CHAPTER XV.
REJOIN THE REGIMENT AT MUSTANG ISLAND - RESIGNATION OF MAJOR WILLIAM G. THOMPSON - SCOUTING EXPEDITION ON THE COAST - CAPTURE THE COMMANDER OF A BLOCKADE RUNNER - OUT IN A STORM - EXPEDITION TO LAMAR AND ST. MARYS - CAPTURE A REBEL GUNBOAT OFFICER, A SCHOONER AND A TOWN - REFUGEES, AND SOME OF THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.
IN company with Capt. M. L. THOMSON and Lt. (now Capt.) C. S. SQUIRES, of our regiment, I embarked on the U. S. steam propeller Alliance, and left New Orleans on the 24th of May, arriving at Mustang Island, Texas, on the 29th. I found most of the men occupying small frame houses which had been erected from lumber procured by tearing down houses at various points in the vicinity on the coast, and brought to the island on small boats which they had procured from fishermen. Company C were occupying the fort in the capacity of artillerists - whilst Lt. JOHNSTON of the same company was filling the responsible position of commodore, and in command of the fleet. Major W. G. THOMPSON still commanded the regiment, although at that time in bad health. Among other comforts and luxuries of the camp, I observed that Dr. H. HOWEY, who had succeeded Dr. RISTINE as Surgeon, had established a Dairy, which was in successful operation, but located in too close proximity to the hospital for the welfare of the patients. A
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large number of refugees were also collected at the post, and occupying comfortable quarters - rations being sold to them by the quartermaster on the Major's requisition; the male portion were in the employ of the commodore as ship-carpenters, and the famales principally in the dairy and the Major's kitchen - the latter conducted on a scale of magnificence which done credit to the locality. The officers spent much of their time in seeking shells along the beach, and getting up social parties, which were graced by the presence of the fair refugees; while the men generally occupied their leisure hours in fishing and bathing in the surf, stealing milk from the doctor's dairy, and watching from the summit of a sand-hill for the appearance of a vessel by which they hoped to receive letters from home.
Capt. CHAS. ALTMAN, of company G, having been relieved from duty at Gen. DANA'S headquarters, had re-joined the regiment with his company, and was now filling the position of Provost Marshal at the post. Lt. J. O. STEWART, of Company B, (recently promoted) a very efficient officer, was acting as Adjutant.
I will here relate an incident which, although it may disparage Major THOMPSON'S reputation as a "Martinette" in discipline, will nevertheless illustrate the perfect freedom with which he was at all times approached by men of the regiment; his uniform kindness, gentle. manly deportment, and coolness and bravery on the battle-field, had long since secured for him the friendship of every member of the command, and, notwithstanding
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the undue familiarity sometimes indulged by the men and line officers, it would be difficult to find a regimental commander whose orders were more cheerfully obeyed than were his.
A picket post was established about one mile west of camp, and much care taken by the Major that picket duty was performed in strict accordance with "regulations." When the men were supposed to have become perfect in this duty, he one morning visited the line of pickets with a friend, in order to show him how well they were instructed, and performed this duty. On approaching the sentinel, who was lying down on a sand-hill, they were greeted with the following salutation, addressed to the Major: "Hallo, Bill, got any whisky?" Being thrown off his guard, he replied: "No, really now, I forgot that canteen."
I was somewhat surprised to learn upon my arrival that Capt. E. COULTER, of Company B, and Capt. D. TORREY, of Company D, since the occupation of the post by the regiment had been captured by the enemy. I was never able to learn the particulars of their capture, further than that it occurred on the 14th December, 1863, while they were returning to the regiment from Pass Cavallo, whither they had been on business.
On the 9th of May I received permission to use one of the small boats in an expedition to "Ingleside," a small town on the point at the eastern entrance to Corpus Christi Bay, fifteen miles distant from the post at Mustang, for the purpose of procuring lumber with which
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to build myself a house. I selected twenty men of Company E, and we embarked and sailed at 2 o'clock, P. M. of the same day. Owing to adverse winds and our imperfect knowledge of the manner of handling a sailing vessel, we were compelled to land after nightfall at a small island near the "Ship Channel" where we bivouacked for the night. Large quantities of gull's eggs were found on this island, which afforded us an excellent supper.
