Frank on the Lower Mississippi

by Harry Castlemon

  CHAPTER VII.

  Frank's First Command.

  The next morning, just after quarters, while the officers were gettingready to go on shore, a boat from the flag-ship came alongside, and theofficer in charge of it was shown into the cabin, as he said he hadbusiness with the captain. Frank, who thought he had accomplishedsufficient to satisfy him to remain on board, sat in the wardroomreading, when the orderly entered and informed him that the captaindesired his presence in the cabin.

  "Mr. Nelson," said he, "here's an order from the admiral, directing meto furnish you with a cutter and an armed crew, and to send you to theflag-ship for orders. I am also instructed to appoint an executive tofill your place during your absence. I expect you will be sent off onsome expedition; so you had better prepare for a long trip."

  The officer who brought the order having returned to his vessel, thecaptain accompanied Frank on deck, and ordered the second cutter to becalled away and furnished with a crew well armed. In a short time theboat was ready, and Frank, buckling on his side-arms, took leave of thecaptain and started toward the flag-ship, wondering what duty he was nowcalled upon to perform, and fully determined that whatever orders hemight receive, however dangerous or difficult, should be executed, ifwithin the bounds of possibility.

  When he arrived on board the Blackhawk, an officer, who appeared to bewaiting for him, conducted him into the cabin, where the admiral satwriting at his desk.

  "Good morning, Mr. Nelson," said he; "take a chair, sir."

  Frank took the seat pointed out to him, and the admiral, taking from hisdesk a bundle of papers, carefully tied up, continued:

  "It has always been my habit, Mr. Nelson, not to let a brave or skillfulaction pass unrewarded, any more than I would allow a bad one to passunpunished. I am now about to give you a much more important, andperhaps dangerous, commission than has yet been intrusted to you. Thispackage contains official documents of the greatest importance, and Iwant you to go down the river, and deliver it to the commanding navalofficer, whom you will find at Acklen's plantation, opposite the mouthof Red River. I know there are rebels all along the banks, but whateveryou do, don't allow these letters to fall into their hands. There areiron weights in the package, and if you should be in danger of capture,throw it overboard. You will take passage on the army transport that nowlies at the stern of this vessel, all ready to start. I send the cutterand armed crew with you, for the reason that the rebels may sink thetransport, in which case you can escape in your boat; for those lettersmust go through, if possible; perhaps the success of this expeditiondepends upon them. The transport, you will find, is in command of asecond-lieutenant. I should feel much safer if I could put one of my ownofficers in charge, but, as the boat belongs to the army, I have noauthority in the matter. After you have executed your orders, return, byfirst opportunity, to your vessel, and report to me by letter. Now, sir,you may go, for they are waiting for you. Remember, I say the success orfailure of this entire expedition may depend upon you; and don't forgetthat you are the young man that saved the Milwaukee."

  Frank bowed himself out of the cabin, sprang into the cutter, andstarted toward the transport that lay alongside of the bank, a shortdistance below the flag-ship. As he stepped on board, he was met by aflashy-looking young lieutenant, dressed in a brand-new uniform, whogreeted him with the inquiry:

  "Are you ready at last? I have been waiting an hour for you. Business isbusiness, you know, and when I command a ship, I don't like to bedetained."

  The lieutenant said this, probably, to impress upon Frank's mind theimportant fact that he was the captain of the steamer, and must berespected and obeyed accordingly. Frank, who knew that he was notsubject to the orders of the lieutenant only so far as the safety of thevessel was concerned, replied that he had come as soon as he could afterhe had received his orders, and turning to his men, directed part ofthem to make the cutter fast to the stern of the steamer, and the othersto carry their arms to the boiler-deck, where they could be readilyseized in case of emergency. The transport was a small side-wheel boatbelonging to the quarter-master's department. The deck-hands were allsoldiers--perhaps half a dozen of them in all--the only steamboatmen onboard being one pilot, four engineers, and as many firemen. The steamerwas armed with two howitzers, mounted on the boiler-deck, and themuskets of the soldiers were stacked in the cabin. The boilers wereprotected by bales of cotton, which were piled on the guards, and thepilot-house was defended in the same manner. A few bales were alsoplaced on the boiler-deck to serve as a breastwork. The whole was underthe command of the lieutenant, who, judging by the orders he issued,knew nothing whatever of the management of a boat.

