THE C. S. STEAMER WIZARD.
Successful strategy owes as much to the stupidity and inertness of one
party as it does to the shrewdness and activity of the other. If Mr.
Granger had not been shrewd in discovering the purpose of the rebels,
and active in defeating it, in a few minutes more they would probably
have fired into the boats, and either sunk them or driven them from
their hiding-place under the lee of the island. Whoever commanded the
rebels must have seen that the man-of-war boats could keep out of the
way of the Wizard’s gun by dodging round the island, and that the game
of “hide-and-seek” would be prolonged till his Southern patience was
entirely exhausted.
By landing the gun on the island, he expected to drive the boats
away from their covert, and enable the steamer to destroy or capture
them. From the information that Jack Somers had procured, it was
further evident that the rebels indulged the hope of surprising
the boat-expedition. The gunners whom he had seen were rolling the
field-piece up the slope with the utmost caution. Not one of them spoke
a word; and all of them crouched down, so that not a head should be
seen over the crest of the island. The stealthy movements of the man
whose eager eyes Jack had confronted furnished additional testimony on
this point.
It is plain, then, that, if Mr. Granger had not thought to send a
lookout-man to the high ground, he would have been caught in the trap
which the enemy set for him. He had discovered the plan; and he could
now see the smoke-stack of the steamer receding from the island. She
was to obtain a position so that she could open upon the boats the
moment they were driven away from the shore by the piece she had
landed. Mr. Granger did not become a victim of the enemy’s strategy.
His prudence and forethought had defeated it.
Almost all strategic operations are attended with more or less risk.
The movements uncover some assailable point. Mr. Granger was actually
pleased with the strategy of the rebels on this occasion. He and his
opponent had commenced a new game to determine which was the abler
strategist. Thus far, he had exhibited neither the stupidity nor the
inertness that belongs to the victim of successful strategy.
“Give way!” said Mr. Granger, glancing at the smoke-stack of the Wizard.
The men pulled the steady man-of-war stroke which discipline had
rendered so familiar to them. There was no hurry or nervousness in
their movements. Not a man “crabbed his oar,” or lost his stroke,
though the race appeared to be for life, certainly for success. Mr.
Granger sat in the stern-sheets as calm as a block of marble. His
demeanor impressed the men with the belief that he knew what he was
about. They had confidence in him, and were ready to run or fight as
ordered, without asking a question or suggesting a doubt. If this
was not time of all the blue-jackets, it certainly was of all but
Grummet; and he growled more from the force of habit than from want of
confidence in his officers.
After the boats had pulled a short distance, the order was given for
the rowers to lie on their oars. The commander of the expedition kept
one eye on the smoke-stack of the steamer; and as soon as she swung
round, and headed towards the north side of the island, he was ready to
develop his next movement.
“Give way with a will!” said he, as he gave orders to his cockswain in
what direction to steer.
The boats were headed round the south end of the island, while the
Wizard was going round the north end.
“Clear away your guns forward!” said Mr. Granger.
Old Grummet sprang to the howitzer in the first cutter. A grim smile
lighted up his face as he adjusted the tackle, and put the piece
in condition for instant use. Tom Longstone was with him, and the
most perfect harmony now subsisted between them. While they were
thus engaged, the officer in each boat detailed seven men to act as
“boarders.”
“Now, Jack, my beauty, you are goin’ to see some fightin’,” said Tom,
when the gun was ready for use.
“That’s so, Tom; and I’m in for my share of it.”
“So you be, Jack. I see you’ve got a cutlash.”
“I’m one of the boarding-party.”
“Now, stand right up to it, Jack, like a man.”
“Oh! you needn’t be afraid of me. I’ve got my hand in already,” replied
Jack, as he glanced at the weapon he carried.
“Yes, and you’ll be butchered like a young pig,” sneered old Grummet.
“It’s worse nor murder to send little boys like that to board the
lubbers on the island. Why don’t he send men as is fit for such work?”
“You needn’t have any fears about me, Grummet. I’ll do my share of the
work: if I don’t, you may call me a marine.”
“You’re a good boy enough, my lad; but you aren’t no more fit for such
work than the Evil Sperit is for a missionary,” added Grummet more
graciously.
