Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-10-30
The Mississippi Naval Engagement.


The Mississippi Naval Engagement.
The naval engagement at the Passes of
the Mississippi over which the braggart
HOlins glorifed and New Orleans illumin-
atcd, is inteliigibly described in the follow
ing extract from a letter on board the L.
S. steamship Richmond, dated off s. W.
Pass, Oct II:
"On Wednesday, Oct. 0, We were lay
ing at the head of the Passes Cup the riy-
er,) when the Ivy came down and began
with a new rifed gun she had obtained
since her last visit to US. At first We
laughed at her. but finally the laugh chang
ed when the shells began to fly all about
US, while our riied gun 1--WE have only one)
would not reach her. Meanwhile, the
Preble. Capt French, and the V~incennes.
Capt Hardy blazed away at her, hut all
fell short, and as she was so much faster
than either of US it would be no better for
US to chase her. 50 all VIC could do was to
stand and take it. The rascal amused
himself in this manner for an hour. when
he hauled Of and steamed up the river.
Our Captain, Pope, at once saw the i'm
p~OTtance OF obtaining guns that would en-
able him to cope with this fellow at his
game of long bowls. and. dispatched our
steam tender Water Witch down to the
Niagara for rifed guns. The next morn
ing the Water Witch returned with word
that the Niagara had gone to Fort Piekens
for guns, and that we must defend ourselves
as best We could.
Thursday and Friday passed quiet
enough-we were busy on the battery
which We proposed erecting on a point Of
land near where we were laying. On Sat-
urday at $3.50 A. NJ. there was a tremen-
doris shock and a confusion on deck. l i'm
mediately sprung on deck and found kind
of steam battering ram alongside of US and
our men hurrying to quarters.
The ram vas a snakish, iron-covered
boat. closed completely over with a conical
roof, from a small hole in which streams
of dense black smoke were belching forth.
My division was at their quarters in three
minutes from the first alarm, and as the
ram passed ahead of US, l gave the order
ready, and we let her have it, with what
effect the smoke and darkness prevents nc
from saying, but l know we did not sec
her again. During this time our cable
was slipped, and we were under weigh
By this time a line of Fire Ships was
seen stretching across the river in a blaze
of flame, while astern of them five large
armed steamers came steaming down the
river. Just then the carpenter came and
Informed me that the ram had made a hole
in our side, through which the water was
pouring in a stream as large as a mans
leg.
This was stopped, and our Captain de-
cided to send the squadron down the river,
we following and covering them. The Vim
cennes, Capt Handy, entered the S. w.
Pass followed By the Preble, Capt. French.
The fire ships drifted along shore clear Of
US and We escaped confiagration. Day
light broke as we cleared the Basin, and
by s o'clock A. NJ. we were close to the
Bar. The Preble passed ever and went
clear, but the Vincennes and our ship
grounded, and there We WERE Now the
battle began. The rebel steamers coolly
took up such positions as they considered
most desirable and opened on US with their
riaed guns.
The Ivy. the MCrca, and the VIM. H.
Webb were the most prominent in the con-
test. We responded, and our crew behaved
admirably. And notwithstanding shells
were flying around US in every direction,
they worked at their guns as though the
whole matter was a joke. The discharges
from our Q inch broadside guns were ter
rife, but the beats kept discreetly out 81
range.
About Q o'clock the Vincennes was ab2n-
doned by her crew and officers, and a slow
match cOnneese4 with the magazine and
hgAted But fortunately it failed to burn
out, and Capt Pope at once ordered Capt.
Handy to return to his ship. You can
fancy our amazement at this conduct of the
Commander of the Eincenncs. Well, by
10 o'clock the enemy withdrew, and we
had the first mouthful since the night pre-
vious. One of herebels' shells, a twenty
four FOUNDER, came through the after port
into our smoking room. but fortunately
did not explode. Another shell smashed
ono of our quarter boats over my division.
On Saturday We were glad to see the
Mcclellan coming in from sea, with two
Parrot guns for US. She made fast to us,
and before midnight We had the steamer
South Carolina at ancher near US. On
Sunday the two steamers succeeded in tow
ing our ship and the Eincennes off the Bar,
and here we are all ahoat, and ready for
any emergency.