Honorably Discharged.
When Frank reached the Boxer, he sent for the executive officer, told
him of what he had heard, and also laid before him the plans he had
adopted to defeat the rebels, which met the hearty approval of that
gentleman. Frank did not think it best to delay putting the vessel in a
state of defense, for the rebels might make the attempt at any time; so
he instructed the executive officer to see that the men were kept under
cover, so that the rebels, if any were on the watch, might not be able
to judge of their numbers. When hammocks were piped that night, not more
than a dozen men answered the call, and when bedtime came, the sailors
stretched themselves out on deck, ready to take their posts at a
moment's warning. The guns were all carefully loaded, the hot-water hose
got ready for use, and the anchor fixed so that it could be slipped in
an instant. Outside, the appearance of the vessel was not changed, the
only thing noticeable being the quantity of smoke that came out of her
chimneys. At eight o'clock Frank inspected the boat, and after seeing
that every man was in his place, he lay down on the sofa in the cabin,
without removing his clothes, and fell asleep. When he awoke, he arose
and went on deck, just as the ship's bell was striking midnight. It was
very dark, and the only sound that broke the stillness was the splashing
of the wheels of a steamer as she went on her way up the river. For an
hour he remained on deck, listening, but without hearing any thing
suspicious until just as he was about to return to the cabin. He had
started down the stairs, when he heard a slight splashing ahead of the
vessel, like a heavy oar dipped carefully into the water. He listened a
moment, and the sound was repeated.
"There they are! They're coming, sure!" said Archie, who stood at his
cousin's side.
"Yes, sir," said Tom, the gunner's-mate, who, in his eagerness to be the
first to announce the approach of the rebels, had remained on deck
during the whole night. "That's them, sir!"
"Tell the officer of the deck to call all hands to quarters as quietly
as possible," said Frank.
The officer ran below, and the young commander heard the sound again,
still faint, but nearer and more distinct than the others. It was well
that he had not put off his preparations to receive the rebels, for they
were certainly approaching. Presently the pilots came up and took their
stations at the wheel, and a moment afterward the executive officer came
up and reported the crew ready for action. So quietly had the men been
aroused, that Frank had not heard them as they moved to their stations.
Nearer and nearer came the sound of oars, and suddenly a large flatboat,
crowded with men, loomed up through the darkness.
"On deck, there!" whispered Frank, leaning over the rail and speaking to
a sailor on the forecastle. "Slip that anchor."
There was the rattling of a chain as this order was executed, and as the
man sprang through one of the ports, a sheet of flame covered the
forecastle, and two twenty-four pound shells went crashing and shrieking
among the rebels.
The pilots rang the bell for the engineers to "come ahead," and as the
Boxer turned out into the river, thus bringing her broadside guns to
bear on the boat, two more shells completed the ruin. The rebels were
caught in their own trap. Their boat was sinking, half their number
either dead or wounded, and all who were able to swim were springing
into the water and making for the nearest shore.
It was so dark Frank could not see the havoc that had been made among
the guerrillas, and he was about to give them another broadside, when he
heard loud cries for quarter. That boat was disposed of, and he turned
to look for the other, (for Captain Wilson had said there were two of
them,) but it was not to be seen. As he afterward learned, the
guerrillas, having been completely deceived as to the force of the
Boxer, had crowded sixty men into one boat, thinking that force
sufficient to insure an easy victory. After running up the river nearly
a mile without seeing any signs of the boat, the Boxer returned to her
station, and found the rebel craft hard and fast aground. Her deck was
covered with dead and wounded, and Frank at once turned his attention to
taking care of the latter. Twenty-three wounded guerrillas were conveyed
on board the vessel, and delivered into the charge of the doctor and his
steward, together with nearly a dozen prisoners, who, being unable to
swim, had not dared to leave the boat. The dead were left where they had
fallen. The Boxer then returned to her anchorage, and Frank, feeling
safe for the remainder of the night, ordered hammocks to be piped, a
command which the sailors gladly obeyed, for their soft mattresses were
much more comfortable than the hard deck. By the time every thing had
been restored to order, the quarter-master reported the Manhattan
approaching. Frank answered her signals, and as she came alongside,
Captain Wilson sprang on board.
"How is it, captain?" he inquired, as Frank met him at the gangway.
"Mercy!" he exclaimed, as he entered the door and saw the wounded rebels
lying in rows on the deck. "Lively while it lasted, wasn't it? How many
men have you lost?"
"None, sir," replied Frank. "If the rebels fired a shot at us, I don't
know it."
"When I heard the firing," continued the captain, "I was afraid you had
neglected to make preparations to receive them, and had got yourself
into a bad scrape. But I see you are able to take care of yourself."
The captain then returned on board his vessel, which moved out into the
river and came to anchor at a short distance from the Boxer, while Frank
retired to his room and fell asleep, well satisfied with his night's
work.
Early the next morning, a single rebel appeared on the bank, with a flag
of truce, and a boat being sent out from the Manhattan, he was conveyed
on board that vessel. In a short time, however, it returned and set the
rebel on board the Boxer.
"I want permission to bury our dead," said the guerrilla, on being shown
into the cabin.
"You must see Captain Wilson about that," replied Frank. "I have no
authority while he is here."
"I have just been to see him," replied the rebel, "and he sent me to
you. He says you command this station."
This was a compliment seldom paid a young officer; but the fact was,
Captain Wilson was so elated at Frank's success, that he determined to
take every opportunity to make his approval known. The young commander,
of course, granted the request, and soon after the Manhattan steamed
down the river.
