Frank on the Lower Mississippi

w Paym

nion, and for two hours watched the long lines of war-worn soldiers as they moved into the works. At length a tremendous cheer arose from the city, and Frank discovered a party of soldiers on the cupola of the court-house, from which, a few moments afterward, floated the Stars and Stripes. Then came faintly to his ears the words of a familiar song, which were c

d of his vessel the broad pennant of the admiral. All he had endured was forgotten; and when the Old Flag was unfurled in the

position. On the following day, the Trenton moved down the river, and came to anchor in front of Vicksburg. Shore liberty was granted, and Frank, in company with several of his brother officers, strolled about the city. On every side the houses bore the marks of Union shot and shell, and the streets were blocked wi

Outside the city, the fortifications were most extensive; rifle-pits ran in every direction, flanked by strong forts, whose battered walls attested the fury of the iron hail that had been poured upon them. It was night before Fran

and he soon felt perfectly at home among them. He found, as he had done in every other mess of which he had been a member, that there was the usual amount of wrangling and disputing, and it amused him exceedingly. All the mess seemed to be indignant at the caterer, who did not appear to stand very high in their estimation. The latter, he learned, had just made an "assessment" upon the mess to the amount of ten dollars for ea

rough Unionist, who believed in handling all rebels without gloves, took up the sword, and the debate that followed was long and stormy. The pilot, as it proved, hardly knew the reasons why the South had attempted to secede, and was constantly clinching his arguments by saying, "Men who know more, and who have done more fighting du

r talking politics in this wa

o never would have entered the service if he had not been compelled to do so? No, sir! I wouldn't hold my tongue under such circumstances if all the

rther parley he retired to his room; and in a few moments returned with the books, papers,

ill please elect

relessly out on deck, as if the question of where the next meal was to come from did not trouble them in the least. Nothing was done toward an election; no one took charge of the books or papers, and when the table was cleared aw

bers of the mess, and asked what they wished served up; but they told him that they had nothing to do with the caterer's

s not at all concerned. He had paid no initiation fee, because no one had asked him for it, and he knew that as long as there were provisions in the paymaster's store-rooms, there was no danger but that he would get plenty

had resigned, and, after considerable urging, and a solemn promise that politics should not again be discussed in the mess, the latter was persuaded to resume the management of affairs. The change

life of idleness and inactivity, for not a rebel had they seen since leaving Vicksburg. But one morning, while the men were eng

n least expected, and the levee afforded them a secure hiding-place from which they could not be driven, either with big guns or small arms. They were fatal marksmen, too; and during the week following, the Boxer's crew lost ten men. One rebel in particular attracted their attention, and his reckless courage excited their admirati

ring rider. The fight that ensued had continued for perhaps half an hour, when the quartermaster reported the dispatch-boat approaching. As soon as she came within range, the guerrillas directed their fire against her, to which the latter replied briskly from two guns mounted on her forecastle. The leader of the rebels was constantly in view, cheering on his men, and discharging h

ssels, as if not at all concerned. He presented a fair mark, and Frank fired, but the shell went wil

umpet that led from the pilot-house to the main d

. "It was a poor shot, but I'd like to see

t the same time inquiring of every one he met, "Who was that making fun of my shooting?" But no one knew, no

r of feet descending the ladder that led from the cabin to the pilot-house, and a moment afterward, a smart looking young officer,

n the service more t

, is this you?" excl

you please" replied Arc

e you doing? Got any money?

cousin. "But I say, Frank, how lo

for the l

his shoulders, a

y. Just before we came alongside here, I was standing on the deck of the dispatch-boat, and s

u'll get used to that before you have been here a wee

acting assistant paymaster, and ordered to "report to the comman

ponding clerk. He had had ample opportunity to learn the duties of paymaster, and one day he suddenly took it into his head to make application for the positi

in getting ordered to her, and, as he had not written to his cousin of his go

nd, easy manners, and delighted with the looks of a small safe which he had brought with him,

ves on the guard, to "talk over old times." Frank gave descriptions of the fights in which he had engaged since they last met, and also related stories of mess-room

ie, "reminds me of a little af

l Captain Smith. He was a regular officer, had grown gray in the service, and was one of the most eccentric men I ever saw. H

thing that bothered me, it was for some body to stick his head over the railing when I was busy, and ask, 'Is the commandant of the station in?' There was an orderly on watch day and night, always ready t

ing, I told him that it was after office hours, and that he must call again the next morning about nine o'clock. He took a tur

and he went out, after making noise enough with his squeaking boots to set a nervous man's teeth on edge. Now, would you believe it, that evening, after I had finished my work, and was starting out for supper, I saw t

you come here during our offic

o bundled up-for the night was very co

day, cap'in,' said

tand there in the cold and listen to a lon

and don't kee

want of officers, an' I come to get a place

t officers; but does your son

iver as deck-hand for goi

rrow morning, at nine o'clock exactly, and I'll see what can b

enced walking up and down the floor with his squeaking boots. The noise disturbed everyone within hearing, and pre

l off those sq

orderly; 'it's a gentleman out

im in at once, so that I

presence of the captain, while I liste

he began; 'I recko

ys spoke very fast, as though he were in a hurry to get through with

to get that appointment f

' repeated the captain. 'Who

last night that you would make my son an officer. The wages

rrupted the captain, beg

ere way. You told me last night that you wanted officers; you

allow me to know myself? Orderly,' he continued, turning to that individual, who had stood by, convulsed with

by the arm, showed him out of the office, telling him

ces had heard it, and were highly amused, for they knew that somebody had been playing a joke on