Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-07-31
Interesting from Vicksburg---the Ex.
pIoits of the Ram Arkansas.

Interesting from Vicksburg---the Ex-
ploits Of the Ram Arkansas.
A correspondent of the Jackson IMiSsls-
sippian, writing from Vicksburg, on the
18th inst, says:
Your readers all know that, for several
months past, we have had a guubCat build
ing up the Yazoo river. She was COM
pleted FIVE or six days ago, and her com.
mauder, Capt. Brown, G. S. N, despatched
a courier through the country to announce
to Major Gen. Van Dorm that he would be
at Vicksburg this morning, at four o'clock.
The courier rode seventy miles by twelve
o'clock last night, aud made known his
communication to the General. lmmeli
ately the drums along our batteries aroused
the cannoneers, who stood to their posts,
while the infantry backed them, ready to
lend any assistance necessary.
In order to get under the guns of our
batteries, the Arkansas had to pass the
whole upper fleet of the enemy, consisting
of twenty gunboats and men of war. Soon
after daylight she placidly glided from the
mouth of the Yazoo into Old River-which
is an old channel of the Mississippi. The
moment of rounding out of the Iazoo the
Arkansas came in view of three of the enc,
my's gunboats, stationed there on picket
duty, and supposed to be on the lookout
for her. A fierce cannonade at once open.
ed, the Arkansas returning the fire in the
most spirited manner. Passing rapidly two
of them, she ran alongside the Benton, and
giving her a broadside, she sunk immedi
ately. When last seen by the crew of the
Arkansas the Benton was on the bottom of
the river near the shore, careened to one
side and her career ended forever!
Having got rid of the enemy's 'pickets,
the Arkansas ran into the Mississippi, and
came in full view OF no less than seventeen
sloops.of-war, gunboats and rams. They
we're drawn up in line Of battle, stretching
from one side of the river to the other
In the centre three rams were posted, the
centre one of the three with her PROV up
stream, while the prows of the other two
were inverted from the shore. The whole
of this powerful feet instantly brought its
guns to bear upon the Arkansas. Nothing
daunted, the Arkansas crowded on all
steam, and made for the centre. When
within fifty yards of the line, she fired into
the centre ram (the Eastport,) penetrating
to her boilers, when she blew up with a
tremendous crash. 1t is thought that not
a soul on board the Eastport escaped
Thus breaking the line, the Arkansas
dashed through over the wreck aud debris
of the Eastport.
The eDemy's feet then broke their line
of battle and made chase, furiously pcltng
the Arkansas all the while, bit she outran
them all, and at ten minutes before nine
came around the point above the city, and
there ran under the guns of our batteries
on the shore. The pursuit was kept up
until our guns from shore opened, when
the enemy turned and fled.
AS soon as the Arkansas came around
the point, great commotion was noticed
in the lower fleet, and presently flames
burst out of one of the mortar boats, suppo-
sed to have been aground. In thirty min
utcs nothing of it was visible above the
waters edge. All of the vessels Of that
fleet, by this time, was nearl y out Of 81 ght
below, aud at last accounts were seen head
ing towards New Orleans and the Gulf as
fast as steam could carry them.
But to return to the Arkansas. She is
perfect iron. clad ram steamer, one hun
dred feet long, mounting ten Parrot guns,
with crew Of over one hundred men. i
do not know how many feet of water she
draws, but as she came down the Iazoo at
this season of the year of course she car
run anywhere in the Mississippi
She was struck this morning hundreds
of times, by balls from the heaviest guns
in the United States Navy, and yet only
one shot penetrated her, and that was in
this way.
While passing Immediately under the guns
of that sloon sha ]nnrnsrnd q oun en- as RI