The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-16
A Naval Engagement at Fort
Pillow
SPLENDID VICTORY OF THE
FEDERAL FLEET.
ONE REBEL GUNBOAT SUNK AND THREE
BLOWN UP.

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.
OFF FORT PILLOW May 10,
via Cairo, May IL.
Early this morning, as usual, our more
tar boats were t0wed down to their posi-
ton for firing, it being a point on the
Arkansas shore about one mile from the
end of Oraighead Point. The gunboat
Cincinnati ran down as convoy.
Scarcely had the mortars been moored in
their position, when the rebel ram louisa.
ma appeared coming round the point, ac>
companied by four other gunboats. The
ram Immediately opened fire on the Cincin~
natl, to which the latter replied with inter-
est. The rebel boats were all held in check
by the Cincinnati alone, when the rest of
the Federal feet got under way and came
to her assistance.
In the meantime the rebel ram, finding
her guns Intellectual against the iron armor
of the Cincinnati, approached her with the
evident intention of running her down.
Captain Stembel, of the latter, prepared to
meet the assault of the ram by opening his
steam batteries and putting them in readi-
ness for use.
As the rebel craft approached within
close range, the Cincinnati turned her head
about, causing the ram to run along close
beside her, when Capt. Stembel drew his
pistol and very coolly shot the pilot, killing
him instantly; but, a second afterwards, a
musket ball struck the gallant Captain in
his left shoulder, inficting painful, though
not serious wound.
At this time the contest between the two
boats was most intensely exciting. The
crews of each were armed with carbines,
cutlasses and boarding pixies, and were dis
charging volley after volley in quick sue
cession at each other; while the ram was all
so endeavoring to get her head about so as
to run it into, and if possible sink her an.
tagonist.
Just then the steam batteries of the Gin
cinnati were opened with terrible effect,
throwing heavy volumes of steam and scald.
ing water into the midst of the rebel crew,
placing all who appeared on deck hors du
combat instantly, and causing the craft to
withdraw with all haste.
In the mean time the rebel fleet had been
reinforced by three other vessels, and among
them the new iron clad gunboat Mallory,
lately built at Memphis. These three ran
Immediately up to the Cincinnati and en-.
gagged her at once. She withstood the ass
sault most nobly, the shot of the enemy
glancing off from her iron plating without
causing the slightest damage, while her
own guns were raining shot and shell with
fearful effect upon the enemy.
Captain Stembel, though badly wound
ed, remained at bis post and directed every
movement withe GOODNESS and deliberation
for which he is noted.
During this engagement the Mallory
approached the Cincinnati with the design
OF accomplishing what the ram had failed
in doing. As she came in close proximity
the Federal boat st. Louis bore down upon
her, and coming with full head of steam
on, struck her amidships, cutting her nearly
in two, and causing her to sink in very
few minutes. Numbers of her crew esca-
ped by clinging to the St. Louis, and Others
were picked up by the Cincinnati, but the
larger proportion went down with the
boat.
While this work was in progress the 9TH
er boats of our feet had engaged the re-
mainder of the rebel feet, and most terri.
| tic battle was raging, the like of which the
unusually peaceful waters of the Missis>
| sippi has never before witnessed.
Report followed upon report, like the
continuous rattle of musketry. The rebels
fought brave.y and with determination, but
they were met by greater bravery, skill and
metal, and were being badly worsted
Captain Davis, on the flag ship Benton,
directed every movement of our feet with
the sagacity and style of veteran in naval
warfare. He made no mistakes. Not a
boat was moved but with fearful effect up
on the enemy. Did the Carondolet put her
bows up stream, it was to let fly her stern
guns; did the Cairo turn about, it was that
broadside might give its destruction to the
foe.
The cannonading was fearful and its re-
verberations were most grand and terrible.
The noise was almost like one continuous
report, while the broad river was covered
with dense volume of smoke that for a
time completely enveloped both fleets and
hid them from view. 1t was at this time
that repart louder and more distant than
that ola gun, attracted general attention,
and when the smoke lifted little it was
found that one of the enemy's boats was
blown 10 atoms.
have no means of knowing the loss of
life by this terrible casualty, but it must
have been very great. A few lucky fel.
lows were seen floating about on fragments
OF the wreck, and were picked up by the
rebel boats, but the majority of the rebel
crew persisted miserably.
Scarcely had the excitement caused by
this fearful and unlocked for event passed
away, when second report startled all ears,
and another rebel boat with its crew had
disappeared. Both vessels were blown up
oy the explosion of shells from our guns in
their magazines. All this time our boats
continued to pour their deadly rounds into
the enemy, Gripping such of their craft as
were not wholly destroyed, and carrying
death to hundreds of their crews.
THE DISPATCH OF COMMODORE DAVIS.
FLAG SHIP BENTON ABOVE Fr. PnLow.)
Saturday, May 10.
10 Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy:
A naval engagement for which the rebels
ho hoov, a.