Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-08-09

to butt the Arkansas in the event of her
appearance above, and the Essex to run
down in advance of the Queen and grapple
her as she passed, draw her out in the
stream. to give the Queen an excellent op-
portunity to ram her, Famagut meanwhile
engaging the lower batteries.
After the Queen had struck the enemy,
she was to come up or go down the river, as
was most advantageous, the Benton protect
ing her retreat in the former, and the Essex
in the latter case, the Sumter to ram the
hostile gunboat if the Queen failed to per-
form her task. This arrangement was good
and entirely satisfactory to all parties, and
promised to he faithfully carried out.
How deceptive are appearances Who
relics on them leans on shadows.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE ATTACK.
The three gunboats opened fire the Bragg
took her position, and the Essex led off in
fine STYLE. the Queen following at high
rate of speed, and under very favorable
auspices.
As the ram passed the flagship Commo-
dorc Davis waved his hand to Colonel Ellct,
standing near the pilothousc, and cried:
| Good luck. good luck :" The Colonel mis-
understanding the words, supposing the
/ Commodore said, "Gu back, go back ~ and
| therefore turned the Queen about and
steamed toward the Benton, when he heard
500 on, 90 onr Without Comprchcnding
| this apparent Inconsistency, and believing
the first duty OF a soldier is to obey, the
| Colonel steamed down under the batteries /;
and arriving at the first water battery, near
| the Marine Hospital, where the hostile gun
/ boat was living, he discovered the Essex had
| gone on, and was then in advance one half
| or thrcc-quartcrs of Il mile.
THE ARKANSAS STRUCK By THE RAM.
The Col. was resolved TO take the odds
/ sink or not-and he took them. He went
against the Arkansas partially up stream,
| designing to butt her forward of her side
| guns-hcr weakest place but the cddic' in
the river altered his course somewhat and
he struck her aft Of the aft side gun, and,
unfortunately, Il glaRcing though violent
! blow, that made both the traitOrOus and the
| loyal craft trcmblc. The Arkansas seemed
to shrink and yield before the blow, and for
moment il was thought her side would
! give way, but she reacted 'and the ram flew
! back from her, and, in moving toward her
again, ran into the bank,
The Queen reversed her engines. and as
! she went stcrnward into the stream, her head
vccrcd up the river; and it was then evident
her sole opportunity, if any there was for
, escape, WIS dUDNf.
CONSIDERATION on THE ARKANSAS.
When the Arkansas was struck great con
Stcrnation and confusion prevailed on board
-Four of the Rebel crew were observed to
| leap out of the portfolios into the water,
and a number Of Others to run ashore. Even
at that critical and exciting moment Lieut..
| Colonel Ellct who was standing or rather
! lying on the hurricane root, beside the pilot
! house. with his gallant son, a youth of only
sixteen, discharged his revolver into the
port-hoe nearest him, his brave boy imita-
ting his example.
They heard cries from the Rebel gunboat.
She is sinking! she is sinking" but they
themselves could see no evidence of the
alleged fact.
a FORLoRN HorE INDEED.
Nothing more could be done. and Colonel
El!ct determined, if possible. to save his
men, though that under the circumstances,
was the most forlor of iororn hopes.
No friendly gunboat or Union vessel was
near.
Three or four of the hostile batteries were
playing upon the devoted and seemingly
doomed. Queen, which must run 10y the great
dcath-bclching guns before she could be
| regarded as in any way secure.
cover the rams retreat after she had per
formed her duty?
Nobly she had discharged her obligations /;
but the promised aid was not forthcoming,
was not visible.
Col. Ellct could depend only on himself
So, with check unblanchcd, and uniatcring
purpose, he ordered his stout-hcartcd cngi-
necrs to ascend the river and run the gaunt-
let of sulphurous death.
Already had the ram been struck twenty
or twenty five times. Her chimney stacks
were perforated with balls; one of her steam
pipes had been shot away in various places
large holes had been bored through the sides
and bow of the dauntlcss vessel, and yet no
one WAS hurt, though many of the escapes
had been almost miraculous.
Ii was supposed the ram was seriously
injured in her hull and was leaking for the
Arkansas ma given her Il hroad,idc Just
as she was passing, and that if she did not
take advantage OF time She would soon be
water-loggcd.
\ POWERFUL REBEL SHOT,
The ram moved up the river, and the
Rebel batteries increased their fire Heavy
shot and shell fell before, behind, and around
her, and every few seconds one would go
tearing through her deck or cabin. As she
passed one OF the upper batteries, thirty
four pound shot struck her in the rear, went
through every one of her larboard state
rooms, in which no person happened to be
at the time, into the Captains office penctra-
ting the iron safe, and passing out, shattered
the wooden carriage of one OF the mounted
brass pieces on the boiler deck dismounting
the gun, and hitting it, left deep indenta-
tion in the metal.
This shot, which was afterwards picked
up, was peculiar one. 1t was composed
OF pewter mostly, with an admixturc of lead
and zinc, and weighs probably as much as
fifty pounds. 1t is probably moulded out OF
the heterogeneous materials which the
citi1cns-thc wives, mothers and daughters
of the ''Conicdcracy'-have from time to
time been urged hy the Rebel leaders 10
contribute to the glorious cause.
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPES or THE RAM
Wgross. t
+ S32pound shot, after passing through
tir~shcavy timber bulwarks of the ram, and