Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-07-25
ANOTHER GUN.BOAT FIGHT
ESCAPE OF THE REBEL lRON-CLAD
GUN-BOAT ARKANSAS.
CAIRO, July 81.

CAIRO, July 81.
The Rowenna, just arrived Fl ON Memphis,
brings the following news
On the report of Price having crossed the
Mississippi reaching Helena, Generals Curtis
and Fitch, with a detachment of troops, went
down on the steamer White Cloud to ascer-
tain the truth of the report
The dispatch boat, which arrived at Mem
phis on Saturday evening; from Vicksburg on
the 10th, brings the following startling news:
The reported escape of the rebel gun-boat
Arkansas turns out to be correct The affair
took place on the morning of the 18th inst -
Two or three days before this time reputed
refugee came on board the Federal fleet and
reported that the officers of the Arkansas were
planning an attempt to run her past the Fed
cral fleet during the night. On the morning
OF Tuesday the gun-boats Carondelet and
Tyler, with the ram Lancaster, started up the
Yazoo on a accommodating expedition. Be-
tween six and seven o'clock in the morning,
about eight miles from the mouth of the river,
| they came suddenly upon the rebel iron-clad
gun-boat Arkansas, lying hidden under the
bank, evidently waiting for evening to make
the attempt to get down the river She had
evidently discovered the approach of our boats
by the smoke, before they saw her, for, as they
| rounded the bend of the river close to her, she
suddenly opened upon them with her batter
les of twelve rif1ed GS-pOunders. The two
Union gun-boats Immediately returned he1
fire, and for short time a fierce engagement,
ensued.
Only one of the Union gun-boats, the Ca
rondelet, is iron clad, and she is small one
having only two guns which she was able tt
bring to bear upon the foe The Tylor is 9
wooden boat, and unfit to cope with so terri
bic an antagonist. Nevertheless, both thest
boats maintained gallant fight at close quar-
ters for time, but, finding that the mair
channel of the river prevented successful
maneuvering, they gradually returned to thu
mouth, the Arkansas following closely,
At the mouth of the river small sand bal
had been formed by the action of the meetin:
currents. Just as the Arkansas was passin:
this point the Carondelet made desperate
rush and closed with her, intending to boart
her. She succeeded in throwing grapple OF
her and getting plank out, when the Arkan
sas opened steam pipe and threw a stream
of hot water across the plank. The Caronde
let replied In the same manner, and at tn
same time. Both vessels ran hard and fas
upon the sand bar. The shock separated tn
two vessels, and in few moments the Ar
kansas, being on the outside succeeded il
getting off. The Carondelet remained fast 70
nearly an hour after she got away. Her ere,
gallantly maintained the fight, keeping up
fierce fire on the Arkansas until she passe
beyond the reach of her guns.
; The Arkansas, as soon as she was olea
from the bar, started down the river Tn
tIyler seeing this. passed her and precede
, her down, maintaining running fight wit
, her greatly superior adversary.
The fleets of Commodores Davis and Farr:
gut were scattered along the shores in sue
positions that it was impossible to stop he
and she now lies safely moorcd at the Vick'
, qurg wharf