The Incident at Ft. Monroe

Abstract

I remember an incident which occurred while the Burnside fleet in port was lying between the Fortress and the Rip Raps at Hampton Roads in January 1862. It greatly amused the few who saw it. I was on the "Vidette" and near us lay the "Pickett" which was H.Q. dispatch-boat. General Burnside was flying about on the "Pickett" a great deal of the time during those days. On the afternoon of the 11th a small boat containing four men one of whom was very drunk, was rowed up to the "Pickett". Two men got out and climbed to the upper deck and dropped a rope to the third man who fastened it securely to the drunken man just under the arms. He then climbed to the upper deck and with his comrades raised the intoxicated man nearly to the upper deck, the boat dropping astern, the length of the "painter." When nearly at the top, at the word of the leader, they let go, dropping the poor fellow 12 to 15 feet sousing him into the water. This they several times until he was partially sobered, when they drew him to the deck, untied the rope and he disappeared down the companionway a very wet and angry man.