Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-05-14
and thew are landed on the river bank to burn

and they are landed on the river bank to burn
away. rg-er
- FYrieg erased for the Night.
y The war waged in this way all day. At
intervals the fire OF the enemy was brisker
than at others. As nearly as we could Judge
the rebels were unable to stand long under
our FIRE at their barbette guns. but retrcsted
to their casemates where having gained rest
and q fresh supply OF courage, they would
return only TO be driven away again after f.
ring few rounds About o'clock D. m, we
observed flames apparently in the centre Of
Fort jackson, and after it broke out there was
no further firing from either fort. At night
fall a signal was made from the Harriet Lane
for the sehooners to cease operations, and the
night was passed in quiet, without even ire
raft appearing 20 disturb our repose.
Immense Rebel Floating Battery.
Friday evening. April 25. 1862.
The mortar fotilia, with which | have been
more especially connected, was ordered sud
denly about o'clock in the afternoon. to
ge. under way. and repair to this place, Pi-
lot TOWN., where most of the vessels are now
at anchor. The reason for this unexpected
order is explained by the circumstance that
an immense floating battery, iron clad and
heavily armed, survived the FIRE of our feet
as it ran the gauntlet Of the forts, and could
be seen a mile or two above Us, with no ade
quete force to interpOse, should the rebel mas
ters attempt TO clear US out of the river
This formidable battery az the forts Is an un
wieldy contriyance. tits constructed of a New
Orleans dry dock, and is unmauageable in 4
tide way Should it venture down the river,
we have an open sea by which TO avoid it
AS it would be impossible TO get it back again
a sufficient force could be brought TO destroy
it.
Despatch from Farragm.
The is no doubt that Commodore Fsrragut,
with large squadron, is now at New Or
leans Read the following letter, copy of
which | was permitted to make. 1t was writ
ten when the flag officer was warm from the
conflict. and the words have the ring of true
metal in them:
DEAR PORTER: We had a tough time of it
as Boggs will tell you, but, thank God, the
number Of killed and wounded was very
small, considering. This ship had two kill
ed and eight wounded We destroyed the
ram in single bat between her aud the
old Mississippi, but the ram backed Gu; when
she saw the Mississippi coming at him so
rampautly, aud be lodged her and ran on
shore. whereupon Smith put two or three
broad sides through him, and knocked him
all to pieces. The ram pushed fire raft on
to me- and, in trying to avoid it, ran the
sip on shore. lie again pushed the fire raft
on me, and got the ship on fire all along one
side | thought it WAS all up with Us, but
we put it cut and got of again, proceeding
up the river, Sighting our way. We had de-
stroyed all but two Of the gunboats, and these
will have to surrender with the forts | in
tend to follow up my success and push for
New Orleans, and then come down and attend
to the forts so you hold them in Stqtu quo un
til | come back. think if you send a flag
of truce and demand their surrender they will
WELD for their intercourse with the city is
cut off We have cut the wires above the
Quarantine, and are now going ahead. took
300 or 400 prisoners at the Quarantine. They
surrendered. aud | paroled them not to take
up arms again. | could not stop to take care
of them If the General will come up t. the
bayous and land a few men or as many as be
peases. he will find two gunboats there to
protect him from The gunboats that are 1T the
forts. wish to get to the English Turn.
where they say they have not placed battery
vet. but have twa above nearer New Orleans
They will not be idle. and neither will |. Ypn
supported us most nobly. Very truly yours.
b. &. FARRAGUr,
l. 4
SpIead1 Fight ef the Fmwaa.
This despatch was brought to Capt Porter
this afternoon by Capt. Boggs late comman
der IF the Earuna, whose vessel was sunk in
the action Fronl Capt. Doggs | obtained
some further information. lie stated that,
before the Varuna sunk, she destroyed alone
six of the rebel steamers, of which he learned
the names Of four, viz the William Ii. Webb,
Palmetto, phenix. and Jackson. As he pas
sed the forts, Capt. Boggs as well as all the
other vessels, received their fire. The Rich
mond and one or two more of the large steam
sloops. slowed down aud poured three or four
broadsides each into the enemy. The Varuua
did not wait after delivering two broadsides,
but pressed directly on into hornets nest of
rebel gunboats, which were mile or two
above. She was assailed by these two or three
at time, in ram fashion, butting at her with
their iron cased prows, and several large holes
were made in her. As long as his vessel
foated Capt. Boggs fought gaIlantly with his
guns, and drove the enemy's steamers ashore,
where they were fired by their own crews
One of the Varuua's shot disabled still anoth
er steamer by making a hole in her boiler,
and this vessel surrendered to the Oneida, who
took her officers and crew prisoners The
Varuna's last guns were fred when her decks
were under water, and no clothing or other
property was saved by soul on board There
were three of the Narunas crew killed in the
action, and seven wounded, two of whom are
not expected to survive their injuries Inclu-
ding the ram, there were eleven of the rebel
steamers destroyed, and the captain of the
ram is prisoner on board the Mississippi.
The G15nbOnfs Under. We;oL