Reminiscences of Two Years in the United States Navy

Part 1

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PREFACE.

The only excuse I offer for publishing this little book of reminiscences is that a story half told is better than a story not told at all.

J. M. B.

73 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., May 8, 1881.

REMINISCENCES OF TWO YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

JOHN M. BATTEN, B.E., M.D.,

Late Acting Assistant Surgeon United States Navy, Pittsburgh, Pa.

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.

LANCASTER, PA. INQUIRER PRINTING AND PUBLISHING CO. 1881.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881,

By JOHN M. BATTEN, B.E., M.D.

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.

TO THE

Grand Army of the Republic,

AND TO THE

Soldiers and Sailors

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AS AN OFFERING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION,

AND TO MY MOTHER,

SARAH BATTEN,

THIS LITTLE BOOK OF REMINISCENCES

IS MOST

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Appointment in the United States Navy 9

On the Princeton 10

Choice Prescriptions 10

Part 2

Acting as Coxswain 11

Detached from the Princeton 12

Adieu to Mother 12

Back of Orders 13

A Night on the United States Steamer Minnesota 14

Visiting Important Places in the Vicinity of Hampton, Va. 15

Dismal Swamp Canal. Reporting Aboard the Valley City 15

Washington, N.C. 16

Sinking United States Steamers Southfield and Bombshell 17

Death of Flusser. Plymouth Re-captured by the Confederates 17

An Attack on Washington, N.C. 17

Down Tar River in a Storm. Evacuation of Washington, N.C. 18

Newbern 19

Cruising 20

July 4, 1864 22

Cruising, and Capturing John Taylor 22

Ordered to the Mouth of Roanoke River 24

Roanoke Island 25

Joining the Fleet 25

Ram Albemarle and Edenton 26

Taking H. T. Wood to U.S. Naval Hospital, Norfolk, Va. 27

Again Through Dismal Swamp Canal. Too Late for the Boat Fawn. At Norfolk, Va. 28

Arriving Aboard the United States Steamer Valley City, and description of Dismal Swamp 29

Leaving Newbern 32

Winton 32

Appearance of the Albemarle at the Mouth of Roanoke River 33

Aground in Scuppernong river. A Brush with the Enemy 34

Confederate Account of It 35

Part 3

What Mr. Milton Webster says of the Brush 36

Up Alligator River 38

Up Frying-pan River 39

Cushing the Brave 40

Meeting Cushing for the First Time 40

His Arriving Aboard the Valley City 41

Blowing up the Ram Albemarle 41

Three Cheers for Cushing 42

Cushing's Official Report 45

New York Herald's Dispatches 49

Mr. Galen H. Osborne's Dispatch 49

Mr. Oscar G. Sawyer's Dispatch 52

The Hero of the Albemarle in Washington, D.C. 62

The Valley City on the Dry Dock for Repairs 63

From Gosport, Va., to Plymouth, N.C. 63

During the Month of November, 1864 63

Ashore for the First Time at Plymouth 64

Ashore at Newbern 64

Cruising 65

Rainbow Bluff. How a Fleet went up the Roanoke and came down again 65

New York Herald's Dispatch 77

Thanks of the Officers of the Otsego to Captain Wood 86

That Old Family Bible 87

The Valley City and Her Officers 89

Cruising 92

Chincapin Ridge 98

Cruising 100

Farewell to the Officers and Crew of the Valley City 110

Part 4

Homeward Bound 111

Again through Dismal Swamp Canal 112

At Home 112

Meeting Men of Note 113

Ordered to Cairo, Ill. 116

Don Carlos Hasseltino 118

Honorable Discharge from U.S. Navy 124

TWO YEARS

IN THE

UNITED STATES NAVY.

After having passed an examination before the Medical Board of the United States Navy, which was in session at the United States Naval Asylum, Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. James Green, President of the Medical Board, I received the following appointment:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, 22d March, 1864.

You are hereby appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon in the Navy of the United States on temporary service.

