New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-15
THE NAVAL BATTLE AT FORT PILLOW
FULL PARTICULARS or TIE ENGAGEMENT.

nirtatck o Chicago IIOcs.
or SoTr Pillow May 10 via Cairo Msy H. 1852.
At la. the mOnoony is broken. We have mad a
fgbt, and a Rlolou6 one, too, purely naval, wi'E
psang an equal Iunher Of boats on each siae, and
have sent the Rebels back, down The rlver, D'diy
egiepled Theyaiiackei ~ this morning at ciosk,
snd before they were so badly Whipped that tLey
viii never agsia attempt such loo.
festerday morning they sent boat mp WIN q nag
Of truce, Osensibly 10 arrange an exchange OF two
surgeons captured at the battle OF Belmont, but, as
appears, ssmply 10 ascertain definitely the posi-
ti0l Of Onr feet.
Eerlv tbs morning, as uEuai, our nlortar-boats
were tOwed down 20 their position for ring u beng
n mint on the Arkansas sboTe about one miie IRON
the end OF Craigshead Point. The g1nboat Clncin-
rali ran down as a convoy.
Scarcely had Il e mortars been mocred IN their pc
fition when tie Rebel ram Loulsisna appeared COM
ing around The point By lodr other gan
b1ats The ram Immediately opened IRE on tbe
CDonna All to which the lae )lied with interest.
The Rebel boats were all held in check BY the Gin
einnati alone, when the rest Of the Union heet got
under way and came to her assistance.
In the mean time the Rebel ram, finding her guns
Intellectual against he iron arnor OF the Cincinnati,
approached Ler with the evident intention OF run
uins her down. Capt. Stembe of the latter pre-
rared 20 meet the asslult of the ram by opening
Es steam batteries and putting them IL readiness
for use. 80,
u AS soon 90 the Rebel craft approached within
elo IA -ce the Cincinnati turned Der head about,
cusirg lie ram 20 rrn along close beslde her "Ien
Can't Steuhei dew his Ii5gOi, and very cooi~ shot
The pilot killing him instantly; but, second alter
WARD. q musket ball struck the gallant Captain IN
Es left shoulder, iiiictiDga painful, sEhougn hct
aIious wound.
~ tbs tine the contest between the two boats
WAS most intensely exciting. The crews Of eaeh
were armed with cartines, cuilasses ana boarding
pkes ana were di,chaTging voliey after volley IL
10 quick succession Ut each other, while tho ram
wac also endeavoring get Der bead about 40 as TO
=
run into, and II possible, SINK ber antagonist
just then the steam batteries OF the Cincinnati
were opened with terrible effect, throwing heavy
yoluts Of steam ard scalcipg water into toe midst
Of the Rebe! crew, placing all who appeared on
deck horS de oombot Instantly aud causing The craft
to withdraw with all haste.
ia the meantime, the Rebel feet had been re-eh-
forced oy three other vessels ard among them the
new iron-clad gunboat Mallory, lately bui at Mem
lhis Thee tticc ran Immediately up TO tie Cln-
cinnaii and engaged her at once,
She withstood he assault most nobly, the sbot Of
the eiemy gancng IF from her iron plating with
out causiDg the slightest damage. while her own
guns were raining shot and she'll with feeriu effect
upon the enemy.
Cap. sep.bel, though badly wc1rdtd, remained
et bis Ost aud directed every movement with the
GOODNESS and deliberarion for which he Is Hoted.
During this engagement The Mallory approached
Tie Cincinnati with the desigu VI accomplishing
that which the raIn had failed in doing. AZ shc
ssue in eose proximity the Union boat ~ Loui3
"ofe e5wn upon her. and coming with iull head
s.eam oe, struck her amidshIps, cutting her neaI'y
~ wv aud eAuslng her 10 siuk 10 very ieW nIh-
. .'es, -unoers of her crew eecaped by chngng 70
.no 80 'tD.. , ard Others picked mp by the Cin-
the boat.
mie TINS work was in progress. The other boats
OF our heet had engaged ts reroa;ner Of the Rebel
heei, aud most terrific batle yyos ry,ejry the Ike
Of which the usuay Peaceful ,va,ars nf The Mi,ejs
sppi had never before Witnessed
Report followed upon relort lil,s .b. oo,,tinpors
rattle OI mushetly. Inc Rebel, fonol Ir.,.s,, Nd
with deterui "a ion, but trey were ZOO, L
bravery, sAill, and pAetal, and were be;IgS L.JIy
wOrsted. 49,!
Captain Davis, on tie fag-sLip Benton sir.o, 81
every movement OF our heet With Tie sno,c' 80
style Of a veteran IN naval warfare lie -,
mistakes. No. a boat Was moved but with ,eerf"I
effect upon tie enemy Did the Carondeet nm, ha,
lows up stream 1t was 10 let lily her stern guns di
the Cairo turn about, 1t was that broadste Inigh,
give its destruction to the foe.
The Mound City, st. Louis, Cincinnati and ,b.
old war-horse, Benton, were each and all diiigeD
and effective, while the Conestoga, wooden, lay Of
81 saio distance aud made good uDe Of her long
range guns
The eannonading was fearful and iis reverbera
tions were most grand and terrible The noise wa
almost Ike one continuous report. while the broa
river was covered with q dense volume OF snok
that for tine completely enyeloped both fleets an
hid them from view.
II war at this time that report louder and NOR
dssaaI tsaa IAst Df . gQa Attracted general sssu