734 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-65. ’

and began exercising and drilling the crew; and it was not’

until June, 1863, that it was thought the vessel was ready
for action.

Sometime before this we passed through the obstructions in
the river and dropped down to Fort McAllister, which was on
one of the mouths of the Savannah river. On the night of
16 June, we dropped down to the bar at the entrance of Ossa-
bar Sound, where the Federal fleet, consisting of two moni-
ters and some wooden gun-boats, were lying, awaiting th
expected attack. The next morning we were under way
before day, and steaming down so .as to get over the bar at
high water. At daylight the Federals were under way and
coming to meet us, and not long afterward, in attempting to
cross the bar, we ran hard and fast aground, and notwith-
standing every effort, here we remained, not able to move.
The two monitors came up within close range, and taking po-
sitions where our guns could not be brought to bear on them,
they opened fire on us with their heavy guns. Nearly every
shot hit, and it was only a short time*before one struck the
pilot house, wounding both pilots and Captain Webb; another
struck the shield on the starboard side forward, and the effect
was to stun nearly every man in that part of the ship, wound-
ing several severely. The wood-work to which the iron plates
were bolted was completely shivered, and many men were
struck by the splinters. The shot did not come through, but
wherever a shot struck the woodwork was broken and splin-
tered. In a very short time it was evident that to continue
the contest would only result in the destruction of the crew.
The tide had fallen so low that all hopes of getting the vessel
atloat had to be abandoned. No resistance could be made, as
our guns could not be brought to bear on the enemy, they
having taken positions on our bow and quarter. Captain
Webb reluctantly gave the order to haul down the flag, and
ir a few minutes we all found ourselves prisoners of war on
the different vessels of the Federal fleet. We were carried
first to Port Royal and then to New York, and were, for a
time, confined in Fort LaFayette. From this place we were
teken to Boston and placed in Fort Warren, on one of the
islands about seven miles from the city.

An Escape From Fort WARREN. 735

Fort Warren was commanded by Colonel Dimmick, and
was garrisoned by some local Massachusetts troops. The of-
ficers and men always treated us kindly. At first, we were
allowed to purchase anything we wished, and for awhile our
friends in Baltimore and some in Boston sent us many things,
clothing and eatables; but after a time, acting under orders
received from Washington, we were not allowed to buy any-
thing, and had only the rations usually allowed prisoners,
which were neither plentiful nor inviting. The privilege of
purchasing provisions was taken from us, it was said, in re-
taliation for the treatment the Federal prisoners received
at the hands of the Confederates; but this matter has been
fully discussed, and will not be dwelt on here. After this
the underground railway brought us such things as we were
able to pay enormously for.

Besides the prisoners taken on the Atlanta, there were the
officers and crew of the Tacony and some political prisoners
and blockade-runners confined in Fort Warren. We were
kept in the case-mates under the main battery. In the day
time we were allowed to take exercise on the pavements in
front of our quarters, but after sundown we were locked in
the casemates and sentinels placed in front of our doors.
Four of us, Lieutenant C. W. Reed, of the Tacony (a prize
vessel converted into a Confederate naval boat) ; Lieutenant
ot Marines James Thurston, of the Atlanta; Reed Sanders,
« political prisoner from Kentucky, and myself, determined
to escape. Many plans were suggested and discussed, but
none seemed feasible. Indeed, situated as we were on an
island, and strictly guarded day and night, with sentinels
stationed in front of our doors, confined within solid masonry
constructed to resist the shot from the heaviest guns, it seemed
impossible to escape; and yet the escape was easily accom-
plished.

In the basement under the room in which we were confined
was a pump where we obtained our water, and in the outer
wall of this basement were two holes called musketry loop-
holes. These were something over six feet high, two or
three feet wide at the inside of the wall, and gradually sloping
to a point, so that at the outer side of the wall they were

eRe At EET TERN fee tence