“All ready forward?” said Mr. Granger.
“All ready, sir!” answered Grummet, who was acting as captain of the
gun.
The boats were now rounding the end of the island; and a few more
strokes of the oars brought them to a point where the officers could
see the gun on shore, and the men who were putting it in position for
use.
“Give way with a will!” shouted Mr. Granger, as he passed forward to
the howitzer in the bow of the cutter.
The men redoubled their efforts at the oars, till they bent like reeds
in their hands.
While they were making these preparations for the bold assault, the
rebels on shore were not idle. They dragged the gun to a place where it
commanded the boats; and, when the first cutter was within ten rods of
the shore, a solid shot whizzed over her, and plunged into the water
between the second and third cutters, which were only a short distance
astern of her.
At this moment, Mr. Granger sighted the howitzer in the bow of his
boat, and ordered the man at the lanyard to fire. At the same time, the
second and third cutters followed the example of the first. The rebels,
discovering the intention of the boats in season, threw themselves flat
on the ground behind the crest of the island, and thus escaped all
injury. The fire of neither party was effectual; and the gunners on the
island, perhaps appreciating the celerity with which old man-of-war’s
men handle a gun, instead of loading up their piece, and firing again,
busied themselves in dragging it over the top of the island, where they
could work it without being exposed to the fire of the boats.
While the rebels were tugging away at their gun, the three cutters
dashed up to the shore; for it was no part of Mr. Granger’s plan to
remain in the boats, and let the gunners knock them to pieces at their
leisure. As the first cutter touched the island, he drew his sword, and
put on a very business-like air, which Jack could not help admiring. He
seemed to be as much at ease as though the success of his strategy had
already been demonstrated, and his work actually accomplished.
“Boarders, away!” said he in his quick, sharp tones, as he leaped on
shore, followed by the seven men from the first cutter who had been
detailed for the purpose.
His party was immediately re-enforced by the fourteen men from the
other boats; and, starting off at a run, they advanced towards the gun
at the summit of the hill. Probably at this time the commander of the
rebels discovered what an awful blunder he had made; and, very likely,
visions of a court-martial began to dance before his vision. But, if no
one made blunders in war, it would be a more trying and difficult game
than it is at present.
The boarding-party rushed upon their prey; for, with two to one of the
rebels, they could hardly be regarded in any other light. They saw the
gleaming cutlasses of the blue-jackets, and the dash and fury with
which they advanced. A few pistols were fired: but the resistance was
brief and feeble; and, in less time than it would take to describe the
operation, the rebels were borne down and captured. Two of the gunners
were wounded, and one of the boarding-party had a pistol-ball through
his right arm.
Twelve of the men were ordered to drag the gun down to the water,
while six more marched the prisoners in the same direction. The latter
were disarmed, and the ammunition for the field-piece thrown into the
water. Four men, doubly armed, were detailed to guard the rebels; the
assistant-surgeon was sent on shore to dress the wounds of the injured
men; and the rest of the party returned to their places in the boats.
As soon as Mr. Granger had given his orders for the disposition of
the prisoners and the wounded,--for he did not deem it advisable to
encumber the boats with them in the more difficult and dangerous work
yet to be performed by the expedition,--he returned to the first
cutter. He had carefully watched the movements of the Wizard during
these exciting moments. She was now sweeping round the south end of the
island.
Mr. Granger had now a double duty to perform in protecting his party,
and preventing the recapture of his prisoners on shore. There was
apparently no opportunity for the practice of strategy; and it looked
very much like a hand-to-hand fight for the possession of the steamer.
The cool lieutenant in command gave his orders to Mr. McBride and the
master’s mate in charge of the third cutter, and in a few energetic
words informed the men what he intended to do, and urged them to do
their duty as American seamen.
His address was received with a lusty cheer, and the boats were ordered
to cast off. The steamer continued on her course towards the place
where the cutters had landed; her people probably being not yet fully
aware of the extent of the catastrophe which had overtaken their
auxiliary force on shore.
“Give way, my lads!” said Mr. Granger, when the boats had shoved off;
and on they dashed towards the Wizard, which was now only a few rods
distant.
