rief
was one of the canal-boats laden with hay, oats, and other stores. She
was without any motive power, being towed by a steam-tug, and, getting
into the trough of the sea, rolled and sheered so that she could not
be towed. The heavy rolling started her seams, and it was soon evident
that she was sinking. With the greatest caution a boat was lowered
from one of the steamers, and put off to rescue the crew of the
foundering craft. Laboriously the sailors worked their way through the
tossing sea to the lee side of the "Grape-shot," and after much
difficulty succeeded in taking off all on board, and the return trip
was commenced. All went well until the boat came under the lee of the
steamer, and the men were about to clamber up the sides. Suddenly an
immense sea lifted the vessel high in the air; and in an instant the
boat was swamped, and the men were struggling in the icy water. All
were ultimately saved, but it was with the greatest difficulty. The
"Grape-shot," left to her fate, went ashore some fourteen miles above
Hatteras. Her cargo served some practical use, after all; for some
horses from the wreck of the "Pocahontas" managed to reach the shore,
and kept themselves alive by munching the water-soaked hay and oats.

The "Pocahontas" was one of the steamers chartered by the war
department as a horse transport. Her actions during this gale furnish
a fair illustration of the manner in which the Government was often
deluded into purchasing almost valueless ships. She started with the
Burnside expedition from Hampton Roads, freighted with one hundred
and thirteen horses. As soon as the gale off Hatteras came on, she
began to show signs of unseaworthiness. First the boilers gave way,
loosened from their places by the heavy rolling of the ship. All
progress had to be stopped until they were patched up. Then down fell
the grates, extinguishing the fires. Then the steering-gear was
broken; and, getting into the trough of the sea, she rolled until her
smokestack broke its moorings and fell over. Finally she sprung a leak
and was run ashore. The crew were all saved, but for a long time their
chances for life seemed small indeed. Ninety of the horses were lost,
some having been thrown overboard ten miles from the land. Others were
left tied in their stalls, to perish when the ship went to pieces in
the breakers. Those that were thrown overboard near the beach swam
ashore through breakers in which no boat nor man could live,