gusts of wind began to agitate the waters. Before reaching the bay the storm had come, and we were tossing upon the waves like children's boats, while the wind whistled with fury around our ears. Upon reaching Butler's Hole a flash of lightning showed the blockaders a short distance ahead, their black hulls rising from the water, some two or three hundred yards apart. The boats were now ranged alongside each other and the plan of attack made known. There being two of them, it became necessary to divide our forces, and consequently Lieutenant Wood, in the second cutter, and Lieutenant Hudgins, in the first, were to attack one, while Lieutenant Hoge and Midshipman Gardener, in the third and fourth cutters, were to tako the other. Each man had a white badge around his arm to distinguish him from the enemy. Every thing being in readiness, the four boats pulled toward the steamers in line of battle. I was in Mr. Wood's party, in the boat with Lieutenant Hudgins. We pulled slowly and silently on. When within about fifty yards the sentinel on deck sang out his "boat ahoy." Mr. Wood answered in some unintelligible words, and then we gave way strong toward them. We had the starboard bow, Mr. Wood the port. It was a moment of anxiety-almost of misgiving. If the Yankees were aware of our approach, destruction was certain. There was no retreat now-death lay in the silent guns ahead and in the mad waters around. The waves had increased, the sea was fast lashing itself into fury. Long black lines started from the horizon, ran toward us like some huge leviathan, for a moment raised us in the air, then rolled away in the dusky distance. The sentinel's hail was the signal to give way, and every man put his whole strength to the oars. Our boat nearly sprang out of the water at every stroke, and shot over the waves with the velocity of an arrow. In a few seconds the dark hull rose before us, the boat struck its sides, there were a few shots; and as quick as thought, twenty of us were climbing over the nettings, upon her decks. The watch fired their rifles at us and gave the alarm, and immediately the Yankees came pouring from below, grasping cutlasses and side arms as they ran up the hatch. They fought well considering the circumstances, but it was of no avail; in a few minutes the vessel was ours and the crew had surrendered. Lieutenant Wood, followed by Midshipman Goodwin, were first upon the decks upon their side, while Lieutenant Hudgins and Mr. Wilson led the way on ours. The whole was over almost with the rapidity of thought. Just as the decks were ours, sharp firing was heard upon the Reliance. We watched for a moment, but not seeing the preconcerted signal, were anxious about the other party. Our boat was immediately manned, and we pulled over to his assistance; but Lieutenent Hodge had done the work well before our arrival. He had met with more determined spirits, and had to encounter two or three deserters from our army, who fought well. Captain Walters, of the Reliance, was also a brave man, and did every thing possible to save the ship. Upon the first alarm he sprang forward to slip the cable, but was met by Lieutenant Hoge, who ran forward to encounter him, and was almost instantly shot through the body with a pistol. At the same time, Lieutenant Hoge re ceived a dangerous wound through the neck, and fell beside the water-tank. Although wounded, Captain Walters sprang to the pilot-house and blew the whistle to get help from the Satellite, but he was soon secured. There was sharp firing on the decks, both with rifles and revolvers, during which Midshipman Cook, who was foremost in the fight, received a wound in the side, and one of the seamen was shot through the arm. Several wounded Yankees lay around the decks, and one negro was stiff' in death. In fifteen minutes after the attack both vessels were secured. The prisoners were put in irons until they could be confined, and the wounded taken below. The new crew went to their work readily-the engineers got up steam-the firemen took their places-the pilot was at the wheel-the quartermaster on the deck-and the officers at their posts. Every thing was made ready for sailing, the boats were hauled alongside, the anchor raised, and just as day was dawning the Confederate States steamers Satellite and Reliance got under way and stood up the Rappahannock. About sundown the anchors were dropped off Urbanna. CIVILLE BELLUM. A FEDERAL officer, at the battle of Belmont, Missouri, marked out a Confederate soldier who was conspicuous for his gallantry, and shot him. He noticed where he fell, and the next day when sent back by the defeated Federals, with a party to bury their dead, he sought out his victim, and upon turning the body over, found, to his horror, that he had shot his own brother. Such was the war waged upon the South. THE CONFEDERATE CRUISERS. I. THOUGH winds are high and skies are dark, Through billows that flash in a sea of blue; II. At each plunge of our prow we bare the graves Where, heedless of roar, among winds and waves, The dead have slept in their ocean caves, Never once dreaming—as if no more They hear, though the Storm-God ramps and rave From the deep to the rock-bound shore. III. Brave soldiers were they in the ancient times, IV. Never once asking the when or why, ༢. Dread are the tales of the wondrous deep, Where every dark passion alert and aleap, VI. What voices of horror, through storm and surge, Sang in the perishing ear its dirge, As, raging and rending o'er Hell's black verge, Each howling soul sank to its doom; And what thunder-tones from the deep emerge, As yawns for its prey the tomb ! VII. We plunge the same sea which the rovers trod, But with better faith in the saving God, And bear aloft and carry abroad The starry cross, our sacred sign, Which, never yet sullied by crime or fraud, VIII. And we rove not now on a lawless quest, |