  Frank had been on board but a few moments, when the engineer's bellrang, to inform the pilot that all was ready for the start. The boat wasmade fast by a single line, which ran from the forecastle to a tree onthe bank, and the gang-plank was out. The lieutenant's first order was,"Haul in that plank." The soldiers obeyed, and then came the command for"somebody to run out there and untie that line."

  One of the soldiers sprang ashore and began trying to cast off the line,which was drawn as taut as a four-mile current could make it. He workedfor several moments, but, of course without success (for the line shouldfirst have been slackened up on board), and then called out:

  "Loosen up that other end, there!"

  "No, no!" replied the lieutenant, "that would allow the boat to swingaway from the bank, and then how would you get on board? It must beuntied from that tree first."

  What difference it could possibly make in regard to the boat's swingingaway from the bank, whether the line was first slackened up on shore oron board, Frank could not determine.

  He was astonished at the lieutenant's ignorance, and amused at his novelmode of casting off a line, while the sailors, who had gathered in agroup on the forecastle, watched the operation with a smile, wonderinghow the affair would end, as they knew that the line could not be"untied" from the tree unless first slackened up on board. But thelieutenant seemed to have his own idea of the manner in which it oughtto be accomplished, and was constantly ordering the man to "Hurry up,there!" The soldiers worked and pulled, but all to no purpose, and thelieutenant, becoming impatient, ordered two more of the men to hisassistance. But the knot, which had been awkwardly made, was jammed, andresisted their utmost efforts.

  "I never did see such a clumsy set of fellows," said the lieutenant, atlength, turning to Frank, who stood beside him, making use of hishandkerchief to conceal his laughter. "We ought to have been two milesdown the river by this time."

  It was evident that he was fast becoming disgusted with his firstattempt at "steamboating," but was too proud to ask advice. At length heturned and walked into the cabin, muttering, "I guess they will get ituntied before night." But Frank was unwilling to wait so long. The delaywas entirely unnecessary, and he had begun to get impatient.

  "Men," said he, addressing himself to the cutter's crew, who wereconvulsed with laughter, "some of you run out that gang-plank, andanother slack up that line."

  These orders were promptly obeyed, and the difficulty was easilyovercome.

  "All gone, sir," shouted Frank to the pilot, meaning that the line wascast off, and in a few moments the transport swung off from the bank,and was plowing her way down the river. Frank leaned over the railing,and wondered how a man so utterly ignorant of the management of asteamer, as was the lieutenant, came to be put in command, and at atime, too, when they might be placed in situations that would call intorequisition all the skill and judgment of experienced men. He did not atall like the appearance of the young commander, for he was of the typeof officers known as "upstarts," who like to show their authority, butare without the ability to successfully fill even the post of corporal.What if the transport should be fired upon and disabled? It was evidentthat in such an emergency nothing could be expected of a man who couldnot cast off a line. Frank's commission was too important to beintrusted to the care of such a man, and the young officer felt that
hewould much rather step into the cutter, and trust to the skill andcourage of his twelve sailors, than to remain on board the transport.Calling the coxswain on deck, he directed that if they were attacked,the cutter should be kept ready for instant use, and in case the vesselwas disabled, they would attempt to finish their journey in her. Aftergiving these orders, Frank went up into the pilot-house, where he foundthe man at the wheel in no enviable state of mind.

  "I'm glad to see you," said he, as Frank entered, "for I want to talk toyou. I'm not at all pleased with the looks of our skipper," he went onto say, "and how he came to be placed in command is a mystery to me.Perhaps the quarter-master thinks, like a good many men who see theMississippi River for the first time, that any body can take charge of asteamboat; but suppose we should run aground--what does that lieutenantknow about sparring off? or what if something about the engine shouldlet down? why, we might go forty miles down the river before he couldget us tied up to the bank. Besides, if we are fired upon, he'llsurrender. Now, mark my words, he'll surrender before he will fight, andI'm opposed to that, for I was a prisoner once."

