Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 10.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[263] into which was placed a coil of rope, one end being attached to the Mazeppa. This was quickly carried to the opposite shore, where many willing hands were ready to draw the steamer across the river. General Buford, myself, and several others, taking possession of the yawl, pulled for the boat, and on boarding her, Walton's Confederate battery flag was nailed to the flag-staff, and under command of “Commodore” Buford, who strode the upper deck with the pride and grandeur of an old salt, we glided smoothly into port amid the cheers and rejoicings of the “Ragged Rebs,” who had an eye more to the shoes, blankets, clothing, hard-tack, and other good things with which she was heavily freighted, than to the glory of the capture. Approaching the landing, an amusing incident occurred, illustrative of the former characteristics of the gallant General (we believe he has since become a consistent member of the Christian church). Having discovered a two-gallon jug of choice old Kentucky Bourbon, he claimed this as his treasure trove, and was striding the deck, holding the jug to his mouth with a devotion peculiar to his impulsive nature, when some of the men cried out: “Hold on, General, save some of the whiskey for us.” He replied with a full ore rotundo: “Plenty of shoes and blankets for the boys, but just whiskey enough for the General.”

The greater part of the stores were safely discharged upon the bank by 5 P. M. About this time three Federal gunboats approached from below, and at long range shelled with their heavy guns our provisions with such vigor and precision that General Buford deemed it expedient to at once remove the much-needed stores to a place of safety and fire the steamer and barge, which being accomplished about sundown, the gunboats withdrew down the river. The importance of this capture may be seen when it is known that the stores removed from the Mazeppa and barge were almost sufficient to supply Hood's army, requiring the entire transportation force of Buford's division, added to that of all the wagons that could be impressed in the neighborhood, to remove them within two days and one night's constant work.

Early on the morning of the 30th the Anna, a transport, came down the river. She was allowed to pass the Paris Landing batteries and fall into the snare. As she approached Fort Heiman a few well-directed shots from Brown's “Rodmans” and from Walton's 6-inch “Parrotts” caused her to raise the white flag. General Buford, anxious to capture her uninjured if possible, galloping to the river bank, ordered her to “come to.” Observing the white flag flying, and hearing the pilot ringing his signal-bell to land I ordered the firing to cease. The pilot, as he approached the bank, cried out, “I will round ”