Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-19
THE MANASSAS.

THE PART SHE PLAYED II TIE NAVAL DRAMA
INCIDENTS OF HER EXPEDITION.
| From the n. o. True Delta !.
Capt. Stevenson's invention has nobly out
lived the doubts and the sneers of skeptics
and has shown, by the quick work she made
of the sloop-of-war Preble, that she is able tc
keep the Mississippi river clear of hostile yes
sells, however formidable their armament -
We have no doubt that Com. Hollins. or some
other officer of the government, will imme.
diately have another ram fitted up, after the
same model, to look after the Lincoln gun
boats above Memphis.
When the Manassas went down the river
as private enterprise, under Capt. Steven
son. plan was drawn up for an equitable
| sharing of any prize money she might win,
among all who were on board. But at the
forts Com. Hollins took possession OF her in
the name OF the government, and detached
| Lieut.. Marley from the McRae, to take charge
of her. Capt. Stevenson resigned his COM
| mand aud went ashore with tears in his eyes.
Lieut.. Marley read his authority to the crew,
and then informed them that according to
the navy regulations and usage, all prize
money gained would be divided among the
whole feet, whether won by the Manassas or
any other vessel.
This created considerable dissatisfaction,
particularly as it was believed that the navy
regulations provided for the division of prize
money only among commissioned officers,
and no shares to the men. Although the ma
jointly were resolved to stay by her whether
| rewarded or not, some fourteen took their
effects and went ashore. Lieut.. Marley then
| passed word for volunteers to fill their places
from the men on board the other vessels, and
found no difficulty in getting the required
| number There were thirty-twO souls, all
| told, on the Manassas when she finally started
| on her experimental trip. Lieut.. Marley bad
| command Charles Austin was his first officer,
| and William Hardy was the engineer. Three
| more resoluie or determined men cannot be
| found anywhere, and they were selected for
/ their posts not only for their courage but for
| their GOODNESS.
| Lieut. Marley bad orders from Commodore
| Hollins to run ahead of the whole expedition
| and make a trial of the ram under any cir
cumstances and al all hazards. Her nine
1 inch gun was not to be used at all. and in
| fact she only had dozen cartridges for it in
| her magazine. The port hole forward was
| closed down, and so was the after hatch
| The forward hatch alone was opened four
| inches, so as to permit the steersman and pi-
| lot to have a good view ahead. Mr.. Anstin,
who knows every inch of the river, piloted
| her himself, the pilot having left her at the
fort
1t was peculiar haz ard this-to try new
| invention without precedent on which to
| form even conjecture as to the result, and
| to run boldly into the midst of an euemy's
| feet on the literal principle of ''victory or
DEATH" The men aboard OF her were not
| frightened, or they would not have deliber-
ately made the venture, but they would not
| have been human if they had not felt the OPP
preston of an awful suspense. Shut up In
| that iron-bound case they knew that in
| short time it might be their coffin.
1t was pitch dark. A better night could
not have been selected for the purpose, and
the ram glided noiselessly down the current.
Never before had she run so we'll. Ten miles
an hour was supposed to be her maximum
speed, bat she was making at least thirteen
knots. The water ran up over her bow and
split off on each side with beautiful play,
making gentle and really musical ripping
sound. She had left the other boats far be-
hind, but still she kept on her swift course.
All of q sudden Austin discovered the dim
outline of ship right ahead. He sang out
to the engineer: "Lether out, Hardy, let her
out now" Instantly the tar, tallow and sui
phur that had been prepared was thrown into
her furnace, and the hand of her steam guage
ran up to the highest point. How much
pressure on the boilers were given can never
be known, but it was far above her allowance
Now she was discovered by the watch on
the enemy's decks and they gave the alarm,
and sent blue light from the Richmond,
probably private signal to the Niagara be-
low. Austin made out the bow of the vessel
she was approaching and steered her for it
sa as TO strike between her hog chains and
main chains. The aim was true one, the
momentum of the ram was terrific, and the
crash, as she drove her PROV twenty feet deep
into the ships hull, was truly fearful. Every
man aboard the Manassas was knocked down
by the violence of the conclusion, and the
whole boat vibrated like an aspen. The en-
gines were at once reversed and she backed
right out, bringing off on her prov whole
sheets OF the Preble's coppering, and big
splinters of her solid, liVe-oak bow.
The dismay, the CONSERVATION, the panic
of horror that ensused upon the deck of the
stricken Prebie may be imagined, but it can
not be pictured in words. Most of the crew,
aroused from slumber. rushed frentically
about, crazy with fright. Some of them must |
haye been wounded and mangled by the |
sharp PROV of the Manassas, dging from |
their piercing, agonizing shrieks. A few of |
them we're seen to leap overheard into the |
river. and upon deck perfect satufnalia of I
frenzied terror reigned. They knew not what |
was to follow, and could not understand |
whist had occurred. In the Manassas their |
yells were distinctly heard, with such cries as
'.We're sinking! She's going 10 blow up, |
We're all losti Oh. my Cod"
The Richmond, Vincinnes, Preble and Wa
ter Witch at anchor in the line of V, with |
spring cables, and steam up on the two
steamers. As soon as the Manassas backed |
eff from the Preble, her officers saw the Rich
mond lying right before them with her full /
broadside exposed. Here was splendid OPP
portunity, and they had no dou bt, from their
success against the Preble. that theywould cut |
Der in two. Not 2 single shot had been fired
at them yet, and such was the confusion ON |
board all the ships that they commenced |
ringing their fog bells, which proved that |
even yet they were so confused and ignorant |
OF the nature of our attack. that some of
them supposed it to be an accidental COLI
sion, caused by the extreme darkness, and
rang the fog bells so as to show the Manassas
their position and enable her to aUoid them.
Again. Mr.. Austin sang out to the ensi-
Deer: snow let her out, Hardy, and give it
10 herr 1t was at this moment thu Mr.
Hardy discovered that one of the condensers
had been broken by the shock of the concus-
ZION III striking the Preble, which rendered
'ne OF her engines useless, and be knew she
had not power enough in the other to run
INTO anything else. He. therefore, passed the
word up that the machinery was disabled and
Ill she could do would be to haul off as best |
he could. Bitter was The disappointment to [
Lieut.. Marley as he saw the full side before |
# the Richmond right before him, bat there {
vas no help for it and it might even be a
riticai matter TO escape. II
Working one engine she made circuit | |
round to head up stream, and this brought |
er right under the Richmond and the Vim {
ennes. By this time the officers on board i
bose vessels had recovered their presence
I mind sufficiently TO comprehend that this
collision was no accident, but | I
very cool and audacious assault by the en-
my, aud that the long, low, black looking ( t
beet floating right before them was the +
anse of their danger and alarm. Then they
tanned their guns, which were already shot
ID, and now the invulnerabiiity of the Ma
assas was fairly tested. First came the
hole broadside of the Richmond, and de 1
sctly after the entire broadside OF the Vim +
snnes, followed by the eight-inch shells of T
he Water Witch. The roar of cannon was {
aud it seemed to those cooped 8