  "So was I," said Frank, "and I don't mean to fall into the rebels' handsagain, if I can help it. I'll never be surrendered. That lieutenant maynot fight, but I think his men will, and I have twelve good fellows, allwell armed, on whom I know I can depend."

  "Then I feel better," said the pilot. "That's talk I like to hear; forif we are not disabled, we'll go through all right. There goes the bell!Go down and get your dinner."

  Frank deposited his weapons on a bench in the pilot-house and ran downinto the cabin, where he found the lieutenant and two engineers seatedat the table. The former seemed to have forgotten his failure of themorning, for he talked a good deal in a condescending manner, as ifaddressing his inferiors; and to Frank's inquiry if he expected troublefrom the rebels, replied that he had not given the matter a moment'sthought; that if they did attack the vessel, it would not be the firsttime he had smelt powder, and if the engineers and pilot could bedepended upon, he had no fears but that he should be able to take theboat safely through. Frank replied that he trusted the officers wouldnot be found wanting in courage; and when he had finished his meal, hewent on deck again, and surprised the pilot, by offering to relieve himwhile he went down to his dinner. In his spare moments Frank, who wiselyregarded it as the duty of every officer to acquaint himself with everypart of the management of a vessel, had learned to handle the wheel, andhe was an excellent steersman. He could make a landing or get a boatunder way, as well as the most experienced pilot; and in the presentinstance he was fully capable of steering the boat, for as the water inthe river was high, there was no danger of getting out of the channel.

  The pilot gave him his place, and after watching the movements of theyoung officer, who handled the wheel with all the confidence of an oldriver man, he went below to his dinner, satisfied that he had left theboat in safe hands. Frank remained at the wheel most of the afternoon,for the pilot, who would be on watch all night, had gone to bed toobtain a few hours' rest. About four o'clock, however, he made hisappearance, and Frank went down into the cabin, and was engaged inreading a newspaper, when he heard the pilot shout through the trumpetto the engineers:

  "Here they are! Now, push her ahead strong. There's a battery justbelow."

  At the same moment there was a rush of feet on deck, and the lieutenantentered the cabin pale and breathless.

  "We're captured," said he, in a faint voice. "We're surrounded. The bankis black with rebels--ten thousand of them at least! It's no use tothink of fighting."

  As he ceased speaking, he ran on deck again, followed by Frank, whofound his men drawn up behind the cotton-bales, with their weapons intheir hands, waiting for orders. The soldiers had cast loose thehowitzers, and stood at their posts. The lieutenant stopped a moment,just long enough to say, "Boys, we're all captured!" and then ran intothe pilot-house. As Frank stood talking to his men, and encouraging themwith the famous words that never fail to nerve an Americanseaman--"Don't give up the ship!"--a rebel rode out on the bank, in fullview of the steamer, and shouted:

  "Come ashore here, or we'll sink you."

  Frank looked toward the pilot-house, where the lieutenant had takenrefuge, and waited to hear his answer. To his surprise and horror, hesaw a hand extended waving a white handkerchief, and the coxswainexclaimed:

  "Mr. Nelson, he's surrendering us, sir!"

  With one bound Frank sprang up the steps that led to the pilot-house,caught the handkerchief and threw it overboard; and at the same momentthe lieutenant was seized from behind and thrown to the deck. Heinstantly recovered his feet, and turning fiercely upon Frank and thepilot, exclaimed:

  "What are you about? Do you know that you have rendered yourselvesliable to a court-martial? I'm commander of this vessel, and I'll shootthe first man that resists my authority!"

  "You shall never surrender us," said Frank, firmly, not the leastintimidated by the other's threat. "If you will give orders for your mento prepare for action, no one will oppose you. We'll stick to you aslong as a plank of this vessel remains above water."

