Old Plantation Neck and the Big Pond, Now Cape Charles Harbor, Part 3

The lamps in the naval hospital, Savannah, Ga., had just been lighted when the wounded officers and crews were brought in; comfortable quarters were given them and their wounds looked after for the night.

Next morning a large bowl of strawberries and cream was sent to the hospital with a note saying, "for our brave sailors who captured the Water Witch." Immediately permission was asked of the ladies to divide with the prisoners; it was at once graciously granted and the bowl was taken to captain Pendergast who said: "Is this the way you treat your prisoners?" "Yes, this is the way Southern people do. They will fight you to the last ditch, captain," said the surgeon, "but when the thing is over, it's over; they bear no grudge at all, they will share with you willingly while you are their prisoner."

The captain was cut over the head and had two balls in him besides. The bullets were extracted and the wounds given proper attention; all the prisoners were made as comfortable as possible.

The surgeon of the Water Witch was Wm. H. Pearson, of Connecticut. The captain would not let him attend to his wounds. He (the surgeon) was given liberty of the city under parole not to leave it. They were all kindly treated and after recovery were regularly exchanged.

It would indeed be invidious to compare the ladies of the several Southern States as to heroism during the late war between the States. They were all truly heroines in every State. Instead of erecting so many monuments to men, every Southern State Capitol Square should have a monument in it in memory of the ladies of the South. If it is not done it will be unpardonable neglect on the part of the men.

Referring to the daring and rapid little steamer Northampton while up James river, she had a way of being near when firing was going on anywhere along the river. When the Virginia went down to the roads the last time she went to fight. She offered battle but did not propose to be drawn into shoal water. Sewell's Point was yielding, Norfolk about to be evacuated. The Virginia must do now and die for she had no harbor. She drew too much water to go far up the river. Her work being done she steamed up James river a little way and was destroyed by her own people. Midshipman Carter, of the Confederate navy, was ordered to haul down her flag, which he did and wrapped it around him, while the tears were running down the cheeks of her commanding officer.

She died by the hands of her own people with the honor of having revolutionized war-ship building.

At the battle of Williamsburg the fearless little steam craft Northampton was sent down the river to King's Mills wharf to bring up the wounded to Richmond. After the interruption of her trips to the Eastern Shore she took on a new energy, and on this occasion down the river, she skipped and glided through the water like a thing of life.

At the wharf Gen. Jubal A. Early and one or two of his staff were taken on board. The general was wounded in the right shoulder, he was social and talkative, asked questions about distances from place to place along the river. On arrival he was taken up to his boarding place, where he soon recovered, and it was not long before he was on the firing line again.