We resumed our voyage early on the following morning, arriving at Ingleside at 11 o'clock, A. M. We found a few of the houses occupied by professedly loyal families, but many others deserted; those which were unoccupied, we were informed belonged to men absent in the rebel army, and, selecting one located near the landing, we at once set to work taking it down and loading the lumber on our boat. While thus engaged a citizen came up and informed us that he had seen a horseman ride up and enter a house about one mile distant, whom he supposed was a confederate soldier who had been for some time lurking in the neighborhood. In company with four of the men I at once started with the intention of capturing him. We approached the house cautiously, and on entering the front door discovered a gentleman in the act of leaving hastily at the rear of the house. On a peremptory order to halt, he obeyed, and returned to the room. He informed us that his name was ANDREW J. PARMELE, commander of the blockade-running schooner Lizzie Bacon then lying at St. Marys.
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After some further conversation I learned with some astonishment that he was formerly a citizen of Iowa, and at one time connected with railroad enterprizes at Clinton and McGregor; had left Iowa and removed to New Orleans, where he had become part owner of a vessel engaged in the slave trade, which was lying at New Orleans at the opening of the rebellion. After the capture of that place by Gen. BUTLER, he was permitted to retain possession of his vessel, and operate in the cotton trade on the Texan coast. On his first voyage to Galveston the confederates detained his vessel, but permitted him to continue his business under their jurisdiction. On our arrival and occupation of the coast, his vessel was lying at Lamar, on Copano Bay, near St. Marys, where he had come just previously for a cargo of cotton, since which time he had been unable to evade our battery at Aransas Pass to get away. One or two expeditions by officers and men of our regiment intended for her capture had failed from various causes, and he had finally removed her to St. Marys for safety, where she then was. The object of his present visit to Ingleside was to procure an additional anchor, when he intended to make an attempt to get her to sea by running our battery.
After returning to the town we found the men had completed their cargo of lumber, and as evening was approaching we re-embarked and started on our return to Mustang Island. We experienced much difficulty from contrary winds in getting around the point which here juts out into Corpus Christi Bay, being compelled, in
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order to do so to make long "tacks" far out into the Bay. Late in the evening, while making one of these tacks, we encountered a sudden wind storm which came up from the north with such violence as nearly to capsize our little boat. With the assistance of our prisoner, however, who was much alarmed for the safety of the boat, we succeeded in getting back to the main land after losing most of our sails and rigging - the violence of the storm forcing our boat through the breakers almost to the beach.
The remembrance of this storm and our imminent peril will perhaps never be forgotten by those who composed the crew of our little vessel. On its first appearance I was standing on the deck leaning carelessly against the mainmast, admiring the velocity with which our little craft was cleaving the waves under the wind already strong from the south-east, the men sitting about conversing with their usual gaiety, and shielding themselves from the volumes of spray thrown up from the bow of the boat and which occasionally dashed entirely over our deck. It was already quite dark, and as the wind still increased we found some difficulty in keeping our boat trimmed; suddenly, as she careened more than usual, I heard some one call from the hatchway, and turning around saw Capt. Parmele standing bareheaded on the stairway, his long hair streaming in the wind, while he pointed away to the north. As he seemed anxious and alarmed, I enquired of him what he thought of the weather. He replied that "he had been almost bred
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on the sea, and had seen first-class vessels go down in less severe storms than that now coming." Looking in the direction indicated I now observed a dense gloom had settled down in that direction, through which large yellowish lights occasionally flashed, and could hear the deep moaning of the storm as it swept on towards us. All was activity in a moment; down came the mainsail, and with our jib the boat was brought about and stood in for the coast. Another moment and we would have been too late. We had scarcely changed our course when the storm was upon us with all its fury - tearing into ribbons our jibsail and almost plunging the boat bow first beneath the waves. I shall always remember the wild race which now commenced. We were going directly before the wind - each man clinging to the vessel to prevent being blown overboard - the vessel herself groaning in every seam from the action of the waves and violence of the wind - while sheets of spray in masses deluged our boat. As we approached the breakers which here lined the coast, the vessel was moving with such speed as to render any attempt at anchoring outside useless, and we allowed her to run in upon them, intending if she struck to save ourselves by swimming to shore. But she passed safely through without accident, and we anchored near the beach. After making her secure against the storm, we lost no time in wading to the shore where we bivouacked for the night.
