The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-08-05

TIC serious consideration u The Amefi-
can people,
GCRowski.
Washington, July ., 1902,
Exrtotrs or rnr RAM ARgAS-
sAs. The trah in respect to the reb.
el ram that recently ran through our
tloetat yicksburg Is morlifying enough,
but most Of the accounts have told
more than the truth. The following
account by the Memphis dppeai IS.
snmes to be correct -
About sj o'clock on the morning Of
Tuesday, The gunboat Arkansas ap-
peared IN sight Of The fleet At Yic5s,
burgh, and was fred 81 by the Caron-
delet, replying iast and we'll Our
boats not having steem up, the Ar
kansas kept on, steadily firing with
great rapidity, and receiving The shots
Of such Of the federal boats as were
SO placed a. to have guns that would
bear upon her. The Carondelet re-
eoiyed her first sho, ia her bow it
swept her deck, killing eleven men in
its passage out at her stern. Ia the
meantime the Hartford opened on the
Arkansas at very close range with 6S-
pound shells, which, on sirikingwould
eareen her from the mere force Of
their weight aud velocity. The Lan-
caster next shared in the engagement
with her drum just filling with steam
one unlucky ball struck it, and a rep
etition Of the Mound City scene oc.
cured, men sealded, jumped over
board and drowned. The gunboat a.
o. TAYLOR being next, received n shot
which our informant saw come out at
her lower wheelhouse. Not one Of
these three boats was so damaged,
however, as to be even called crippled,
il we except ihe Lancaster, whose loss
Of her drum incapacilaied her for a
time.
One shot from the Arkansas struck
the transport John II. Dickey, which
was lying near the Louisiana shore,
going through the ladies' cabin, taking
oil the top OF a rocking chair. Thus
much injury did the Arkansas do the
feet on her way to the shelter Of the
Vicksburgh batteries. In the mean
time her own injuries appear 10 have
been OF the scyerest. AS shot after
shot struck her. the railroad iron Was
torn from her sides; and the pilot Of
the gunboat Louisville, as well as sew
eral officers, who walked across tie
bend on shore and observed her with
glasses, as she lay beneath the batter
les, report that they saw her naked
sides well riddled, the pilot observing
hole in her port bow Of some twenty
inches in diameter, and others on 9TH
en- parts Of her sufficient to demon-
strate that she is far more than com
monty vulnerable for mailed boat
The railroad iron seems unable 10
Withstand tie shock Of heavy missiles
as well as the plates. 1t appears ii
This case that the rails sprung from
one fastening when hit on the other
it is held doubtful that she could have
foated much longer her pumps we're
being worked as hard as possible, and
toward night she was hidden from fed-
cral view by the placing in front Of.
her Of some old transports,
Three days after the feet steamed
down the river pas. Vicksbarg, pour
ing broadsides into the ram as well as
into the city, with what effect docs not
appear to be exactly known. One ac-
count says:
The Arkansas lay of the town nn-
der the water batteries Of the rebels,
but did not fire at all during tie bonn
bardment Though the Sumter was
sent down purposely to sink her, she
did not succeed in doing SO but il is
said she bntted and crippled her dur
ing the action. This noon the Arkan-
sas still lies, without steam, in her old
position, and no one, apparently, IN or
about her. She seems 10 be a good
deal hurt, and il is reported there are
several large holes in her, and that
her crew we're industriously engaged
the greater part Of yesterday in pump
ing her out. | hope her last battle
has been fought, bui greatly fear
she viii yet give Us much trouble.
Until we capture or destroy her, We
cannot feel very secure for she has
her ability 10 set our
fleet al defiance. That, however, was
under peculiar circumstances, and we
trust and think il will be different
when she meets our vessels under diff
ierent auspices. The vessels Of Com.
are all now below the city, /
having second time run the block
ade, while those Of Com. Davis have
returned, except the sumter, which I
remains on the other side of the PEI
A Hisr.-A soldier met d scces-
sionist woman the other day. in War 4
renton, Virginia. She instantly hoist I
ed her dress 70 an unusual height. and 4
swung around to clear hiin. The sol I
der, who was attentively regarding 4
the spectacle cried out IN blank aston
ishment: What dirty stockings /
D