The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-05-17

Incidsnts Of the Naval Fight on the
1Itsgisdppi.
he lowing hcidente Of ~ eight, from The
eoesespondencs = the Boston Journal, are vssy
iatsresling:
cuSTMa TnI clAu Across TEE RIVER
Gu Sunday night the gunboats PInola and
ltasca went up, under command Of Flag Cap
tain Bell, to cut the chain. Tbs Pinola ran In
the west bank, and after striking sunken ship
she succeeded in reaching one of the hulks, to
which NJ. Rroehl, the experimenter, attached
heavy petard The wire connecting it to the
bst.rsy on board Tie steamer was cooled up on
deck, but the current ran 20 strong and the n.
noss driftsd 20 rapidly, that the wire was bro
ken and tho attempt failed. In the meantime,
the Itasca ran up 10 one Of the hunks on the
east aide Of the river, when Acting Masters Ed
ward Jones and Amos johnson. with eight men,
BOARDED the schooner, and in half m hour sue
ceeded In unshackling the chain from its moor
ipgs and dropping Il down.
Tbs following letter from Capt. Caldwell, Of
he gunboat IsAscs, gives an account Of the af-
fair:
80 = The operator on board the Pinola
did not succeed in blowing up the chain, as the
connecting wire broke and the vessel could not
be blown up, "a the current pressed the Pinoia
upon her with such force that It took half an
hour to clear her. The Itasca took the next
schooner, and in half an hour slipped the chain,
but unfortunately, before she could get well
clear. the current cast her over on to the east
shore, grounding the schooner lsshed to her and
running the Itasca's fore foot into the mud,
where she remained nearly two hours exposed
to the fire of both forts. The Pinola parted
two 5.inch hawsers in trying to pull her of, but
1t last started her with 1linch hawser After
running this schooner on shore, the Others
swung most favorably, leaving wide passage
for the feet.
On Wednesday night Capt. Caldwell, with
Acting Master Jones, and eleven OF the ltascas
men. pulled up to the schooners after dark, to
make 4 final reconnaissance of the schooners.
They pulled Up and sounded round the schoon-
srs on the west bank, and then crossed over and
did the esme with the schooners on the east
bank. They found the channel more than sufi.
ciently wide and entirely unobstructed.
The rebels had lighted fire on the east bank
exposing everything attempting to pass up, but
the boat, with muf1ed oars, passed safely up,
and made all their observations unobserved, al
though they could hear the orders given at the
fort, and hear the men calling and talking very
loudly about some business they were carrying
on outside the fort. The boat then returned
and made the joyful signal, "all right"-the
ltasca's night number, two white and one red
lanterns. This WAS prcconcerted signal with
the flsg-oficer, in order that no time should be
lost. Soon after the flag ship hoisted another
preconcerted signal, two red lanterns. This was
TO get under weigh, prepare for battle, and pass
up the river. Within two hours the feet per-
formed one of the most wonderful and brilliant
feats that ever honored any navy, and made the
glorious passage Of the river.
CHArs.cLAD sLooPs. or-wAR
The most conspicuous feature in the outward
appearance Of the feet was the iron linked mail
Of the sloops.of. war Richmond, Brooklyn and
Pensacola, each of which had thsir engines and
boilers protected by chain. cables hung in bites
onthe outside and triced to eyebolts and rods run
ming fore and aft The chains we're dropped
from the height Of the guu-deck to below the
water.line, and connected together by strong
cordage. This was equivalent to fourinch
plates, provided it withstood the effects Of
gIancing or oblique shots The only danger ap
pretended from the chains on the steamers wal
from raking shots tearing them off, in which
case it was feared they would become entang
led with the propellers. To guard against this
some of the ships unshackled the chain in shor
lengths, 30 that it might reach astern. The ma
chinery of the 1roquois was protected in the
same way, the credit Of originating which plar
mond, upon which ship it Was first adopted, tht
other vessels following her example.
Among the most efficient of the internal ar
engagements for the protection of the boilers
the destruction Of which by shot or shell wa
the most to be dreaded although this was no
the only dangerous part Of the ships, was tina
adopted on board the soop Of war Mississippi
the machinery of which, being more above tn,
water line, was consequently more exposed t.
the fire Of the enemy. The preparation of thi
ship for the action involved an immense amour
of labor, which engaged her officers and Gre,
for weeks before the attack. Under the direc
ton of Chief Engineer Lawton, Mr.. Bsrtleman
the First Assistant, worked night and day wit
. strong force, and constructed temporary roo
in the coal bunkers just below the water line
about which the heavy chain cables Of the shi
we're packed in layers, running fore and aft
The ends Of the shaft of the Mississippi wer
protected by four bales Of bagging on the ou
side of each wheel. The bows of several of th
ships, including the Richmond and Hartford
we're protected by sand bags piled up beneat
the iorecastle, and intended to be removed al
Ito break the force OF rakiDg shot after the shI
should have passed the forts | alluded in
former letter to the log packing of the boiler
Of the gunboat Owasco The bulkheads of othe
gunboats were strengthened in like manner, an
also by sand bugs, aud the coal bunkers Of al
being kept full, supplied the wants Of extra ba
rlers to shot and shell. From the moment I'll
sloop OF war Portsmouth arrived in the rive
her officers and crew engaged in putting ii
ship in fighting trim. She wore q mail COZ
structed Of her sheet chains for the protectie
of her bow against raking fire, and spread
complete spar netting Of strong ropes to prevel
her lofty spars--cut away by cannon balls-fro
; falling on deck.
sKILLFUL PREPARATIONS.
The sloop Of war Richmond, taken altogethe
was by far the best fitted ship in the squadron
Her hull, standing rigging. and in fact ever
part Of the vessel which could afford the lea
mark for the rebel artillerists, received a Goa
ing Of mud paint; she wore splinter nettin,
running fore and aft over her decks. In add
ton to the iron mail, which she wore cxterna
ly, her machinery was protected by sand bag
packed against her bulkheads.
The gunboats Katshdin, Lieutenant Cor
manding PEBBLE, and the Harriet Lane wo
their boarding MEETINGS, and other gunboats ar
ships were provided with the same barrie
against the enemy. Many Of the ships carrie
kedge anchors on their yard arms, and grapplir
hooks on their jib Blooms, with which to taste
to the gunboats and ERE RATS of the enemy.
CAPT. BoGGs' ACCOUNT OF THE vRRoNA's Acrro
The following is an extract from letter
Captain Boggs, of the Verona, addressed to b
hmily in New Jersey. 1t was, of course, n,
intended for the public eye. Sailor. like, IL
gallant captain identifies himself with his shi
and with ss much drectness and force a. /
fights:
MIssIsslPPT RIvER}
U. 8. Steamer Harriet Lane, April %, 1862 {
Az Captain Porter 10 about to dispatch
vessel for HAVANA with Communications for o,
government, Ihave only few moments to 90
that, thanks to good Providence, am safe, an
without even scratch.
Yesterday our great battle vas fought tt
squadron passed the forts under Is severe I'll
sADy feet probably ever endured. The shi,
were much cut up, and there we're many kille
and wounded. IS a,la
can only give hassy narrative of what o,
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