The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-22
Speech of Senator Grimes


On the Joint Resolution rendering N.
H.Gnks Of Congress TO ComntodOre Foot.
and his officers and men.
Mr.. GRIMES. Mr.. President. | con.
ceiyeit it to be my duty, and it certainly is
. great pleasure to me, to call the special
attention OF the Senate to the achievements
OF the newly created naval fotilla on the
western waters, and to the gallant part
borne by its officers and men against armed
rebels in Kentucky and Tennessee Surely
no one could more properly be proud ot
our army in that quarter than Senator
from Iowa. Yet, l know that whatever
adds to the glory Of our Navy in the re-
cent conflicts in he West, adds also to
the glory of the Army, and that the two
branches of the service have been and are
SO conjoined that no rivalry ought to exist
between them, except virtuous emula-
ton in the performance of patriotic duty.
No examples can be found in the history
of any country Of more important results
attained in an equal time, in an nntried
field of naval enterprise, than those we
have lately witnessed on the Ohio. Missis-
sippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers;
and ] feel assured that the successes that
have thus far been achieved, will be sur
passed by the same forces whenever they
can fnd On enemy with whom to cope be-
tween Cairo and New Orleans.
On the 10th day Of May last, Com
mander John Rodgers was ordered by the
Secretary ofthe Navy to proceed to Gin
clnnati and to purchase or commence the
construction of several gunboats for SER
vice on the western rivers. Under his
auspices the three boats, Taylor, Lexing-
ton and Conestoga, were purchased and
fitted up for war purposes. They were put
in commission and reached Cairo, after
some delay arising from the low stage Of
water in the Ohio river, on the l2th of
August, Commander Rogers taking COM
mand Of the Taylor, and assigning Com
mander Stembel to the Lexington and
Lieutenant Phelps to the Cones,osa.-
The Taylor carried seven guns, of large
caliber. the Lexington six, aud the Con
estoga four. Here was the beginning OF
the western fotilla. We all remember
the unfavorable criticisms indulsed in
when these three stern-whecl steamers.
with oak castings. arrived at that military
post. Some said they would be shaken
to pieces by the recoil Of their own guns
Others that they would be speedily sunk
by the shore guns of the rebels; while not
a few We're alarmed by visions of Hollins'
ram butting them to pieceNith irnpunity
From the day they reached their deslina-
tion to the present no rebel craft hSs shown
itself ten miles above Columbus, and no
rebel force of any description has harbored
on the two rivers in proximity which
could be deemed threatening to their nav
igaiion or to the two cities of ST. Louis
and Cairo. A few experimental trips dis
PEELED all doubts of their efficiency; and
when the people became assured that they
would do the work they were Intended
for, all fear Of rebel incursion into any Of
the Northwestern States, other than Mis-
souri,, was also dispellcd. A band of JEFF
ferson Thompson's robbers did, indeed,
make demonstration of crossing the Miss
issippi river, in August last, from the
town OF Commerce, Missouri; but at the
first intimation that the gunboats were
they fed with what booty they
could lay their hands on, pillaged impair
italy from friends and foes On the Missouri
shore. The boon of security to the
people of the Northwestern States is debt
due, in no small degree, to these wooden
gunboats, for however numerous and brave
,ur armies, it would have been impossible
With them alone to have guarded all points
On our river line. Thus, our people were
not only protected from danger Of inva-
sion. but they we're enabled to give all
heir time and energies to preparntion for
hose offensive movements which have re-
claimed SO much important territory from
he domination Of the enemy,
On the Esd Esd of September, Commander
Rodgers was detached from service in the
West. and Capt. A H. Eoote Was order
ID TO take command as flag officer. Since
hat time the following boats, with irou-
lad bows, have been built or prepared for
service, and added to the fotilIa under
his command: st. Louis, thirteen guns,
Lieutenant Paulding; Carondelet, thir-
cen guns, Commander Walk; Pittshurg,
hireen guns, Lieut.. Thompson; Louis
vile, thirteen guns, Commander Dove
thirteen guns, Commander
Essex, five guns, Commander
Porter; Mound City, thirteen guns.
The frs. engagement of the guDboats
With the enemy took place on the 9th Of
at Lucas Bend, in the Missis.
sippi river, short distance above. and in
Full view of the rebel stronghold at Colum-
bus. IN that engagement, the Lexington,
Commander Stembel, and the Conestoga,
Lieut. Phelps, silenced two shore batter
les, dispcrcd q hrge body Of rebel Cav
alry, and so disabled the rebel gunboat
yaSSss ;A.t sac hus NOS been heard of
since.