Capt. Parmele proposed during the night that if we would get up an expedition to capture his vessel at St.
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Marys he would accompany and assist us; informing me at the same time that there was a spy lurking about the neighborhood of Ingleside, who would, on ascertaining he had been captured, immediately report the fact to the confederates at St. Marys and that the vessel would be at once burned to prevent her capture. After some reflection we assented to his proposition, but determined to return to the town next morning by a march through the chapparal, and capture the individual who seemed to cause so much uneasiness.
Accordingly at daybreak we were on the march, and soon approached the town. After carefully searching the chapparal in the vicinity we were rewarded by finding the object of our search concealed in a dense thicket, where he had constructed a shelter and laid in a supply of provisions sufficient to last one individual six months. He left his "rancho" with reluctance - deprecating the loss of his bacon and corn meal more seriously than his liberty. He gave his name as “Jim Hatch,” and told us that he had enjoyed the pleasure of seeing the "Yanks cleaned out" at Bull Run, and had subsequently been three times taken prisoner, taken the oath of allegiance four times, and proposed to do so again now if we would release him. Private D. FOLEY told him, however, that we were not then doing the "oath of allegiance" business - that had "played out," and hemp was now considered a safer investment. But a threat of hanging made no impression on him, as he simply ridiculed the idea of "Yankees" doing anything so rash as
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to hang a "southern gentleman." The fellow's impudence saved his life for we were induced from it to believe him insane - otherwise I should certainly have undeceived his mind as to the forbearance of one "Yank," at least.
We returned to our boat and proceeded to camp, where we arrived late in the evening. During our absence Major THOMPSON had resigned and left for his home in Marion, Iowa. Although not a strict disciplinarian, Major THOMPSON by his gentlemanly kindness and generous treatment of the men had endeared himself to all, and he left behind him at his departure the regret of every man in the regiment. In the absence of all our field officers, Capt. M. L. THOMSON assumed command of the regiment.
We commenced preparations for our expedition to St. Marys the same night, and were ready to sail early on the following morning. Capt. DOOLITTLE, with twenty-five men of Company K, accompanied me on this expedition, as there was great probability that the confederates would dispute our landing and remove the vessel. We embarked on two small vessels - twenty-five men on each - and left Mustang Island at 2 o'clock P. M.
Capt. PARMELE accompanied us, in the capacity of pilot, but recommended that as we would have to pass Lamar, a small town on the coast, between Mustang Island and St. Marys, that it would be advisable to anchor at "Live Oak Point," and await the approach of night, when by running in and landing at Lamar we
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could probably capture a rebel gunboat officer then at that place on a visit. We accordingly landed in a position where our boats were secure from observation at the town by the point of land which here juts out between Aransas and Copano Bays, and as night set in resumed our voyage.
After passing the point, which we did after dark, we found ourselves among the oyster reefs, which are very numerous on this part of the coast, and so obstruct the channel as to render an approach to the entrance of Copano Bay difficult to the most experienced pilots. We ran upon one after another until near 1 o'clock next morning, when our patience being exhausted we finally disembarked, and by keeping on the course of the reefs avoided the quicksands - reaching the beach in safety after wading waist-deep in water nearly a mile.
All was quiet in the town, and I almost regretted the necessity which would compel us in a few moments to arouse the unconscious inhabitants to a scene of alarm and panic. We decide that Capt. DOOLITTLE with the
main body of the men, should occupy and patrol the streets of the town, while with a small force, I could gain the suburbs beyond, and endeavor to capture Capt. R. JORDAN, of the rebel gunboat Osceola, at his house. Our plans worked well, and I had the satisfaction of finding the captain at home and in bed. He was very much surprised, and hesitated some time, before opening his door, whether to surrender or fight. However, on an intimation that if the door was not immediately opened
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we should use force to gain admittance, he decided to submit to his fate quietly, and at once opened the door and surrendered.
