A Visit to Captain Walke's Gunboat
Annie Wittenmyer recalls Captain Walke of the Carondelet as a brave, devout Union officer. When an expected minister fails to appear at Cairo, Walke leads worship, reads the One Hundred and Third Psalm, speaks of duty and Christ’s love, and prays. Before running the blockade at Vicksburg, he prepares his gunboat with coal-oil and whitewash, explaining that calm trust in God follows careful preparation. He passes safely through the fiery channel but dies not long afterward.
By Annie Wittenmyer · First published 1895 · Genre: Civil War nonfiction, Biographical sketch, Historical memoir · 585 words
First lines
Among the gallant Union officers who distinguished themselves for wisdom and bravery was Captain Walke, commander of the _Carondelet_. I knew him personally as a benevolent Christian gentleman. No one who knew him doubted his profession of faith in the Divine Redeemer.
While his gunboat was lying at Cairo, just before the battle of Fort Donelson, he came into the church one Sabbath morning and quietly took a seat. The minister who was expected disappointed the audience.
Similar titles
- How President Lincoln Received The News Of Sheridans Victory by Annie Wittenmyer
- Fred D Grant The Brave Orderly At Vicksburg by Annie Wittenmyer
- Men Who Commanded Themselves And Did Not Swear by Annie Wittenmyer
- The Sweet Singer Of The Hospitals by Annie Wittenmyer
- The Hospital At Point Of Rocks Va by Annie Wittenmyer
- Reminiscence Of General Grant by Annie Wittenmyer
Genres
- Civil War nonfiction — The work recounts a real Union naval officer, the ironclad Carondelet, and events surrounding Fort Donelson and the Vicksburg blockade during the American Civil War.
- Biographical sketch — It is a brief commemorative portrait of Captain Henry Walke, emphasizing his character, conduct, religious faith, military competence, and death.
- Historical memoir — Wittenmyer narrates events she personally witnessed or learned through direct acquaintance, using first-person recollection to preserve a historical encounter.
- Naval history — The account centers on a Union gunboat commander, the Carondelet's defensive preparation, naval warfare, and the dangerous passage near Vicksburg.
Tags
American Civil War · Union Navy · ironclad gunboats · USS Carondelet · Captain Henry Walke · Cairo, Illinois · Vicksburg blockade · Fort Donelson campaign · Mississippi River warfare · military memoir · Civil War reminiscence · Christian faith
What this Textopian page supports
A Visit to Captain Walke's Gunboat is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Annie Wittenmyer, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Annie Wittenmyer
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Civil War nonfiction, Biographical sketch, Historical memoir, Naval history, Military biography
- Length: 585 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Visit to Captain Walke's Gunboat by Annie Wittenmyer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph