Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/189

Rh "This party included Sergeant Wiley Wagner, Corporal William Foster and Private Harry Savage, of Company E, 1st Confederate Georgia Regiment. Taking with them three days' rations and water, they went at night to the place where the crossing was usually made and secreted themselves in the marsh grass. Their idea was that if they could capture Admiral Farragut and his companion they could reach the woods in safety. They did not think they would be fired upon because of fear of the bombarding fleet of striking the admiral. The Confederates planned to capture the admiral if possible and hold him as hostage, but to kill him if he resisted and run the risk of injury to themselves.

The three Confederates remained hidden in high marsh grass on Dauphin Island for two days and three nights, but for some reason Admiral Farragut did not make his regular daily visit to the mortar fleet. Dauphin Island has a reputation for mosquitoes equal to that of Jersey, and the Confederates suffered tortures as they lay exposed to hordes of the fierce insects. On the morning of the third day the three men, more dead than alive, crawled back to Fort Gaines and abandoned the plan to make Admiral Farragut a prisoner. They were on the sick list for a week.

"The very day the attempt was abandoned Admiral Farragut resumed his visits to the mortar fleet.

"The monitor Tecumseh," continued Admiral Roberts, "still lies in the harbor off Fort Morgan, and ninety bodies are yet in the old war vessel. The Tecumseh was sunk by a submarine torpedo, which blew in the bottom. As the only means of exit was the turret, through which only one man could pass at a time, the ninety fighters aboard went down with the ship."