George Martin
10-27-1864 The unsuccessful Confederate guerrilla attack on the steam, Belle Saint Louis, at Fort Randolph, TN
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., October 20, 1864.
COLONEL COMMANDING BRIGADE:
You will embark on steamers Belle, Memphis and Clifton at 3 o'clock with your brigade and proceed to Columbus, Ky. After a consultation with the commanding officer at Columbus, Ky., you will proceed to Paducah, Ky., with your whole command unless an attack is expected at Columbus. If in your judgment an attack is probable at Columbus, you will leave one regiment there. You will report to General Meredith at Paducah, and, if the danger has passed at that point, which I suppose will be the Case, you will immediately return to Columbus, and if the danger is passed there, you will immediately return to Memphis. You will communicate with all the boats you meet' on your way up, and if General Washburn is on board any of them, you will show him this order and receive orders from him. If, in your best judgment after consultation with General Meredith, danger is imminent at Paducah, you will remain there until you receive orders from headquarters District of West Tennessee, or other competent authority. Keep at least one company on each side of the boat as picket to return any fire you may receive.
Your obedient servant,
M. L. SMITH,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
OR V39 Pt. 3, p. 395
Report of Col. James N. McArthur, Fourth U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, commanding post of Columbus, Ky.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE POST,
Columbus, Ky., October 28, 1864.
GENERAL: The steamer Belle Saint Louis, coming up, while attempting to land at Fort Randolph at 12 o'clock last night, was attacked by 100 men under Col. Jesse Forrest. Major Beeler, of Illinois, and Maj. D.C. Smith, of Minnesota, were killed. Major Beeler killed a captain and wounded and captured another. The heroic conduct of Colonel Kent, Twenty-ninth Illinois, and officers on board, and Captain Zeigler, of the steamer, and his crew, saved the boat from capture. One paymaster's clerk was wounded, also 2 of the boat's crew. The wounded prisoner reports that Chalmers was at or near Jackson, Tenn., and that Jesse Forrest's command are flankers of the main force, and that Chalmers intends coming into Kentucky.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES N. McARTHUR,
Col. Fourth U.S. Colored Artillery (Heavy), Commanding Post.
Brig. Gen. MORGAN L. SMITH,
Commanding District of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.
-Report of Maj. William H. Jameson, Paymaster, U.S. Army.
SAINT LOUIS, October 29, 1864.
SIR: I would respectfully report that having completed the payment of the troops in and around Memphis, in obedience to your orders, I left Memphis with the paymasters ordered to report to me, viz, Majors Whiting, Dickson, Beeler, Smith, and Patrick, on the steamer Belle of Saint Louis, on the evening of the 27th instant, on our way to Saint Louis. About midnight the boat landed at Randolph, Tenn., sixty miles above Memphis, for the purpose of taking on some cotton. As soon as the staging had been run out and the deck-hands went on shore, the captain discovered a large number of armed guerrillas rushing toward the boat and immediately gave orders for the boat to be backed out from the bank, but before that could be accomplished eight or ten of the rebels succeeded in getting on board and a large number of rebels on shore commenced firing with musketry on the boat. The rebels who succeeded in getting on board immediately stationed a guard of three men over each of the two engineers who were working the engine and ordered them to immediately land the boat again, threatening them with instant death if they refused to do so. Two or three others at the same time rushed up to the cabin and in a loud tone demanded those in charge to land the boat, and commenced robbing some of the passengers of their pocket-books and money; just at this point, as the boat was again approaching the landing, and we all felt that the boat and all on board were surrendered to the tender mercies of Jesse Forrest (who was said to be in command) and his rebel force, Majs. A. Beeler and D.C. Smith, paymasters, and members of our corps, took their revolvers and boldly approached the two rebels who were at the cabin doors. As they approached one of the rebels shot Major Smith, mortally wounding him. Major Beeler immediately shot the man who fired upon Major Smith, and, mortally wounding him, he then turned his attention to the other rebel. They both fired simultaneously, the rebel falling dead and Major Beeler mortally wounded. The rebels for a moment quaffed, and, just as the bow of the boat neared the shore a second time, the engineers commenced backing the boat with all the power of the engine, the rebels on board jumping overboard, and amid volleys of musketry fired upon the boat, we were soon backed out of range to a place of safety. All on board the boat acknowledge that the gallant acts of Majors Beeler and Smith were the means of saving the boat and probably the lives of all on board. We all felt that they had lost their own lives in their successful efforts to save ours, and also to preserve the Government property on board, and we shall always hold them in affectionate remembrance and mourn the loss of two such efficient and gallant officers from our corps. Mr. L. F. McGowan, clerk to Major Dickson, was also seriously wounded, his left arm having been broken by a musket-ball, which also passed through the fleshy part of his breast.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. JAMESON,
Paymaster, U. S. Army.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL U.S. ARMY,
Washington, D.C.