In the meantime, Capt. DOOLITTLE not finding any opposition, occupied his time in searching the houses for arms, and succeeded in finding quite a number of shotguns, besides two Enfield rifles, which had been some time previously captured from two men belonging to Company G, of our regiment. Owing to our ignorance of the channel, and the darkness, we decided to remain here until daybreak, and then run to St. Marys, which, with a fair wind, we would be able to reach at sunrise. By this time the whole town was in commotion, and the excitement, especially among the women, was high. Very few men showed themselves, and such as did were of course, if we could believe their declaration, "sound Union men," but we were beset by a few women, (no doubt the wives or daughters of these same "sound Union men") who abused us without mercy, as "nigger stealing Yankees," "thieves," "robbers," "Lincoln hirelings," and assured us that our "sculps" would be taken off "quick'rn that" - (with a snap of the finger). However, we lay down and soon fell asleep. On awaking in the morning, we were much gratified to find our "sculpts" still safe on our heads.
At daybreak we signalled Lt. E. E. DAVIS, who had been left in charge of the boats, to run in and land at the wharf, and we were soon again on our way to St. Marys with a fair wind. The chief object of our expedition
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(the schooner) was now in plain view, with her tall masts, now magnified by the sun just rising beyond her, into three times their actual height. Capt. DOOLITTLE'S boat unfortunately again became fastened on a reef, but as our success now depended on reaching the schooner before our approach was discovered by those who had been directed to burn her in case there was danger of the Yankees capturing her, we determined to hurry forward at once with my boat, and depend on Capt. D.'s arriving in time to assist us in case of much resistance from the rebels.
Rifles were now carefully loaded - ammunition inspected, and the men kept as much concealed from view as possible. All eyes were fixed on the schooner, which we were now rapidly approaching, and the beach and landing closely watched for the appearance of rebel soldiers. Lt. E. E. DAVIS with four men were detailed as a boarding party - the remaining twenty to accompany me as skirmishers into the town, at the instant we reached the landing.
The wharf here, as elsewhere on the coast, was at the terminus of a wooden causeway built on piers formed of timber set perpendicularly in the water, which was covered by planks, making a good roadway fourteen feet in width, and extending about a quarter of' a mile into the bay. There had formerly been a railroad track constructed on this causeway, leading from the warehouses on the beach to its terminus at the ship-landing, by which freight, etc., was carried out, but the iron rails
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had been removed to be used in building fortifications at Galveston. The hand-cars, however, still remained, and were standing near the schooner.
As we approached the vessel, our gunboat prisoner looked anxiously towards the beach, occasionally uttering an impatient oath at the want of vigilance on the part of his associates at St. Marys, whom his female friends at Lamar had assured us would rescue him and relieve us of our "sculps." When within about one hundred and fifty yards of the schooner our approach was discovered by those on board, and a great commotion took place. In a few moments longer we ran along side, our boarding party climbed up the side and took possession of the schooner, and with the main body I disembarked on the causeway and started on "double-quick" towards the town - casting an anxious look, however, towards Lamar, to ascertain if Capt. DOOLITTLE'S party were likely to arrive in time to assist us in case we met resistance.
On passing the warehouses on the beach and ascending a slight elevation beyond, the streets of the town were gained, and horsemen, men in buggies and footmen were seen flying in every direction. Our men immediately separated into small parties and started in pursuit. A wild scene of confusion now ensued - rifles were cracking, women running and screaming, and a few frightened rebels seen scampering towards the chapparal, pursued by our men with cries of "halt," and rifle shots - the rebels occasionally replying with their shot-guns.
In the course of half an hour the entire town was in
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our possession, when we posted pickets in the suburbs to watch the rebels who had halted after entering the chapparal, and were still keeping up some firing with their shot-guns.
After returning to the schooner we gave Capt. PARMELE permission to go into the town for the purpose of procuring his private property from the house at which he had boarded previous to his capture, but as a precaution against his escaping sent one of the men with him as guard. While in the house the landlady stepped to the door for some purpose, when she was accosted by a man who came riding up at furious speed, and asked if there were any soldiers in town, (meaning confederates). She, supposing he meant Federal soldiers, replied that there was. "Glad of it," he responded, "for there is a boat-load of d__d Yankees coming - and they are nearly at the landing already." CHARLES BELKIN, the man acting as guard, and who had been watching the proceedings from the window, now stepped out, pointed his rifle at him, and ordered him to dismount, which he did with haste. The Yankees referred to as just coming were Capt. DOOLITTLE and party, who had been detained on the reef, and had now arrived.
