Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-22
From the memphis Avalanche. Mar,o
Latest from Fort Pillow, AZ
GRAND NAVAL BATTLE AT PLUMB PorNT-oup co-
ryICT


GRAND NAVAL BATTLE AT PLUMB Po1Nr-ouR coru.
BOATS VICTORIOUS.
The steamer Golden Age arrived at our wharf -.
terday afternoon from Fort Pillow, and from an oS
in the engagement, gather some interesting nar,
lars of the grand naval battle which took place there ~
Saturday.
General JEFF Thompson, who is in command of :.
gunboat feet at Fort Pillow on hearing that if mug
the intention of the enemy to come down to attack ba
place on Saturday, concluded that be would 90 nm 9
anticipate their movements Accordingly abont
o'clock Saturday morning. the feet Was prt in raa
ness, and about o'clock the fight commenced Tbo
steamer Brugg, Captain William Leonard led in tho
attack. She steamed up amid shower of balls to tl
st. Louis guDboat which coming down and strnJ
her the starboard side; the Sumter, Captain WI
lace Lamb, followed next, and butted tide ST ToS;
near the stern; the General Price, Captain f. Hen
th0rDe followed next and also butted the St Ions -
the stern, knocking away her rudder and sterppost
Tie Van Dorm, Capt Fulkerson, came up last
The Bragg had her chain shot away, and dron,aa
back the Sumter was surrounded by three eunbopt0
which, for the space of fifteen minutes poured most
deadly fire upon her. Some of the enemys boats were
almost alongside tie Sumter in the engagement vet sb
not seriously disabled, though her cabin was am
ridded The Van Dorm had special engagement with
the mortar boat and it is believed seriously damacJ
her. Indeed, it is reported that the mertar boat R
since sunk Some of the enemy's balls penetrated a.
much six feet into our boats yet so far their SER
Vceable capacity is concerned they were uniniurpd
The Van Dorn's upper works were almost riddled A
spy glass was shot ont OF the hands of her Captain
There no damage done to the bulls Or machinery
of our boats General Thompson on board the
Bragg, which made the first attack. ALI did Their dn,v
nobly though special mention is made OF Captain Fu.
kerson, of the Van Dorm.
The st. Louis was seriously damaged, and was run
on the bar opposite Plumb Point. Yesterday at noon
she was still the bar, with transport alongside sun
posed to be ia a sinking condition.
The fight was brought to close by the Federal gun
boats withdrawing into shoa water, where ours could
not go. They then opened broadside after broadsd ct
u.s. throwing three hundred shot, but with no dam
age.
The Benton gunboat, Com Foote's flagship, did not
leave the shore, but all the time poured most destguc
tive fire upon our boats.
be Federals made an attempt to board the Sumter
but the boarding party all dispersed by shower
of balls and hot water. Several of the Federais were
killed at their guns and others at their forecaste We
fired from our Zig gun not exceeding twenty shots
mostly from the JeG Thompson.
Our loss in the engagement is two-the cook on the
had his leg shot off at the thigh and the latter had
his head shot of. We also had four slightly Injured
The Federal loss is known to be at least twenty-five
The engagement took place at Plumb Point, and
lasted hour and half when our boats returned to
the fort.
The i0pregnabilty of our cotton-clad fleet is con-
sdered now to be fully demopsrated--lhe euemys shot
penetrating into the cotton only lew inches and none
passing through Therefore there now no danger Of
the enemy reaching Memphis via Fort Pillow.