After having executed the enclosed oath and returned it to the Department with your letter of acceptance, you will proceed to Philadelphia without delay, and report to Commodore Stribling for temporary duty on board the United States steamer Princeton.

Very respectfully,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Acting Assistant Surgeon John M. Batten, United States Navy, Guthrieville, Pa.

After bidding my relatives and friends good-bye, I proceeded to Philadelphia, Pa., and reported for duty on board the United States steamer Princeton, which was lying anchored in the Delaware river off Philadelphia, and which was the same vessel on which Abel Parker Upshur, Secretary of State under President Tyler, was killed by the explosion of a monster cannon whilst visiting said vessel, in company with the President and other members of the Cabinet. The duty aboard this vessel was of an initiatory character, to prepare officers for clerical duties peculiar to each of their particular offices. I made the acquaintance on this vessel of Surgeon James McClelland, who was the Surgeon of the Princeton. He had entered the United States Navy when a young man, and had been in the service ever since. He was about fifty-five years of age. The first morning after sleeping aboard this vessel, I was awakened by what is always usual aboard a man-of-war, a large gun fired at sunrise. The concussion and reverberation from the report of the heavy gun shook the vessel till it creaked, and, in my half-slumbering condition, I wondered to myself whether it was not a real battle in which the vessel was engaged; but upon mature reflection and inquiry, I learned it was only the report of the sunrise gun.

One day, whilst on board the Princeton, a blank book in which were copied a number of choice prescriptions used by many of the old celebrated physicians of Philadelphia, fell into my hands. The book belonged to Surgeon James McClelland. I thought, as I had nothing else special to do, I would occupy the time in re-copying these prescriptions into a blank book of my own; and just as I was re-copying the last prescription, Dr. James McClelland came aboard. He noticed me engaged in writing, and came into the state-room where I was, and observed his book. He immediately asked me where I had got the book. I told him where I had got it.

"Why," said he, "I would not take any money for a copy of those prescriptions. I consider them very valuable, and would not for any consideration let my best friend have a copy of them."

I told him that I believed it to be very wrong not to let prescriptions which have been found valuable in disease, be known. After reprimanding me for re-copying the prescriptions, he cooled down, and became very affable. I, however, got a copy of the prescriptions.

Another day, in rowing aboard the Princeton from the United States Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pa., I acted as coxswain, and came very near capsizing the boat in the Delaware river. The river was very rough, and I got the boat in what the sailors call the "trough of the sea." I, however, arrived on board the Princeton safely, after running the boat "bows on" against the steamer. The officer of the deck said:

"Sir, why don't you bring that boat alongside in a sailor-like manner?"

"Why," I said, "I am glad to get aboard in any manner, even though there were a hole stove in the side of the Princeton by my boat; besides, sir, I know nothing about bringing a boat alongside in a sailor-like manner." I soon, however, learned to manage a small boat in water very well.

On receiving the following order:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, 5th April, 1864.

SIR: You are hereby detached from the Princeton, and you will proceed to Hampton Roads, Va., without delay, and report to Acting Rear Admiral Lee for duty on board the United States steamer Valley City.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Part 5

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Acting Assistant Surgeon John M. Batten, U.S. Navy, Philadelphia.

I left the Princeton, and after bidding my mother farewell, who was stopping with my sister, who resided in Philadelphia--this was a hard task, and it affected us both greatly; but separate we did, and whether we should ever meet again in this world was a question which time alone would determine--on turning a corner I looked back, and saw my mother standing on the steps of the doorway, weeping. It was to me an affecting separation. I journeyed to the Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad depot, located in the southern part of Philadelphia, Pa., and at 8 o'clock a.m. of a beautiful day I took the train for Baltimore, Md., arriving in that city at about noon of the same day. Having some time to view the city, I took advantage of the opportunity, and promenaded the principal thoroughfares. At 5 o'clock p.m., I took the steamer Louisiana for Fortress Monroe, and arrived there the next morning, and as soon thereafter as possible reported to Admiral Lee. On the back of my order I find:

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