Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-25

tutotcottuS peIucuiarS Oi the DOmDarument oil
the rebel forts at Island Ne. 10;
SUNDAYS FIGHT.
A correspondent of the Chicago Times.
writing from the flagship Benton on Monday,
says: f
Yesterday was an exciting day The robels
arc desperate, and it is reported that Generals
Bragg aud BeauTegard are here with a largo
force in addition TO the force which was at
Columbus They have tho guns here taken
away from Columbus, and an additional mum.
Der Of heavy guns brought here by Bragg
Hollins Is here with his Manassas Ram and
large floating battery; the number of guns,
however Is not known.
The gunbOats worc all day from two and a
hsir to ere and a half miles above the encmy's
battery ut the bend in the river On the Ken
lucky side, whore they had seven guns the
two, centre ones l2S-pOundcrS, the dag ship
ana Cincinnati being in advance. The NOR
tar boats eight in number, continued throw
ing shell all day. The Benton opened during
the morning with her two stern guns seven
inch riled, with she'll Of cOnicai shape, but
from scme defect IN them they exploded be-
fore reaching the object. The fuses were wet
10 prevent an explosion, and fred the same as
round shot at the battery on tho kentucky
shore. The number Of shot which the Benton
hrcd was 55, many of them striking in tho
cncmy's fortifcations, the distance being q
miles, and must have done great damage to
their works.
Daring the afternoon Col. Buford, with a
portion Of his regiment, the 9th Illinois, with
some light pieces of artillery, landed on a
T7Irt on the Missouri shore near the head of
the island, where he had discovered a strip OF
land not altogether covered With water and
made bis way some distance under cover of
some ehapaTel to point where he got a range
on the head Of the island and threw several
shoi, which apparently woke up the rebels,
as they replied but did no damage. Near
dark a rifcd shot from the enemy's upper
battery was directed st a transport lying on
the Missouri shore, but with no effect This
battery had been a target for the Benton, but
had not deigned 10 reply.
The B)YBARDHESr ON NoSDAY-TREuExpoU
FIRING.
This morning Monday a council Of officers
was held, which resulted In lashing three run-
boats together-the Benton, Capt. Phelps, in
the center, the St Louis, Capt. Paulding on
the right, and the Cincinnati, Capt S;embelI,
On tic left l: took until near II O'Clock 70
get everything in readiness, when the three
boats wheeled around and started slowly down
the river in front Of the frowning batteries of
the enemy.
Our mortar boats had been playing on the
head oG the island all the morning where it was
evident the rebels had planted some heavy
guns during the night The mortars continued
firing at intervals all day.
After getting in proper position, Bishop, of
the Benton, opened the ball with his first for
ward pOr. gUN at six minutes before O'Clock
foiloTcI by his second starboaTd gun. His
second shot strUck the enomy's parapet Nc
Donald, Of the St Louis, and Hail. Of the Gin
cinnat, gave each starbOard gun with
marked accuracy. The firing of all three of
the .uGbcats was continued, some Of the shot
lat ding plump INTO the enemy's parapet
When the fringe mmenced, the trio-Benton
81. Louis and Gin inna;i-were about two and
"a T. tlf miles from the enemy's Ssven-gun bat
tcTy, aud continued moving down very slowly
for Iu hour, not get ting any response. Changed
cur course aud con menCed firing on the land
bat cry below. One or two shots drew them
out with couple oI shots from head Of island
and four from land battery above, tho one We
had dTst boon firing at, but all their shots. fell
sh~rt. Tue enemy now commenced getting
better range, as several she'll went completely
over us. Tbs rafting Of shot and she'll from
both parties now became terrific, and fell
around Us like hail a l2S-pOuuder fell not
twelve tee. sstern Of the Benton. moment
after another struck between the Benton and
St Louis, near their stern, striking the former
tive inches above the water line, throwing per-
feet columns Of water over both boats. Your
correspondent was covered with water, and
many others were drcHched TO the skin.
Al halT-past two o'clock riAcd cannOn-a
-poun1er-burSt on the St Louis, killing
two men instantly, and woundiDg nine, some OF
luul are dangerous. OuE u NuC hlilcu WAS
I.s,.rs0j } JscksOn, who formerly lived in Chica-
-. John Goth was the other killed, who came
here from 4hc Potomac Mr.. Mcdonald, gun
Ber Of the ST. louis, was badly wounded in the
shoulder and arm, and a man anIed MeAdams
was badly wounded in the head and small of
the back. The others were slightly wounded.
Half sn hour after n 6i-pOund solid shot
struck the Benton amidships on her starbOard
side wen. through the spar deck, striking the
gun decR, when II bounded, striking the spar
deck again, snd landed on Captain Phelps
writing desk, going through into the drawer,
where il stopped, and remains there still.
splinCeEs few thick and fast, but no one was
injured
Ten minutes after another 81 FOUNDER passed
directly over the Benton's pilot house, and only
turee feet from my head, striking our iron
yentilatOr, twisting il into all kinds of SD apes
went through the smOke-stack, knocking two
feet cut Of heavy iron rod which holds the
smoke stack up, passed through glass sky
light, striking seam Of iron plating on the
deck, tore up two of them, and quietly rolled
down TO the port side, doing no more damsge
Soon after another shot hit the Benton plump
IN the face, but, finding it to hard, bounded of
into the nyer. A few minutes after the Gin
ciHnsti was struck in her rigging, and the shot
passed over her Wheel-hOuSe and knocked off
heavy block which supports her propelIing
wheel. All this time shots Of this character
were flying over u.s.
At half past four two of the enemy's guns
were discovered dismounted in the upper bat
terry. The shots Of the enemy now came up
grOygy," most Of them falling short, but
once in while going far above US over our
heads One stray shot bit the st. Louis in her
bow, below HHter-mark. The rebels discover
ing that their upper battery was disabled
opened on US from two lower batteries, but
only one Of them came near us, the Others
falling short. A steamer was also seen towing
up hack Of the island what was supposed to be
the large floating battery, which Is said to be
very formidable.
Tho engagement had lasted FIVE hours and
firty minutes, and not a man belonging to our
party hsd been hurt, except one man on the
Ciacinnati, who received some slight contu-
si0ns on one of his hands from some flying
splintsrs, but amounted to nothing more than
scratches. rf-r .B-
TIE FIGHT ON TUESDAY s f'ft
The Benton threw several she'll this morning
into the upper battery, and the Mound City
has been firing away all day at some battery,
AT long range, with good effect. The mortars