Frank on the Lower Mississippi

Prom

, did no damage beyond cutting down the flag-which, however was promptly hoisted again-and battering up the officers' rooms on the quarter-deck, which were not iron-clad. Several attempts were made to dislodge the rebels, but, as usual, without success. On the third day, however, a heavy firing up the river, in the direction of Alexandria, announced that the expedition was returning, and the rebels, fearing capture, hastily w

which was almost a wreck. Both chimneys had either been broken off by branches of trees or shattered by a shell, and her casemates were pierced in a hundred places. Her engines had also been disabled, and her wheel hung motionless in the water. Still she retained enough of her former appearance for Frank to recognize in he

! Don't wait to get your side-arms, but go at on

led to the afterguard, reached the shore on a plank that extended from the stern

t he did not notice Frank, unt

re's Captain

looking up from his work. "Sit down, c

n this time. Perhaps they were so busy they had not taken time to see who he was. But he was not kept long in suspense, for the admiral, aft

them obeyed with the least possible delay. Have the Boxer back here as soon a

ing, took the letters and hurried back to the Michigan. The captain

eave us, Mr. Nelson. I s

" replied Frank, "but I

ext one he opened was an order for him to report "to the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Boxer for duty and command of that vessel." The other contained instructions

o be as highly elated as Frank himself. "Just as I e

at and started for his vessel, which still lay at the bank, below the flagship, with the transport which was to tow her to Cairo. As he stepped on board the Boxer, he was met by Archie, and several of his old messmates, who greeted him cordially. The executive officer was in c

and was engaged in making his bed. Captain Nelson! How strangely it sounded; and Frank repeated it several times, and gazed about the cabin as if he could scarcely believe that he was awake. He read his appointment and orders over and over again, both to fully understand what w

of his baggage into one of the vacant state-rooms in the cabin. While thus engaged, the orderly announced the executive officer, who entered to inquire if Frank had any orders to give. The latter replied that he had not, and for nearly an hour he remained in conversation with the executive, during which he learned the exact state of affairs about decks. Every thing appeared to be goi

, writing a letter to his mother, and Archie lay on the sofa close by, engaged in rea

had scarcely spoken, when there was a roar of canno

ng to his feet and ran into his room after

rowing his book into the furthest corner of the cabi

zine lighted, and to prepare for action, Frank ran into the pilothouse, and looking

the transport, who stood in his pilo

as fast as you can," s

fusion of battle, and his actions indicated that he did not like the idea of attempting to run by the battery. Bu

the word at this moment pa

view, unprotected by levee or other breastwork, and Frank then gave the order to open upon them. The crash that followed the order, as every gun that could be brought to bear upon the battery belched forth its contents, was terrific. Shells and canister rattled over the bank, cutting down the rebel gunners, and disabling one of their cannon. As quickly as possible, the guns were reloaded, and almost before the rebels had recovered from their panic, another broadside was poured into them, and when the smoke cleared away, the battery was standing dese

navy-yard. The work was rapidly pushed forward, and at the end of a month she was declared ready for service, and after she had been furnished with a full crew f