Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Saturday, 28th.—This morning Company B concluded to have some meat. In a very few minutes they had five fine hogs dead. A few minutes later they were under guard, and on their way to General Taylor’s quarters. Capture of the Indianola confirmed, but was so badly damaged had to be left in charge of an officer and a few men to be repaired as soon as possible, and then taken to the mouth of Red River, to be added to the Confederate fleet there. But the Yanks, finding it out, played a regular Yankee trick. Taking a large flat boat, and sticking up empty flour barrels for chimneys, made it to look as much like a gunboat as possible, it was towed down as near the rebel batteries as they could come in safety, and turned loose. Soon the very earth trembled from the rapid discharges of the heaviest rebel guns along the river. It being so dark, they could only see the bulk. The monster glided swiftly on, passing all the batteries, it being so light, that if struck, it would not sink. Soon it made its appearance at Grand Gulf, when the batteries there opened with redoubled fury; still it passed on. The officer in charge of the “Indianola,” thinking such an impregnable monster was coming, blew up the Indianola and left without further ceremony.