A Victorious Union | Page 2

Union and the principles that underlie it.
The flag, the banner now of a reunited nation, means something more than the sentiment of loyalty to the Union as the home of freedom; for it implies the duty of defending the honor of that flag, the representative idea of all we hold dear in Fatherland. In the East and the West a considerable proportion of the high schools make military tactics a part of their educational course. Companies, battalions, and regiments of young men in their teens parade the streets of some of our cities, showing in what manner the military spirit is kept alive, and, at the same time, how the flag floating over our educational institutions, which means so much more than ever before to our people, is to be defended and perpetuated in the future.
The author of the six volumes of "The Blue and the Gray Series," as well as of "The Army and Navy Series," the latter begun in the heat of the war thirty years ago, earnestly believes in keeping active in the minds of the young the spirit of patriotism. In the present volume, as in those which have preceded it, he has endeavored to present to his readers, not only a hero who is brave, skilful, and ready to give his life for his country, but one who is unselfishly patriotic; one who is not fighting for promotion and prize-money, but to save the Union in whose integrity and necessity he believes as the safeguard and substance of American liberty.
Peace has reigned in our land for nearly thirty years, and the asperities of a relentless war have been supplanted by better and more brotherly relations between the North and the South. The writer would not print a word that would disturb these improving conditions; and if he has erred at all in picturing the intercourse between Americans as enemies, he has made sure to do so in the interests of justice and magnanimity on both sides.
In the series of which this volume is the last, the author has confined his narrative of adventures to the navy. It has been suggested to him that another series, relating exclusively to incidents in the army, should follow. After forty years of labor in this particular field, and having already exhausted the threescore and ten of human life, he cannot be assured that he will live long enough to complete such a series, though still in excellent health; but he intends to make a beginning of the work as soon as other engagements will permit.
William T. Adams.
Dorchester, March 16, 1893.

CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I.
The Mission to Mobile Point 15
CHAPTER II.
The Departure of the Expedition 26
CHAPTER III.
A Bivouac near Fort Morgan 37
CHAPTER IV.
The Revelations of the Revellers 48
CHAPTER V.
In the Vicinity of the Confederate Fort 59
CHAPTER VI.
Captain Sullendine of the West Wind 70
CHAPTER VII.
A Powerful Ally of the Belleviters 81
CHAPTER VIII.
On Board of the Cotton Schooner 92
CHAPTER IX.
The Departure of the Tallahatchie 103
CHAPTER X.
The Casting off of the Towline 114
CHAPTER XI.
A Happy Return to the Bellevite 125
CHAPTER XII.
A Lively Chase to the South-West 136
CHAPTER XIII.
The First Shot of Blumenhoff 147
CHAPTER XIV.
The Progress of the Action 158
CHAPTER XV.
A Flank Movement Undertaken 169
CHAPTER XVI.
The Lieutenant's Daring Exploit 180
CHAPTER XVII.
A Magnanimous Enemy 191
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Reign of Christianity 202
CHAPTER XIX.
Colonel Homer Passford of Glenfield 213
CHAPTER XX.
A Very Melancholy Confederate 224
CHAPTER XXI.
Captain Sullendine Becomes Violent 225
CHAPTER XXII.
The Disposition of the Two Prizes 246
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Welcome Home at Bonnydale 257
CHAPTER XXIV.
Lieutenant-Commander Christopher Passford 268
CHAPTER XXV.
The Principal Officers of the St. Regis 279
CHAPTER XXVI.
The St. Regis in Commission 290
CHAPTER XXVII.
Captain Passford Alone in his Glory 301
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Off the Coast of North Carolina 312
CHAPTER XXIX.
The First Prize of the St. Regis 323
CHAPTER XXX.
Another Sailing Contest Inaugurated 334
CHAPTER XXXI.
A Victorious Union 345

A VICTORIOUS UNION
CHAPTER I
THE MISSION TO MOBILE POINT
"I almost wish you were the second or the third lieutenant of the Bellevite, instead of the executive officer, Christy," said Captain Breaker, the commander of the steamer, as they were seated together one day on the quarter-deck.
"Do I fail in the discharge of my duty in my present position, Captain?" asked Christy, very much astonished, not to say startled, at the remark of the commander.
"Not in the slightest degree, my dear boy!" returned Captain Breaker with very decided emphasis. "You have served in your present capacity for four months; and if you were fifty years old, and had twenty years of naval experience behind you, it would be hardly possible for you to be more correct and dignified in the performance of the details of your office."
"I thank you, Captain, for the partial view you take of what I have done," added Christy, taking off his cap and bowing to his superior.
"Well, you ought to be a good officer in any situation, my dear fellow," continued the commander. "I doubt if there is