Report of Col. Loren Kent, Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry.
CAIRO, ILL., October 29, 1864.
SIR: As the senior officer on board, under orders from headquarters District of West Tennessee, I have the honor to submit the following as a report of the trip of the steamer Belle Saint Louis, from Memphis, Tenn., to this place:
We left Memphis at or about 6 p.m. of the 27th instant with a large number of passengers, including several officers and about fifty discharged and furloughed soldiers. Of this number six were paymasters returning to Saint Louis from payment of troops in the field. They had with them, I was informed by one of the corps, about $40,000. The steamer reached Randolph, Tenn., about 12 o'clock of same night, landed, and proceeded to take on board eight bales of cotton under permit of the military authorities at Memphis, the port from which the boat was cleared. The cotton belonged to one Harris, who was the first to leave the boat. He appeared to hasten at once to the top of the bank and immediately a party of armed rebels, numbering, I should think, at least fifty, rushed toward the boat, discharging their arms, and attempted to get on. Only six of them succeeded, as Capt. Alexander Zeigler, master, as soon as they were discovered, ordered that the steamer be backed into the stream, which was done, leaving the second clerk, Mr. George Atherton, and crew ashore. The rebels on board entered the engine-room at once, ordered the engine to be reversed, and the boat run to the landing. By their knowledge of their duties and their coolness they succeeded in only complying with part of their orders, and kept the boat at a sufficient distance from the shore to prevent others from getting on board Defeated in their effort these rebels then attempted to reach the pilot and compel him to execute the orders they had given the engineers. By this time the passengers had not only become thoroughly aroused, but most thoroughly panic-stricken. The appearance of the rebels in the cabin and their orders to surrender gave rise on the part of many to the belief that we were then past relief. The only arms on board were pistols in possession of officers, and in many cases these were either with their baggage in the party's room or in unserviceable condition. My first effort upon observing the critical condition of affairs was to see that orders were given not to land the steamer under any circumstances, knowing that under way these rebels on board could be easily disposed of by superior numbers. Majors Smith and Beeler, paymasters, with their pistols, advanced to the forward part of the boat just as the men before mentioned were ascending to seize the pilot. Shots were at once exchanged and Major Smith severely wounded, from the effects of which he died on the evening of the succeeding day. Major Beeler received a severe wound in the breast, but continued to fight until he had killed one and mortally wounded another. He then was able to return to the cabin and lingered until about noon of the succeeding day. The rebels then observing their failure to capture the boat and being aware of their own danger, escaped by jumping overboard. I do not know whether they succeeded in reaching the shore or not. Mr. L. F. McGowan, paymaster's clerk, one of the engineers sick in his berth, and a negro were severely, though not fatally, wounded. Majors Smith and Beeler deserve great praise for their bravery and presence of mind. Both had previously served in the line of the army with commendable distinction.
The pilots, S. A. McPheeters, Lewis Moan, and assistant Charles Zeigler stood by the wheel and never flinched, though shots were repeatedly discharged at them. John McBride, engineer, and John Dorris and George Beebe, assistants, never left their posts, even while their lives were threatened. To all the officers of the boat, and these in particular, especial credit is due for a display of coolness and bravery which saved the boat and passengers from capture. Permit me to say that no suspicion of collusion with the rebels, who were a portion of Forrest's command, rests upon Captain Zeigler or any officers of the steamer. The permit for the boat to land was seen by the Government aide on board, Mr. Peterson, who also gave his consent to have the cotton taken on board. With the exception of Mr. Harris, who was left with the rebels, all axe exonerated from blame.
The steamer arrived at Cairo on last evening without further molestation.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. KENT,
Colonel.
Col. E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
OR V39, Pt. 1, pp. 779/782