Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-18
THE ESSEX AND THE RAM ARKANSAS.

THE ESSEX AND THE RAM ARkANSAs.
communication In the New Orleans DsItd,
from Mr.. Spencer Kellogg, dated on board the
Essex OF Baton Rouge, July 20, gives the fol-
lowing particulars OF the hght with the Arkan-
sas and Rebel batteries at Vicksburg:
The upper feet, including the Enex, got un-
der way at 4. m. advancing down the river to
the the Eae1 lex the other vessels, and rsridly id.
vanced upon the Rebel boat, then lying imme-
diately under the upper batteries, Of which there
were three tiers, one above the other. The origi-
nal Intention Of striking the Arkansas was frus.
tated by her letting 60 her headline, letting her
bow swing out into the stream, receiving our
three nine-inch guns when within twelve yards,
and Immediately afterwari slight grazing
blow upon her bow, perfectly harmless to her,
but causing the Essex to run hard upon the bank
The guns were Immediately reloaded and run
out Of the holes In the port covers, but were not
upon the bank, the batteries put three shots into
our bow casemates, none Of which penetrated,
but one exploding In the classmates, driving
and some splinters, which wounded three, all Of
which will soon recover-our total loss. These
shots came from the batteries on shore, a we
plainly saw the crew OF the Arkansas jumping
OF when we ran into them nor did the Arkan-
sas hre another gun, but, on the contrary, al.
though having steam up, she swung helpless
from her stern-line.
Ii was impossible, however, to board her, a.
hundreds Of harpshootefs poured leaden hall OF
bullets at the holes In the port covers The shells
from the rebel batteries were one continuous IRON
hail, exploding constantly against the ports,
throwing lurid glare over the darkened decks
inside. The wood work on the outside Of the
classmates was splintered in many pieces, while
the riddled smo stacks and torn awning showed
the severity Of the fre from the field pieces.
The promised support from the lower squadron,
Farragut's being kept back, the vessels not being
In sight, Captain Porter reluctantly gave the
order to retire which donein safety, although
under an unparalleled Are Of shot and shell,
which, striking in the water near us, kept the
boat under q continual shower.
Although bearing the marks Of over thirty shot
and shell, only two succeeded In penetrating,
one Of them exploding through, many buried
themselves In the solid casemates.
| In her bow q l0-inch shell LEFT Its mark, where
It struck the iron, inden,ing Is deeply, and then
breaking to pieces; while little above II, an s
inch rined solid shot penetrated to the depth OF
ten inches, breaking to pieces with the force Of
/ the blow
Through the failure Of the programme on the
part Of the supporting fleets, the Essex failed tc
capture the ram; vet she left her mark In q hole
OF nearly eight feet in diameter, In the semates
1 Of the Arkansas, while the solid 9-inch round
l shot told their own tale Of death as they sweP
l the decks
When the feat Of the Essex, In running into
l and fighting boat OF superior armament, unde
| batteries Of such enormous strength, with such
Capt Porter and his officers will receive the tru,
credit for building and lighting a boat whost
capabilities for resisting shot from heavy ord
nance has never been eQualled, and In genera
hghting qualities excesds any vessel ever con
Il structed.