FORT PIKE-VOYAGE TO NEW ORLEANS.

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fended, of resisting any attack which we, with our small force, could have made. We at once set about putting the fort in order, and in less than forty-eight hours we had removed the spikes from the guns and were ready to meet any attack that might be made. But the enemy saw fit not to molest us and the only blood spilt was in repelling the assaults of an exceedingly fierce and athletic race of gallinippers whose domain it seems we had invaded.*

On the 1st of May, New Orleans was occupied by our forces and shortly afterwards that portion of the regiment left on Ship Island was ordered there, and accordingly embarked on the steamer "Whitman" a Mississippi river boat of the "high pressure" pattern. Before they had proceeded far it was discovered that the engineer had matured plans to blow up the vessel. The affair is thus described by one of the men on board in a letter to the Rutland Herald. * *

*

* Shortly after our arrival at Fort Pike I was aroused early one morning by the announcement that a flag of truce was flying just over the rushes on the further side of the "Rigolets.' Upon investigation it was found that two negroes desired to come within our lines. I ascertained by interrogating them that they had left their masters for cruel and inhuman treatment, and one of them, Emund Randolph. showed the stripes and cuts upon his back, from which it was patent that he had been most brutally flogged. His pitable appearance and sad story strongly appealed to my sympathy and I resolved to give protection to the fugitives. Just before this an order had been issued by the War Department authorizing the commanders of Posts in their discretion to receive escaping negroes within their lines and when any were so received they were under no circumstances to be surrendered to their former masters. A few days later the masters of Edmund and his comrade made their appearance and arrogantly demanded a return of their slaves. Great was their disappointment and dismay on being informed that their wishes and demands would not be complied with, and the disgust depicted upon their countenances when they found they must depart without these, their "human chattels," led us to believe that their love for "Abe Lincoln and his Yankee myrmidons" was not thereby increased. This incident led to quite a long correspondence between Gen. Claibourn, ex-member of Congress from Mississippi, and myself, wherein he endeavored to convince me that the US. Government had no right to receive and retain fugitive slaves within its military lines. That such an interference with the "divine institution of slavery could not be justified by the laws of either God or man. Finding that his arguments were of no avail, he finally subsided. I gave Edmund employment as one of my personal attendants and he proved a faithful and excellent servant. He now resides at Vernon, Vermont, and is much respected by all in the neighborhood.

HIGH PRESSURE BOATS.

"It was midnight when we left Ship Island. We sailed "three hours at the rate of ten miles per hour when it was

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ascertained that something was wrong with the engine, "and upon an investigation of the matter it was found that "we were being escorted by a rebel engineer with more than "double the amount of steam allowed, and who had let nearly all the water out of the boiler, and having launched a small boat for his own escape, was just ready to let in a stream of cold water. It was discovered by the assistant engineer just in time to communicate the fact to Col. Rob"erts who caused the immediate arrest of the engineer. "Had this villainous plot succeeded, every commissioned "officer would have been blown into the heavens as they were just over the boiler. I was about ten feet from one "end of the boiler asleep. Col. Roberts ordered the boat "back to Ship Island where the rebel engineer was placed "in the fort for safe keeping and a trusty one secured when we again started."

The "Whitman was a fated craft for a few months later she took fire through the carelessness of her officers and was sunk in the Mississippi river and a large number of sick and wounded soldiers who were on board lost their lives in consequence.

We subsequently had a good deal of experience upon vessels of this description. As a rule they were manned with inadequate crews, and inefficient and often times untrustworthy officers. At best they were dangerous to travel upon, and it is a wonder, with the engineers we had, that we were not blown up, as we came so near being several times. The boilers

DEATH OF CAPT. RUGGLES-CARROLTON-GENL. PHELPS. 9

were so exposed as to furnish a conspicuous target for the enemy's guns and on more than one occasion we were obliged to stand helplessly by under a heavy artillery fire, expecting every moment to be sent skyward by the explosion of the boilers from some well directed shot. On the departure of the regiment from Ship Island those of the sick who were unable to accompany it were left there, and among others left behind was Capt. Charles C. Ruggles of Company I. He was subsequently sent to the hospital at Carrolton, and as soon as he was able to do so resumed command of the convalescent soldiers in camp. But from over zeal and actuated by a desire to do even more than his full share of duty, he unfortunately received a sun stroke from the effects of which, in his then weakened condition, he died on the 24th day of July, 1862. His untimely death was much deplored in the regiment. He was a favorite officer and much esteemed by all who knew him.*

On the arrival of the regiment at New Orleans, Col. Roberts was directed to report, with his command, to Brig.-Gen. J. W. Phelps at Carrolton some eight miles from the city, which point was reached about the 16th of May. It was exceedingly gratifying to the officers and men to be placed under Gen. Phelps' command for whom we all entertained the greatest respect and in whose military skill we reposed the utmost confidence. Many of the officers and men of the Seventh belonged to, and accompanied the First Vermont

*His remains were sent home, and were buried at Poultney, with impressive civic and masonic ceremonies, participated in by his own lodge and several others from the adjoining towns.

Regiment during its three months' term of service at the outbreak of the Rebellion. Gen. Phelps, who was then Colonel of the First, was universally respected and beloved by the officers and men of his regiment. Being a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, and having for many previous years served in the regular army with credit and distinction, and possessing great personal dignity of manner and courage, allied with the most unswerving honesty and rectitude of purpose, it was not strange that he won the confidence and esteem of his command. Probably no single regiment contained so many of the officers and men of the First Regiment as did the Seventh. Indeed it may almost be said that it was a reorganization of the First, and when it was ascertained that we were to be sent to Ship Island about the only consolation we had was the thought that we were to serve with Gen. Phelps, under whose immediate command we expected to be placed. As it turned out, however, our friendship for him and his for us, was of no avail. Shortly after our arrival at Ship Island, a controversy sprang up between Gen. Butler and Gen. Phelps relative to the expediency of emancipating and arming the negroes. The views of the latter on these questions, as is well known, were radical and pronounced, and as some thought too advanced, but in a short time his sentiments were substantially adopted by the government, and Gen. Butler very speedily resorted to the very measures he had suggested touching the formation of colored regiments. This dispute led to a voluminous correspondence which occasioned such bitterness of feeling that Gen. Phelps was finally constrained to resign. Many of the officers and men of the

Seventh concurred with Gen. Phelps as to the policy of organizing and arming the blacks, and generally sided with him instead of with Gen. Butler, whose motives they distrusted, and whose conduct of the controversy seemed to be marked with his characteristic unfairness and acrimony, and who it was apparent sought to so shape it that whatever credit might result should redound to his glory rather than to that of Gen. Phelps. The government, at this time, for some unknown reason, seemed to stand in mortal dread of Gen. Butler and hence favored him and utterly ignored the military suggestions advanced by Gen. Phelps-relative to the questions at issue. Chagrined at such a slight from the government he had so long and faithfully served, and provoked by the taunts and injustice of the political demagogue under whom he was obliged to serve, this gallant officer was at last forced to resign. No doubt this step on Gen. Phelps part caused Gen. Butler unmixed pleasure. But whatever may have been his feelings I believe the loss to the country was very great, and that Gen. Phelps' services should have been. retained even had it involved the removal of a dozen such men as Butler. Every one who knows Gen. Phelps must admit his eminent purity of character and intelligence; as a soldier he was as simple in habit and as unostentatious as the heroic and lamented Sedgwick, and had he been placed in the command of troops in the field I believe his career would have been characterized by great good to the service and much glory to himself. At no time and in no place were such officers more needed than in the Department of the Gulf at the period when Gen. Phelps, with seeming indif