for hardly had the Tecumseh gone a length to the westward of the
sentinel buoy, than the fate, already outlined, overwhelmed her, and her
iron walls became coffin, shroud, and winding-sheet to Craven and most
of the brave souls with him, and all so suddenly that those who had seen
the disaster could hardly realize what had taken place.

Ours is not the purpose to follow further the details of the fight, but
to go with Perkins in the Chickasaw and see things as he saw them on
that stirring day, as gathered from his letters and as fortified from
other sources. Of tireless energy and restless activity, and sternly
intent upon making the Chickasaw second to none in the grand work
demanded of the fleet, he imparted nerve and enthusiasm throughout the
vessel; now in the pilot-house, looking after the helmsman; then in the
forward turret, personally sighting the guns; anon on top of the turret,
taking in the surroundings.

His fine spirit and high moral courage had characteristic illustration
when, the night before the fight, calling his officers into the cabin,
he thus addressed them: "Gentlemen, by this time to-morrow, the fate of
this fleet and of Mobile will be sealed. We have all a duty to perform
and a victory to win. I have sent for you to say, that not a drop of
wine, liquor, or beer, is to be drunk on board of this vessel from this
hour until the battle is over, and the victory won, or death has come to
us. It is my wish that every officer and man shall go into battle with a
clear head and strong nerves. I rely upon you to comply with this
requirement, confident that the Chickasaw and her crew can thus best
perform their whole duty."

An officer, who held high position on board the flagship, writes:
"Perkins went into the fight in his shirt-sleeves and a straw hat, and