Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-07-29
The Recent Naval Fight near
Vlcksburg.

Det0ro memphis was taken Oy our army
10 was known that an iron clad gunboat
was being built OF that city Of rather dam
gerous character. When our feet moved
down npon Memphis, this gunbcat, uDtin-
ished, was towed by the rebels up the
Yezoo river, in Arkansas. week or two
ngo rumOrs began TO reach the feet near
Vicksl urg that this gun5oat, named the
Arkansas, had been finished, and was
coming down the (Yazoo) river. The
gunboats CaroDdtlet and Tyler were sent
up 10 look after her, and ea:ly Friday NOR
ming Of last week, sure enough, the Tyler.
which was in advance, met her near the
mouth the Yazpo The Tyler. being
wooden boat, Immediately turned about
and eped down the river to give tie alarm
Tho Arkansas kept on her way. and
short distance below, met the Carondelet,
which. being warned by the Tyler, was
ready for action. The odds in strength
we're great, buther commander met his an.
tsgcnist boldly, and opened with his bow
guns the moment she came within range,
and the Arkansas also opened with three
bow guns, of which one is supposed to be
a one hundred aud twenty eight pornder-
The Carondelet ranged close alongside OF
her, and poured in broadsids after broad
sgainst which her light armor was not
proof. The balls from the Ca-ondelets
guns rebounded from the iron side Of the
Arkansas, and fell into the water harmless,
or crushed like eggsbells against the iO-
vulnerable armor. She could not be pene
tated at any point.
This c, niest wac toe unequal to last long,
and, the two boats coming in contact, the
Carondelst's men bearded cnd sought to
take the Arkansas by storm, but, when they
got possession Of her deck, they could not
get inside Of the vessel, and they were
forced 20 abandon the undertaking. an re-
turn to their own boat. Her ports were
oil closed. The roof was ingulnerable, and
the rebel crew were rs safe from their fury
rs though thousand miles away. In the
meantime the boat had drifted near the
shore and the Csrvndelet got a ground
The Arkansas poured in few more shots,
and left her With seven men killed and a
number wounded. Her armour was pierc
ed a half dozen places.
The Tyler bad, by this time, got q good
start and was making for the protection OF
the feet as fast as she could gr. The Ar
kansas resumed her course, and was oaite
near her " hen the Tyler turned the punt
couple Of miles above the feet, dischars-
ing her stern guns an! receiving rapid
shots from her pursOer.
In an Instant all was confusion and prep
aratiun. The feet unfortunately had
stern up, probably on account of the early
hour, and none Of them we're in cond ;t,or
20 nanoeuvre; but the guns were run 81
and everything put i'll readiness To reeeiy,
her.
Gunboat No. 6. Of Farragut's feet, wa
highest up the river. She LEI hy her sterI
guns, and, when at close range, ran out al
ll-inch gun and pc ured into her a storm
OF iron. One Of these balls struck her il
the stern and displaced tho armor some
what, but did not penetrate il. Solid sho
seemed TO 6atten against her armor, viii ],
shells were scattered into thousu nds O
fragments Those who saw the fight So,
that fash OF FIRE denoted the spot where
every ball struck, 80 terrible was the con.
cussion and sO strong the resistance.
She passed on unframed, delivering bel
FIRE from six guns right and left, elosiu
her portfolios after each shot, and present,
ing dead wall of eight inches Of solid iron
Toy our cannon to play against.
The Hartford poured her broadside Of
thirteen guns into her the Iroeuois gave
her like salute; Oneida bleached fourth
her fire 1.-THE Benton, Louisville, Cincinnati
and the four Farrsgut gunboats all opened
with terrific thunder and bailsturm of iron
and still shs kept calmly on her way ,firir G
to the right and left. and receiving sole
shot against her sides Of every description
from thirty two co enc hundred Founders
without seemingly deriving any Injury.
She put holes through the Hartford tht
Iroquois, the Benton and half OF the gun.
boats.
The ram Lancaster started to make rur
against her, ard she put a sh0t through heI
blowOf pipe, which made an explosion ol
steam, and killed three men and wounded
ten or fifteen. She received ten inch ba!
from the Hartford and Iroquois, which
made her careen with the force of the
eoncussion, nOne Of which went thror Oh
her.
a port hole was at one period Of the pas
sage left unconsciously open, and shot en-
tered, which killed ten men and wounded
a number. Ii was quickly closed, and she
was again like wall of rock
The Benton got aground and had to b.
pulled uf. She then started in pursuit an d
followed her down to the point opposite
FIeksburg. within reach Of the batteries,
opened on her aud struck her four or 6ge
tunes. She bad one man killed during the
engagement.
Thus, in about twenty minutes time, the
rebel boat passed through our entire feet
Of twenty five or more boats, and safely
and not seriouly injured under the batter
rles at Ncksburg. She has some hard
knocks, for her pumps were going and a
stream OF water run from her deck which
was undoubt'y from leakage.
The results Of the engagement were the
loss Of twenty three men killed and twenty
tve wounded. Many of our boats were
struck, but none were seriously irjured.-
The Tyler was badly riddled, and several
Of her men were killed.