Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-04-02
THE WAR NEWS.
THE FIGHT AT ISLAND No. 10

give tho account OF tho bombardment Of
the l7th as furnished by the correspou.
dent of the Chicago Times:
This morning (Monday,) council Of
officers was held, which resulted in lash
ing three gunboats together, the Benton,
Captain Phelps, in the centre, ths St.
Louis, Captain PauldinC,on the right, and
the CiDcinnaili, Captain StembelI, on the
left. 1t took until near twelve o'clock to
get everything in readiness, when the
three boats wheeled around and started
slowly down the rive? in front Of the
frownlng batteries Of the enemy
Our mortar boats had been playing on
the head Of the Island all the morning,
where ii was evident the rebels had plant
ed some heavy guns during the night
The morIars continued firing at iteryals
all day.
After getting in proper position. Bishs
op, oil the Benton, opened the ball with
hiS first forward port gun at six minutes
before one o'clock, followed by his second
starbonrd gun. Ills second shot struck
the enemy's parapet. Mcdonald Of the
St. Louis, and Hail, Of the Cincinnati,
gave each a slarJoarj gun with marked
accuracy. The firing Of all three Of the
| gunboats was continued, some Of TIE shot
landing plump into the enemy's parspet
! When the firing commenced, the trio,
| Behton, st. Louis and Cincinnati, were
about two and half miles frOfn the enc,
my's seyen.guu battery, and continued
moving down very slowly fer an hournok
! getting any response. Changed our course
and commenced firing on the land bate
| ~ below. One or two shotS drew them
out with couple Of shots from the head
Of the Island aud four from q land battery
above, the one we had hrst been firing Vt.
but oil their shots fell sh0It. The enemy
nov commenced getting better range, as
several she'll went completely over US
The rattling Of shot and she'll from both
parties now became terrific, and fell
around US like hail A l28,pounder fell
not twelve feet astern Of the Benton. a
moment after another struck between the
Benton and St. Louis, near their s,ern,
striking the former two inches above the
water line, throwing perfect columns of
water over both boats. Your correspou.
dent was covered with water, and many
others were drenched to the skin.
A. haIG-past two O'Clock rifed cannon
"A bl' pounder-burst on the st. Louis,
killing two men instantly, and wounding
nine, some Of whom are dangerous One
OF the killed was named jackson, who
formerly lived IN Chicago. John Goth
was the other killed, who came here from
the Potomac. Mr.. Mcdonald gunner Of
the St. Louis, was badly wounded in the
shoulder and arm, and man named Ne
Adams was badly wounded in The head
~ IL 3 . l,a L. II
slightly wounded.
Haitian hour after 6i pound solid
shot struck tho Benton amidships on her
starboard eide, went through the spar
deck, striking the gun, when it bounded,
striking the spar deck again, and landed
on Captain Phelps writing desk, going
through into the drswer, where it stop
ped, and remains there still. Splnters
flew thick and fast, but no one was inju.
red
Ten minutes after another G4pounder
passed directly over the Benton's pilot.
house, and only three feet from nv head,
striking our iron ventilator, twisting it in.
to all kinds Of shapes, went through the
smoke-s!ack, knocking two feet ou: Of
heavy iron rod which holds the smoke
stack up, passed through glass sky>light,
striking a seam oi iron plating on the
deck, tore up two of them, and quietly
roIlel down 10 the port side, doing no
more damage. Soon aflor another shot
hit the Benton plum in the face, but, find
ing it too hard, bounded out into the riy-
er. few minutes after the Cincinnati
was struck in her rigging, and the shot
passed over her wheel house and knocked |
Oft heavy block which supports her pro.
pelling wheel All this time shots of his !
character were fly lug over US,
81 hslf-paat tour two OF the enemy's
guns were discovered dismolnted in the |
upper battery. The shots of the enemy
now came Up "CroRgy," most Of them
falling short, but once in a while going
far above US over our heads. One stray
sho. hit the St. Louis in her bow, below
water mark, The rebels discovering tha.
their upper battery was disabled, openrd
on us from two lower batteries, but only
one of them camo near US, the others
falling short a steamer w0s aiao seen
towing up back OF the Island what was
supposed to be >he large floating battery,
which is said TO be very furuidaLle.
The Mound City and Carorlelet were
lying near point on the Missouri side
during the whole Of the engagement,
playing on the eneny's different batteries
at long range, but b5ins so fax away at,
tFacted but little or no attention from The
enemy.
Night coming on the trio, Benton, Gin.
cinnatti, and St. Louis, drew OF, and as
they came round gave the enemy part
ing salute, The ehemy's shots had be,
come few ard far between, and ;hey lid
not degn TO return tho compliment. The
engagement had lasted five hours and
forty minutes, and not man belonging
to our party had been hurt, excep. one
man on tho Cincinnati, who received
.omo slight contusions on ono OF his
hands from some hiing splio.ers, bat
amounted to nothing more than scratches.
The circumstance was remarked by Off .
.ers as being remarkable, al engagement
of near SIX hours, receiving 50 many shot, t
md no ono hurt. C
Tte accident on the ST. LOSS wl' lbntT
,nly drawback On oar su-sNsf - fur a.