds on one side up the steep ascent, and a long and dizzy flight
of wooden steps ascend from the street on the opposite side.
It is surmounted by a little house that one could imagine surmounted "the
bean stalk," in the celebrated history of "Jack," quaint and old, yet one
that the earlier inhabitants would have called a "fine house."
The view--and that is what the place is visited for--is good, both of the
city and river, for some miles above. Crowds of people collect here on the
occasion of any move being made in the direction of the river.
A large trunk was picked up after the sinking of the Cincinnati, belonging
to a surgeon on board. It contained valuable surgical instruments that
could not be procured in the Confederacy; a letter, also, written to the
gentleman's wife previous to the departure of the fleet from above,
telling her that the letter would be mailed at Vicksburg, as there was no
doubt whatever that the place would be taken when an attack was made from
the river.
It was also said that Commodore Porter was aboard the Cincinnati. How the
fact was ascertained, no one could tell.
Shortly after the sinking of the Cincinnati, I received a note from M----,
saying that he was very much troubled in regard to our safety in the
city--fearing that some time a mortar shell might fall on our cave, or
that the constant jarring of the earth from the near explosion might cause
it to seam and fall upon us. Therefore, he had decided to have a home made
for me near the battle field, where he was stationed--one that would be
entirely out of reach of the mortar shells. I was positively shocked at
the idea--going to the battle field! where ball and shell fell without
intermission. Was M---- in earnest? I could scarcely believe it.
A friend came soon after, and told me that I would find my home on the
battle field far more pleasant and safe than the one in town--that we were
protected from the fragments only in our cave--that on the battle field
the missiles were of far less weight, and in falling far less dangerous.
We were to experience our last and nearest explosion of the
never-to-be-forgotten mortar shells before we left. M---- had written to
me to be ready on the following night. As the moon was not shining, the
firing from the Federal batteries would cease at dark afterward we could
go out without interruption. I was delighted at the prospect of a change
in our mouldy lives, and looked forward to our ride--after dark though it
was--with the utmost pleasure.