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Sewell Van Alstine diary, 1863-1864
1864-04-13, page 2
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63 (Added note at head of page:-) it is said one Pilot (at the wheel) one engineer & all the fireman left their posts while under fire of the last night's firing, our boat started in advance at 2.Pm. to pass the pt of danger, expecting the others to fall in, & follow, we had gone but a short distance when the rebs fired into us with artillery & musketry, the first shot, passed 1 foot forward the Pilot house, & 2 feet above the hurricane deck, through our breast works of hard-bread boxes, upsetting some of the sharp shooters, injuring none, 7 cannon shots were fired, mostly shells which passed, & exploded very near us, several muskets shots put through the smoke, and steam pipes, no one injured, passed out of range, & stoped, whistled the signal. great credit is due Capt, ____ of the boat for his admirable management of so large a boat, around the bend, at such a rate of speed, he took the wheel himself, he is said to be one of the best pilots that runs the Miss. R. I think him one of the most worthy & commendable of men, invariably attentive, to his duties in person, in difficult places, quiet, kind, familiar & agreeable, in conversation & manners, to all, did not hear an oath or harsh word spoken to crew or soldier
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63 (Added note at head of page:-) it is said one Pilot (at the wheel) one engineer & all the fireman left their posts while under fire of the last night's firing, our boat started in advance at 2.Pm. to pass the pt of danger, expecting the others to fall in, & follow, we had gone but a short distance when the rebs fired into us with artillery & musketry, the first shot, passed 1 foot forward the Pilot house, & 2 feet above the hurricane deck, through our breast works of hard-bread boxes, upsetting some of the sharp shooters, injuring none, 7 cannon shots were fired, mostly shells which passed, & exploded very near us, several muskets shots put through the smoke, and steam pipes, no one injured, passed out of range, & stoped, whistled the signal. great credit is due Capt, ____ of the boat for his admirable management of so large a boat, around the bend, at such a rate of speed, he took the wheel himself, he is said to be one of the best pilots that runs the Miss. R. I think him one of the most worthy & commendable of men, invariably attentive, to his duties in person, in difficult places, quiet, kind, familiar & agreeable, in conversation & manners, to all, did not hear an oath or harsh word spoken to crew or soldier
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