The man thus captured proved to be a notorious character named "Tom. Club," the same who had destroyed the dredge-boats used for repairing the ship channel at Corpus Christi Bay, on the appearance of our fleet, at Brazos de Santiago the previous winter, and had now come to St. Mary’s for the purpose of burning the
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schooner - having learned that Capt. PARMELE, the owner, had fallen into our hands. He was well known all along the coast, as the most rabid secessionist, and best pilot in Texas. His capture, therefore, gave us great pleasure, as a pilot was necessary to enable us to get the schooner past the reefs on our return to camp. By exciting his fears with threats of hanging, he consented to do so.
With fifty men we felt secure in being able to hold the town, unless the rebel Col. FORD should come down from the Nueces River with his brigade of home-guards, and occupied the afternoon in taking down a warehouse belonging to Major COLT, (the inventor of the revolver bearing his name,) and transferring the lumber to our boat.
During the night the rebels in the chapparal made unsuccessful efforts to drive in our pickets, and at one time succeeded in gaining the streets, but were driven back after a sharp skirmish during which some of the houses were riddled by rifle-balls. On the following morning the firing from the chapparal increased, and we could now distinguish the sharp crack of rifles mingled with the reports from shotguns, and the whistling of Minnie balls admonished us that the rebels were being reinforced. The firing was sharply maintained during the day and up to a late hour at night, when it suddenly ceased. Soon after daybreak next morning numerous parties of rebels on horseback made their appearance at different points in the vicinity, and as their forces now seemed rapidly increasing - already outnumbering our own - we deemed it
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most prudent to evacuate the place. Accordingly after filling our water-casks we embarked and sailed out of the harbor at 11 o'clock A. M. We were fired into while passing Lamar by a party concealed behind a sand-hill, but the only person injured on board was one of our prisoners, who received a slight wound in the face.
We arrived at camp on the ensuing evening, intending to present our captured vessel to the Commodore with a due regard to ceremony, but were forestalled by orders that she should go into the quartermaster's hands, that individual having usurped the functions of the Commodore's office, much to the disgust of the latter, who keenly felt the indignity.
Refugees coming from various points on the coast and interior counties of the State, were constantly arriving at the post - bringing their families and household goods in ox-carts, and also driving large numbers of cattle and horses. Both sexes were armed, and, judging from their lithe sinewy forms, and numerous weapons peeping out from beneath their uncouth garments, well prepared and able to defend themselves in any ordinary "rough-and-tumble" fight. They reported a strong Union sentiment existing in the localities from which they had come, and also on the route, but settlements being separated by long intervals, rebel cavalry patrols were enabled to prevent any public expression of the dislike existing among the people to Confederate rule.
On the Island, south of our camp about one mile, was
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good pasturage and fresh water, and the site of the colony was here established.
We spent much of our leisure time in conversation with these hardy backwoodsmen, who regaled us with accounts of their numerous fights with Comanche Indians and wild beasts. They were all enthusiastic admirers of the great Texan hero and liberator, SAM. HOUSTON, who they informed us remained "true to the old flag" until his death, which occurred sometime after the opening of the rebellion. Most of the women, in point of physical strength, were nearly equal with the men, but their knowledge of domestic affairs was confined to baking "hoe-cake," "jerking meat," and smoking cob-pipes - which latter avocation they plied with a diligence and zeal "worthy a better cause."
Some of us having tired of washing our own linen, made arrangements with these Texan ladies to relieve us of the burthen, but the shirts coming back in a worse condition than when sent, we abandoned the undertaking. Some of them had never seen an andiron, and were somewhat sarcastic in their comments on this article of domestic usefulness when we had given them a description of it - declaring that "they couldn't see the use of so much fuss and bother about washing things, and then scraping them to pieces with a hot iron, just for looks!" On some of the large stock farms in Texas, where cattle are raised by thousands, the proprietor purchases his butter in kegs, which is shipped from New York to Galveston - simply,
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I suppose, from the fact that his wife "can't see the use of all the fuss and bother" of milking cows.
But this want of refinement on the part of the women living on the southern frontier of Texas, may be accounted for in the fact that they are bred and educated amid scenes of continual excitement and danger - where the use of the rifle and bowie-knife, and development of muscle, is considered infinitely more essential than the usages of polite society, and where the savage yell of the Comanche and scream of the panther demand altogether different nerves than those possessed by persons educated under the sound of the guitar and piano.