About a week afterward, a tin-clad came up, and her captain came on
board the Boxer and presented Frank with written orders to report to
Captain Wilson without delay.
"I expect," said he, "that you will take my old station. If you do, you
will have your hands full, for boats are fired into every day; but,
somehow, I was always at the wrong end of my beat to meet the rebels."
When the captain had returned on board his vessel, the Boxer got up
steam, and, in obedience to her orders, started down the river. They
found Captain Wilson the next day, and Frank was assigned a new station.
His beat was about five miles in length, and was a noted place for
guerrillas. Steamboat captains dreaded to pass it, for their boats were
fired into, and often badly cut up. The rebels had a battery of three
guns, with which they were constantly dodging from one point to another,
always taking good care, however, to keep out of reach of the gun-boats.
On the second day Frank arrived at his station, and while running idly
about--for his orders from Captain Wilson were to "keep moving"--a
steamer passed them on her way up the river, and Frank ordered the pilot
to round-to and follow her. The order was obeyed, but they had not gone
more than half a mile, when a battery, mounted on a point which ran for
some distance out into the river, opened on the steamer. The Boxer was
at that moment behind the point and out of sight of the rebels, who,
however, were soon made aware of her presence; for they had scarcely
fired two rounds before a shell dismounted one of their guns. Their
surprise was complete, and abandoning their battery, they ran into the
woods for protection. The Boxer rounded the point, all the while
shelling the woods, and Frank, seeing the guns deserted, landed with his
vessel and secured them. That guerrilla station was, for the present,
broken up. So thought Frank, who ordered the pilot to proceed up the
river until he found the Manhattan. The next day the battery was
delivered up to Captain Wilson, who sent it by the dispatch-boat to
Mound City, which was then the naval station.
From that time hostilities along the river gradually ceased. The Boxer
for nearly a year ran from one end of her beat to the other without
encountering a single armed rebel. Then came the news of the glorious
success of the Army of the Potomac, followed by the intelligence of a
general surrender of the rebel forces. The Boxer was dressed with flags,
salutes fired, and officers and crew looked forward with impatience to
the time when they would be permitted to return home. At length came the
long expected order to report to the admiral at Mound City, where the
reduction of the squadron was rapidly going on.
Although Frank was impatient to see his quiet little home once more, he
was reluctant to part from his crew, whom, upon his arrival at the
navy-yard, he had received orders to discharge. One by one the sailors
came into the cabin, and the hearty grasp of their hands, and the
earnest manner in which they wished their commander "plain sailing
through life," showed that their feelings were not unlike his own.
One morning, upon inquiry at the navy-yard post-office, Frank was
presented with two official documents, which proved to be leaves of
absence for himself and Archie for three months, "At the expiration of
that time," so read the document, "if your services, are no longer
required, you will be honorably discharged from the navy of the United
States. Acknowledge the receipt of this leave, and send your address to
the department."
As soon as this order had been complied with, the cousins began to make
preparations to start for home. Their trunks had been packed several
days before, in readiness for an immediate departure, and in three hours
after the receipt of their leaves they had taken their seats in the
train bound for Portland. The ride had never seemed so long, nor had the
cars ever moved so slowly: but, in due time, they reached the city in
safety. Frank remained but one day in Portland, for he was anxious to
reach home. The "Julia Burton" still made her regular trips from Augusta
to Lawrence, and on the third day he reached the village. Brave was the
first to welcome him as he stepped out of the hack that had conveyed him
from the wharf to the cottage, and not recognizing his master, muffled
up as he was in his heavy overcoat, he stood at the gate, growling
savagely, as if to warn him that he had ventured close enough. But one
word was sufficient. The faithful animal had not forgotten the sound of
the familiar voice, and bounding over the fence, he nearly overpowered
his master with caresses.
The meeting with his mother and sister we shall not attempt to describe.
Those who have passed through similar scenes can easily imagine that joy
reigned supreme in that house.
About a week after his arrival at home, Archie Winters and his parents
reached the village, the latter having "taken a holiday" in honor of the
young paymaster's safe return. The cousins spent their furlough in
visiting their old hunting and fishing-grounds, and in calling upon
their friends. George and Harry Butler had returned, the former with an
empty sleeve, having lost his arm in the Battle of the Wilderness. But
all their companions had not been as fortunate as themselves. More than
one had been offered upon the altar of their country, and many a
familiar face was missing.
At the expiration of their three months' leave, Frank and Archie
received their honorable discharges from the service, the sight of which
recalled vividly to their minds many a thrilling scene through which
they had passed. How changed the scene now from that when they had first
bid adieu to their homes, to join the ranks of their country's
defenders! "Then a gigantic rebellion was in progress; armed men
sentineled each other from Virginia to the Rio Grande; and the land was
filled with the crash of contending armies. Now, the rebel forces are
vanquished, their banner in the dust; the slave empire that was to rise
upon the ruins of the Republic is itself in ruins; and the soldiers and
sailors of the Union, returning their weapons to the arsenals, have
exchanged their honored blue for the citizen's garb, and resumed their
peaceful avocations, as modest and unassuming as though they had never
performed the deeds of valor that have filled the whole civilized world
with wonder."
Frank and Archie are proud of the part they have borne in the war of the
Rebellion, and will never forget their varied and eventful experience in
the MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON.
End of Project Gutenberg's Frank on the Lower Mississippi, by Harry Castlemon