Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-25
FROM TCKSBURGH.

The dispatch boat which arrived at Mem
phis on Saturday brings the following The
report of the escaped of the rebel gunboat
Arkansas is correct The affair took place
ON the morning OF the 18th. That morning,
in consequence of the reports brought by ref
uges that the Arkansas was about to attempt
TO run by the federal feet, the gunboats
Carondalet and Tyler and ram Lancaster
started up the Nazoo to reconnoiter. When
3 miles from the mouth of the river, they came
suddenly upon the Arkansas lying under the
bank. As our boats rounded the bend she
opened upon them with 6S-pounders. Our
gunboats returned the fire, and for a short
time a fierce engagement ensued. Finding
that the channel Of the river prevented sue
cessful maneuyoring, they gradually drop
ped downward towards the mouth. The
rebel gunboat Arkansas, followed closely
just as the latter was passing over the bar
the Carondalet closed with her, intending to
board. She succeeded in throwing Crap
pie on board, and getting out a plank,
when the Arkansas opened her steam
pipe, throwing hot water across the plank
The Crondaiet replied in the same manner.
While thus engaged, both vessels got aground
and the shock separated them. The Arkan-
sas succeeded in getting off and the Caronda-
let remained fast nearly an hour and a half.
The Arkansas Immediately pass down the
river, the Tyler pressing her, and maintning
running fight with her greatly superior ad-
versary. None Of our gunboats with the feet
had steam up, and the entire fleet was so
scattered that few could fire at the Arkansas
as she passed without danger Of hitting our
own boats. As she approached, such boats
as could do so opened upon her, but her
plating resisted most of the shot. solid
shot from the taragutt gunboat No. 6, struck
her larboard bow, passing through and
under her plating, ripping it off for con-
siderable distance What further damage
was done is not known. The injuries TO our
feet are light. The Benton received a shot
near the edge Of the after part Of the larboard
side, killing one man. The Tyler which en-
gagged the Arkansas nearly an hour and half
bad seven killed aud about nine wounded
The rum Lancaster received shot under
her boiler, causing au escape Of hot water
scalding six men, three of them fatally. The
entire federal loss is twelve killed and wound,
ed, five OF six Of the latter will probably die
The rebel loss is not known, but is believed
TO be- considerable, as the hot water of tn,
Carondalet, at the time the latter attempte,
to board, was thrown directly into her.
A special dispatch to the Times from Mem
Phis Monday night, says the Arkansas sue
ceeded in running through the whole fee
and that Farragut made an Intellectual attemp
"a, sink her His entire feet passed dow
the river, each vessel pouring broadside in
to her as she passed.
The rebels acknowledge one finch steel
pointed shot went through, but assert this a
the ouly damage she sustained. tn recon
noissance the next morning showed that tn
Arkanshs was undergoing repairs, but sh
did not appear to be in any danger Of sinking
A Newbern, n. c., letter of the 5th give
the particulars Of the capture of Hamilton b
the Buuboats Perry, Ceres aud Shawshee
aud company Of Hawkins Zouayes II wa
dashing affair. The rebel force consiste
Of regiment Of cavalry, strong force
infantry, artillery, a fort and one steamer. =
The latter was captured by the fleet while III
Houayes took the fort and town. Sever,
we're wounded on the vessel and some Of III
parcs received slight wounds. The enem
i. -a'd 10 have lei' forty or fity dead On III
ne lac victory clears The way io Weldon