Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-18
- the Ner d. P.c.rune. o.. rs.

From the New O-lsaas P.e3yune, Oct. IS.
On Saturday morning. between Il ard O'Clock,
az our readers have already been apprissd BY tels
! graphic dispatches from Com HOliins and COon=l
Duncan little feet, composed of the folio wing
vessels the steamers Mci re, Capt. Huger carrying
four 81 pounders, one . inch Dlhlgreen, aud one
6p0under rife; Ivy, Capt. kry, carrying one riiied
q FOUNDER snd one Singh C0iUabiad; TuscarOra.
Lieut. Beverly Eennon with one S2-pOander riled
and one inch gun; Calhoun, Lieut.. J. Il. Carter,
(CJm. Helms flag ship.) with one long Is p0uuder;
Jackson. Capt. GEsthmey, two S-inch guns; the
Manassas (iron plated) Lieut.. WoTley. with Que
inch gun; tug Watson acting Lieut.. 5 W. Averett
with two barges filed with pine, rOsin, &c.-fsur-
teen guns in ell left Fort jackson en- an expedition
against the enemy heeJ st the Head Of the Passes
consisting Of the steam sloOp Of war Richmond. 20
gunsj the sailing sloop OF war Yincennes, p guns
and Prebe, l3 guns; and the steamer Water Witch,
8 guns-sixty three guns in al
This expedition had for some time been il prepl-
ration by the Commodore, who personally suoeTin-
tended all the arrangements. The utmost secrecy
had been kept with regard 10 them the affair was
intended to be, 1t proved, perfect surprise All
being prepared, he took the eommsRd Of the enter
prise, and all know, brought 1t 10 most cue
cessful issue.
1t was about half an hour after midnight, and
very dark when the little 1eet left the Forts The
iron "ramFler'l-the hansssas-the irOl-plated con-
Germ so much talked about, and speculsted upon,
led OF st full speed then cams the TEscsrOra and
the Watson followed by the FIVE bar ges, The other
craft bringing up the rear. The pOndescript made
FIRST rate tine, and under full Roadway of steam
dashed Valiapty into the very ruck Of the enemy's
vessels. Before those on board them could have
been of its approach, it had stuck is iron
pointed PROV, with a tremendous conclusion, into
the side Of Of the vessels, to the depth Of
raj feet The surprise must have been perfect, for
at the moment of the collision there went 10 from
de assaqle4 ship post appaliog cry Of distress
from thOse on board.
The tremendous conclusion had the eh-os of twist
ing the PROPOSES Of the Ram" somewhat, and Of
dersngDg some part of her machinery. But it Is
no y ia dock, and Sill soon be ready for another
dash st the enmy. The enemy's vessel upon which it
ruthlessly iDiTinged was at first reported to be
the Prsble; but the better opinion ths5 il the
NincenEes watch, Fheq daylight disclosed the true
state of lIirs. was found 20 be IN . shaking Jon
dition when Commodore Golins lett with hiE vie
torious little fota she was lying on the middle
ground, > on her beam ends, and partially sunksn.
She was believed to be a complete wreck, aud her
oomRauioRs PfEe thought to be disnantiing and
unloading her.
So much for the extent II yhieh the iron marvel
has verified the favorable predictions OF Its pro.
jsctors.
: The somewhat disabled Ram after getting Olsen.
gagged from its prey, was chased BY the Biehmond'
th6 GsLer three ships having already opened hot
IRE upon the dariHg little mansseI, hjCh, h0Tey=
err did not seem to discOmpose it materially. The
affair turned into general battle, in the mid
die Of which the fire-shps we're set aHght AID let
60 right in the teeth Of the Richmond, which gave
up the chase and stool cut gu,iWsrds.
Afterwards there was parrusr 90 our part Of
the fying enemy, and on coming up Wi'h hlm
warm fight commenced, which lasted an hour and a
half None Of our vessels, through all that lnces
SAINT hail OF not iron, suffered any dansE@, while
great number of our shot told fearfuly on those OF
the foe
The gallant and exultant Commodore, at 10
O clock A NJ seeirg the invaders all aground, pro
tected by the feet, lying 10 unpleasant proximity
ou;sde and that ne could not get TO close quarters,
Consequently drew of his 4lEills Ga returning to
fbe Head OF the Passes, where the Manassas had |
been left found transport Schooner (tbe Joseph t.
fooue) of the enemy's, which they took possession
Of She was loaded with coal, intended, no doubt,