New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-16


lfter the broadaides had opened upon them-e,oWi
ug that the infantry muet either have been placed
tors de combat or been too pauic-stricken to hfe'
FALL or CAPT. sTEMBEL.
After the Mckee lad struck the Cineinuan '"no
with her PROV, Capt. Roger n. Sienbel ordereu h'-
crew to prepare themselves to receive 1oaruefs, s
po-ng tie enemy Oh their next approach would laAe
such an attempt. The seamen Immediately sfmep
themselves with pike- revolvers eulasses ana naha
grenades, aud waited for the near approach oi 'h'
enemy. ,o-
The schooner.rigged craft again went rapidly To-
ward the gunboat, and the CaSah, eaaG""s ava mssn
glimpse of the pilot, called for q rifle, ana wnen
within tw enty yards Of the ram hrcd and saw 'no
AZ this time the Cncinnatis pilot observed
Rebel on the McRae levelDg gnn At the Cal I.ih'
and gave him warning. Stemhel perceived the iel.
low, and started toward the pilot mousse W, hom
he could get behind it the enemy fired, and the pan,
entering biz right shoulder, passed through ls oody
and went out at bIs throat. The Captain fell, ana
was eupposed to be dead; but being picked ". and
earned below il was discovered he was cons 'ions,
and only badly wounded In the hour Of pam ana
peril the gallant Captain thought more OF ms yssse'
than of himself, and was constantly asking IL the
enemy were repulsed, and declaring that his pam
was more mental than physical.
EXPLOSION OF THE M'RAES BOILER.
The McRae, for some reason, had dropped down
the strean as ii she was about TO abandon her Pur
pose; but few minutes after she again steameo 10
iivsrd the Cincinnati, and was within half length
NJ her when the Benton. which had gone nearer,
once more fred broadside. One or more OF the
shel must have pierced the boilers OF the Rebel, Tor
sn eynlo.ion was heard, and tue boat was covered
with steam while shouts, shrieks, and groans were
heard on her deck, ss of men in agony, and some
were seen to leap on the psieS vi oo''on' sfP"''S
frantic with pam.
THE REBEL FLAG STRUCK
Acain the queer craft dropped away, and a. the
R.nion wa, on the point Of firing once more, the
Rebel flag was struck, and Capt. Phelps gave orders
to modest per no further She gave hgns OF sinkinR
and floating with the current until tie engine was
reversed. when she quickeued her speed. There
was no more harm or heart in her, that was certain;
bnt while che was passing below the Point, seeing
sbe was out Of danger, she ran up her soled punt
ing again, and reeling heavily TO Tho lArossrd,
passed out Of sight.
THE CINCINNATI's CONDITION.
The Cincinnati WAS now unmanageable, eud tax
inc water very fast, and it was feared in the deep
notion of the river where the fight had occurred she
niybt be lost TIE little tug Dauntless, which had
been from the first in the midst OF the action,
steamed up TO the crippled vessel and taking her III
tow, carried her over toward tho lennessee snofe
above where the Benton lay.
When Capt Stembel heard the hostile craft was
beaten off, he seemed much easier, and said he did
not care bow soon be expired; and In lew minutes
fell into comatose state, and remained for two
hours.
A HEROIC LIEUTENANT.
A minnie perhaps before the McRse received tho
shot through her boilers, Lieut.. VIM. Hoel, acting
executive officer Of the Cincinnati and resdent Of
that CITY this officer has distinguished himself oy us
Qallantry on various OCCASIONS aimee the notiia iet
Cairo, having volunteered to act ~ First Master OF
the Cnroudolet when that vessel ran Tho blockade a
isIsnd No lO. believing the boat sinking, told
tbe men never 70 strike their coor, but to meet
their fate brsvely, and when they saw Der going
down 10 giye three cheers for the Stars AID Stripes
Fortunately the gallant Cincinnati and Ler brave
crew did not 70 down. II she had, Lieut.. iioeis
instructiops would have been obeyed 10 the letter,
and the noble sailors would have descended 10 their
watery graves with the soul and satisfaction S ps,ri-
otism upon their hIs.
THE SECOND REBEL RAM.
The McRae having retired from the acton sec,
opd ram, the Van Dom, went to the assistance OF
the sumter in attacking tho Mound City, and bad
already struck her in the eide when the guns VI tho
Mound City and the bow pieces Of the Benton fairly
riddI.d her, and Capt. A. II. Kitty, who Wa pacing
the deck with gun. had shot person whom be be-
further appetite for the engagement, aud the Van
Dorm which had been shot through and through, be-
came anxious 10 vent iis wrath upon couple oi the
mortar boats, Capt Gregoys lying near the shore.
The Van Dorm lad long gun, peafiy concealed,
on the bow and with tins the rhos 'hrVusn tue iron
of one Of the moriars.
BRAVE DEFENDERS or MORTAR.
The mortar crews were in no wise daanted. They
leyelei their mortsrs, and, though theIe was 10
prospect Of hitting an object but . lew buhdfea
Yards dstapt they sen. their great shell at her, and
Il went roaring miles away i the direction OF lem
nesse.. Two or three Re els eaped cotton bales,
and with fierce denuucia,ion of the Yankees, and
Nth mighty oaths fired the guns they held in their
hands al the OF the morare, but did no injury.
The Secession officers We're fired at In turn by our
men from the Mound City, aud one Of them Is said
to have boen killed.
FLIGHT OF A HOSTILE RAM.
Tie Van Dora was evidently dsgusted with her
part of tie performance, and WIS about TO seek the
more coDQeDial moohugs under the shadow Of Fort
Pillow. Before going however, she intended to
pay her last tribute OF affection 10 the Mound Cltv,
but our yese gave her bToGdside that knocked oil
a ie w bales of cotton, aud compelled her TO drop
away. The Benton gave her u parting salute ~ she
Went in a greatly cnpplcd CONDITION arouad the
Point having been proceeded by the rix Rebel gum
boats whlcb, with The exception Of the Mctae, had
taken liule part III the action. The enemy can place
but little faith in their guuboats and this morning
they depended entirely on their rams believing,
doubt, they could FINK the whole hoiills.
CHARACTER OF The BATTLE.
The engagement did not continue more than half
an hour, and was most spirited affair while 1t
lusted. The Benton, Cincinnati, and Mound City
were the only Loats IN active service, though the
Carondelet and st. Louis may have hired several
sho,s from a distance.
The officers and crew Of the Cincinnati aud Mound
City distinguished themselves by tueif ski and dar
ipg. Inoeed, Capts Siembe aud Kelly We're far
too reckless in the exposure Of their lives and tAer
conduct Is the theme of praise on the entire leet.
The enemy did more than We supposed they could
do with thelr raInr: but censur.blc for
being taken somewhat by surlrlre, and having no
signals from the flag ship. The Benton had no
slean, aud was compelled to drift down the river,
and or two other of the gunboats Were in the
same condition. Our gunboats were zone time III
getting ready ana had they all Ieen eeter in move
meut, perhaps beittcr tho Cincinnati nor Mound
City would have been injured.