Twelve men from each boat were ordered to act as boarders, and the guns
in the bows were in readiness to open on the steamer. At the right
time, the command was given to fire, and the howitzers sent their
charges of grape into the Wizard. Before the people in the boats could
ascertain the effect of the shot, the steamer returned the fire with
solid shot. The ball struck the second cutter on the quarter; glancing
off, however, so as to inflict but little damage.
“Give way lively, my lads!” shouted Mr. Granger.
“Now, my baby, don’t you let ’em hurt you,” said Tom Longstone. “We
shall be aboard of ’em in half a minute more.”
“I’ll do my duty, Tom. If anything happens to me, you will ask Mr.
Bankhead to write to my mother, won’t you?”
“Sartin, my lad; but you mustn’t let ’em hurt you, my little infant.
Keep your cutlash flying; and have your pistol handy for use, if you
git in a tight place.”
“Steady! Lie on your oars!” said Mr. Granger, whose boat was a little
in advance of the others.
“See him!” added Tom, glancing at the officer in command. “Isn’t he
a darling? See how he does it! That man ought to be a commodore.
See that! There comes the second cutter; and there goes the third
cutter,--she is going to board her over the starn, while we take her on
for’ard.”
“Give way, my men!” said Mr. Granger in a deep, energetic tone, which
seemed to electrify the muscles of the oarsmen. “All ready there,
forward! Steady! Avast pulling!” he added, as the first cutter darted
in under the port-bow of the steamer.
“All ready, my darling!” said Tom Longstone in a low, encouraging tone;
for he seemed to feel that it was part of his duty to keep up Jack’s
courage during this trying ordeal.
Our sailor-boy, however, needed no such stimulus. He was fully alive
to the duty of the hour,--anxious to honor his flag, and distinguish
himself. He had been in one slight brush with the rebels, and was fully
prepared for the desperate work before him.
“Boarders away!” cried Mr. Granger.
“Boarders away!” shouted Mr. McBride, in the second cutter on the
starboard bow, at the same instant.
The rebels on the deck of the Wizard were in readiness to repel
boarders; and the first gallant tar who leaped on board fell back with
a ball through his heart. The second was pierced with a bayonet; but
he was followed by Tom Longstone, whose cutlass cleft the skull of the
rebel who disputed his passage.
“Lay ’em aboard, my lads! Sweep the decks!” shouted Mr. Granger, as he
gained a footing upon the forecastle of the Wizard.
Jack Somers was by the side of Tom; but he had scarcely reached the
deck before he saw a rebel bayonet darting towards his heart. Turning
it aside with a blow of his cutlass, he fired his pistol, and the man
dropped.
“No pistols! Don’t fire a pistol!” exclaimed Mr. Granger, turning round
to see who had done so. “You will hit our own men on the starboard
side!”
When the commander turned, a rebel soldier rushed upon him. He had lost
his gun in the affray; and he sprang at the throat of Mr. Granger,
evidently with the intention of wrenching his sword from his grasp.
Jack saw the movement, and received the soldier upon the point of his
cutlass, and beat him back.
The soldiers on board fought with desperate energy; but the
determination of the seamen drove them back towards the stern of the
steamer, where, by this time, the boarding-party from the third cutter
had gained the deck. They saw their fate, if they persisted; and one by
one they surrendered to the victors, and the Wizard was in possession
of the cutters’ men.
“Are you hurt, my dear?” demanded Tom Longstone when the fighting was
finished.
“Not a bit, Tom. How is it with you?”
“Nothing to speak of, my lad: only a slash in the hand with a bayonet.
The bloody rebel had near-a’most harpooned me like a dolphin, when I
caught the tool in my hand,” replied Tom, as he exhibited the wounded
member. “Got a handkercher, Jack?”
The article was furnished; and Tom wrapped up his wound, and then
seemed to forget all about it.
“The steamer is ours!” said Mr. Granger, after the last soldier and
deck-hand had been secured.
“Hurrah!” yelled the blue-jackets; and the cry was taken up by the men
in the boats, who had not been permitted to have an active part in the
encounter.