  "I know my own business," replied the lieutenant. "Resistance isuseless. We never could get by that battery, and I'm going to surrenderto save our lives. Turn her toward the shore, pilot!"

  As he spoke, he walked out on deck, and calling out to the rebel, whohad continued to follow the vessel:

  "I'll surrender! Pilot, I tell you to turn her in toward the shore."

  The pilot gave a glance at Frank, and reading in his face a firmdetermination to go through if possible, held the boat's head down thestream, while a murmur of indignation arose from the men on the lowerdeck, and the coxswain said, turning to his companions:

  "Sink my tarry wig, if that ar' chap ain't going to give us up withoutour having the least bit of a fight."

  Frank stood for a moment irresolute. Ought he to oppose the lieutenant,the lawful commander of the vessel? Was it his duty to stand by andallow himself and his men to be surrendered without even a show ofresistance? And his dispatches, the importance of which the admiral hadstated in such emphatic language, should he throw them overboard,instead of delivering them, as he had hoped to do, to the officer towhom they were addressed? No! Sooner than do that, he would put thecowardly lieutenant under arrest, and give the command to the pilot, aman whom he knew understood his business, and would not think ofsurrender until it had been clearly proved that successful resistancewas entirely out of the question.

  While these thoughts were passing through Frank's mind, the boat, underan increased head of steam, had been rapidly nearing the battery, whichcould be distinctly seen about half a mile below, planted on the bank ofthe river.

  "Come ashore, if you surrender," shouted the rebel.

  "Pilot," said the lieutenant, in a weak voice, "I order you"--

  He never finished that order, for Frank seized him, and pulling him intothe pilot-house, closed the door. He made an attempt to draw a revolver,but the pilot threw him to the deck, when Frank wrested the weapon fromhim and retained it in his possession.

  "All ready forward there?" he shouted to the men on the boiler-deck.

  "Ay, ay, sir," answered the coxswain. "Mr. Nelson's in command," headded, turning to his companions. "Douse my to'-gallant top-lights butwe'll have a skirmish now sure."

  "Do you surrender?" shouted the man on the bank.

  The reply he received was a shot from the pilot's revolver, which madehim beat a hasty retreat. He had scarcely disappeared when a cloud ofmen arose from behind the levee, and a volley of bullets rattled intothe boat. It was answered by a shout of defiance from the men behind thecotton-bales; but the pilot, who stood just in front of Frank, staggeredfor a moment, and sank heavily to the deck. Frank was horrified. Withthat man at the wheel, he had entertained no fears of their ability torun by the battery; but now that he was left alone, with the duties ofboth commander and pilot devolving upon him, his hopes fell again. Buthe could not remain long inact
ive, for the boat, being without a guide,began to swing toward the shore. Hastily seizing the wheel, he turnedher head down the river again, when the battery opened upon them, and astorm of shells plunged into the water and whistled through the airabout the boat. Only one struck her, and that passed through one of thesmoke-stacks, and bursting, demolished part of the roof of thepilothouse. Then, as fast as the guns could be loaded, the batteryplayed upon the transport, and Frank heard the shells crashing throughthe cabin and exploding in the air above him. But he stood bravely athis post, his only fears being of his inability to turn the point onwhich the battery was planted, or that one of the shells might penetratethe cotton-bales and strike the boilers or some part of the machinery.But as he neared the battery, he discovered that the boat was struckless frequently; that the rebels, in their excitement, were firingwildly. His own men, cool and collected, encouraged by the example oftheir officer, had not yet fired a shot; but when the boat arrivedopposite the battery, they opened upon it with the howitzers and smallarms with terrible effect. The point, which extended into the bend wherethe battery stood, was long and sharp, a bad place for one unaccustomedto handling a boat; but Frank passed it in safety, under a full head ofsteam, and cheers of triumph arose from his men, which the rebelsanswered with yells of rage, and continued to follow the transport,sending bullets and shells after her as fast as they could reload. Butthey were speedily left behind, and their yells died away in thedistance.

  Frank's dispatches were safe.