, 1862-01-18

soy, etE.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribnne.]
MISSISSIPPI FLor111A U. s. GUHBoAr ESSEX, |
orr FoRT JkrrERsoS, KT.. Jan. il, lS62.
We camc down to this point, which is about
five miles below Cairo, On Friday last, and
yesterday morning about ten O'Clock the word
vas I,asscd that rebel steamer Was in sight,
but the fog WIS go dense that 1t WAS impossi-
HE TO ascertain what kind OF 4 boat it WIS
but while VIC were weighing anchor and pre-
pairing to get under way, a scout came in with
tho information that the rebels were about
five niles below ua, with two gunboats and
floating battery, which they were trying to
anchor. Capt. Porter then gaze orders to
Lieut. Paulding, commanding the st, Louis,
to Immediately get under way and prepare for
action, and at the same tirno called all hands
10 QUARTERS, had our decks cleared and pre-
pared for action. BF this tiu,c NC were steam
ing down the river at about eight miles an
hour, but soon had to round too and wait Tor
the fog to raisc, as our pilots were afraid they
might run aground. While VIC were thus
waiting, man made his appearance on tic
bank and told US the rebels had been up that
far but the moment they saw US starting in
pursuit they turned back and went down the
river
About ono o'clock in the afternoon the wind
arose and cleared away the fog, and we could
then sec the tzro gunboats lying near the bank
some distance down the river. We imnedi-
ate1y gave chase, but they had 80 much the
start Of us that they had no difficulty In getting
under coFer Of their batteries before we could
get near enough to reach them As soon,
however, as they thought themselves secure
II protected, one Of their boats rounded too
and fred upon us, their ball first striking a
sand bar about half a mile ahead of us and
glauciug from there struck the water about
4c0 hundred yards in front Of our bow.
We Immediately returned the salute, and at
the same time, tile st. Louis fired three shots
from her bow guns-two Of which are rifed
BY this time another boat made its appearance
around the bend Of the river, and all three,
together with the batteries on the bluff
opened fire upon Is. Both our boats then
rounded too. giving them broadside, and
brought our stern guns to bear upon them,
one Of which is ten inch calihre, and the shell
from this struck their largest boat right amid
ships, and at the same instant ball from the
st. Louis struck directly at, or under, her
bow. They then ceased hiring and appeared
to he very much confused and disabled, and
Anr1ied off behind the point and down the
river as fast as possible. Capt Porter then
gave the command to give the 10 inch gun the
greatest possible elevation, and fire it directly
over the point in line Columbus; and
thus ended the great naval engagement Of the
the Western Flotilla, without even O scratch
or sign Of a wound on our side.
Ne-the Essex and St. Iouis-fred twenty
eight rounds. The rebels fired about thirty
from their boats and twenty from the bluffs.
just as NC we're ready to start back up the
river, Captain Porter had buoy made with
loving message:
Come on aciM yoar gaz.-10ats, you rela cosc-
ards -t"-Sigucd PORTER.
| This he sent floating down the river. The
| rrbel boats were well managed and must have
! been well manned and commanded By expert
| tnccd officers. Their shots were all good line
| shots, but fe]leshort, which proves that their
! guns are not as long range as ours; for when
t we first commenced shooting, our shots vent
| clear over them, but when NC got the right
| elevation they were Eo0u 6llenced. While
coming up the river, ,rej joicipg over our victory
| two small huoys were seen floating u short
| distance from us, which greatly excited ou1
| lately about torpedoes.
| Capt Porter fired 1nusket ball into one o.
them and sunk it. Two boats were ther
manned and placed in charge Of Mr. Ferry:
who united them with Il long rope and passed
on either side Of the suspicious buoy, but il
explosion took place, he became quite bolt
aud went up to it and made the rope fast, bu1
us It was merely held By q small cord it wa!
I easily brought away :and VIC have no idea wha
t it was there for or to what it was attached
It is in the shape Of two cones placed base II
| hnEn ia rn1HA Hf tin and Gnuhf1acs I'M
| there by the rebel Government.
About noon to-day Gen. McC1ernand, wiz
has charge Of the land forces here, requestes
Capt. Porter to reconnoiter down the river an<
engage the attention Of the enemy while Ii
sent scouting party ont to learn what the,
could Of the rebel movements. We accord
ingly went down rs far as we we're yesterday
but not sign or trace Of the rebels could b
seen on the river, SO We fired small gun,
82-pounder, in the direction of their retreat
and caule back, arriving here at eight o'clocl
this afternoon, and are now lying here at ou
case, fully assured that when the time come
We will be able to take. Columbus withou
much difficulty.
MONDAY MORNING, jan. 49, 1862.
The scouts sent out yesterday have returned
brining with them several prisoners Also on
of our spies from Columbus has just arrived
nrc disabled, one Of them having its upper an
forward decks completely torn to pieces, an
the shell We fred over the bank fell and burs
in their camp, doing considerable injury, an
frightening them SO that they left their battt
ries Hnd ran.
He says they were completely panic-stricker
and if VIC had continued firing, would doub
less hare evacuated the place. Two of ou
gunboats, the Lexington and Tyler, wero s
the battle of Belmont; and rs they have notl
ing but small guns, and those all placcd i
their sterne, the rebels were greatly surprise
to sec us firing and still bearing towards then
, They had not the least idea thlt wc had large
guns than they, or that VIC had them in th
bows Of our boats. The prisoners say th.
, Capt. Porter's challenge was received, but NJ
accepted. so you sec, from this account, t1E
the victory was even greater than nc antic
:. Fated; in fact, it was Il complete victory, f
Tc first drove them under cover Of their ba
teries, and then drove them out again; an
not only that, but drove the land forces aw:
!, from their batteries.
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