Thunder Snow
by
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Considering the distance between the chariot and the boat, Winjel thought that firing his gun would be useless, but he was going to do what he had been told to do. It would not make any difference. At least they would get to test the action of the gun. He aimed it as best he could and fired the gun. The noise and recoil shook him. The world seemed to shake. The horse reared, but Jeb and the soldier succeeded in holding him. Winjel peered through the smoke and saw nothing. He started through the motions of preparing to fire again when he heard a loud cheering from the detachment of soldiers who were now gathered nearby on the beach. He wondered what that was all about. He looked again in the direction of the boat and was astounded at what he saw. The boat was foundering. It was full of water and appeared to be sinking or at least breaking up. Winjel stopped cold in his tracks. He was dumbfounded. He had actually hit the boat. He could not believe it. He watched as the crew of the boat struggled in the water. They held onto debris and each other. They came closer and closer to the shore. The Confederates moved down the shoreline keeping up with them so as to be in place when they arrived. Lieutenant Sanders wanted to greet them. Winjel and Jeb had put the gun cart back in running order and were tagging along. Lieutenant Sanders rode up alongside Winjel and said, "That’s the best piece of artillery shooting that I have ever seen. You did great. Just one shot. I don’t believe it and I was looking at it. Are you really that good or was it a miracle of some kind?" Winjel said, "Thank you sir. I really don’t know. All I know is that I aimed and fired the gun." Lieutenant Sanders was in his glory. He was riding around, giving orders and having a good time. "OK, men get down to the water and help them get ashore. Keep them surrounded and covered. You there. Go back to the fort and get a wagon. Tell the officer of the day that we got some prisoners to take in. Look lively men." Winjel watched as the Union sailors came ashore to become prisoners. All eight of them had survived the artillery hit and the demise of their boat.
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About the Book
Thunder Snow
About the Author
Walter F. Bell was born and raised in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He attended Rocky Mount High School, Nash Community College and North Carolina Weslyan College. During World War II, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served in the Pacific theater aboard the destroyer, David W. Taylor, DD 551. After returning from the war, he worked for Carolina Telephone for three years. He then worked for the ACL RR, which became the SCL, SS and finally CSX. He retired as a locomotive engineer after thirty-five years of service. He has resided in both eastern and western North Carolina. He has written poems, short articles on history and life in various areas and biographical sketches of his naval experiences. Various associations, including a syndicated newspaper column have, published his works. This is his first book length effort.