Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-07-11

The National ram tleet seems determined
to distinguish itself
It did itself honor at Memphis on that mem
orable Friday---it was unlucky Friday, certes
for the Rebels--when the entire hostile Fleet
was rendered powerless in an hour. 1t has
augmented its glory by carrying the dear old
symbol Of our freedom down 10 Vicksburg,
through an enemy's country, without the pro-
lection of single gun.
Well and brayely donel That was daring
that was heroic Such acts as those render
war attractive, ard make the lives of the actors
ryhthmical with song n
THE RAM FLEET
To the Union Ram Fleet belong the
Monarch (fiag-boat Capt David Dryden.
Lancaster, Capt. Sampson Cadman.
Lioness, Capt M. Shroes
Mingo Capt Isaac Bausman.
Switzerland, Capt. David Millard.
Horner, Capt. Robert Dalzelle.
Queen of the West, Capt. John Williams.
Sampson, Capt. Robert II. Porter.
To Col. Charles Ellet, recently deceased,
Lieut.. Col Alfred W. Ellet has succeeded as
Flag-O Officer of the Ram Fleet, who is said by
those who know him to be daring, cool and
competent officer, and well worthy the confi-
dence his men repose in him.
DEPARTURE OF THE RAMS.
Five of the Rams, the Monarch, Lancaster,
Fulton. Lionuess and Mingo, left Memphis
Thursday, the 10Th inst, at 12 NJ, for an expe-
dition down the Mississippi taking with them
about three hundred muskcteers and sharp
shooters selected from the SD and 59th Ill.
PROGRESS DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI.
The Fleet ran down to st. Francis river,
eight miles below Memphis, and lay at the
mouth all night.
On Friday morning, the Goth, they went up
the st. Francis some fifty miles and saw a
great deal of cotton that had been burned, but
found no steamboats,, and no indications OF an
enemy in force. AS they returned, they were
informed by straggler, that barge contain
ing one hundred and fifty bales of cotton had
been concealed about twenty miles up and set
on fire, and it was possible the staple had been
but partially destroyed. Col Ellet found the
barge but the cotton had all been consumed.
The rams left the st. Francis at o'clock in
the afternoon, and proceeded to point on the
Mississippi shore opposite Helena, and tied up
for the night. During their progress they had
met number of men, generally from Arkan-
sas, flying from the Conscription act, and at
the mooring place mentioned saw half dozen
persons carrying provisionst to refugees hidden
near the shore of the Mississippi, where the
odious edict of impressment seemed to be far
less obeyed than in her sister State.
CAPTURE OF REBEL CRAFT.
On the same day friday the Mingo captur.
ed a steam ferry boat, very old and ricketty, O
few miles below Helena, which had been EN-
ployed to carry rebel troops across the Mlssls
sippi. The ferry, with considerable repairing
may be made serviceable, though she is of lit
tie value.
A scow was also captured near the same spot
on the following day Saturday, and as she
was worthless, she was scuttled and sunk il
Al, Of I,ar vyh looked
doublebarfel shot-grins and bowie knives, but
used nCne, and were silent over the outrage
upon the freedom of the enlightened sons o.
Arkansas.
Wherever the rams went, they found hume
rous traces of the destruction of Cotton. Along
the Missippi the plantations bore deserted
appearance, and very few white persons oil
slaves were visible on the premises. Here ano
there, however, the negroes went down to tho
shore, and laughed and cheered when none o
their owners or overseers were nigh. They
were particularly pleased, apparently, with the
Stars and Stripes, and pointed to them witt
significant gestures that would have delighted
the editors of the New York Tribune.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN sECEssIA.
On Saturday the 21st, the Federal fleet per
ceived several squads of cavalry in Arkansas
who were probably in search of all poor devil
| to force them into the rebel ranks, though al
the soldiers obtained recently by Gen. Hind
man are kept within the limits of the State
which is now in a sovereign and Independent
| condition of unexampled ignorance and bar
| barism.
The hostile cavalry made no demonstration
as the Rams passed, probably thinking tn,
| boats were furnished with concealed guns tha
would belch forth suddenly and punish any in
| science that might be offered.
| Some twelve or fifteen men were overhauleC
| in skiffs, while going from Napoleon to Mem
phis to escape impressment into the secession
service. They were allowed to continue thei
course but they soon went back to the fleet ant
enlisted under the old flag fearing, they said
that they would never reach Memphis, and pre-
ferring to fight in cause in which their heart
were warm and to which their souls were 10y
/ al.
FRIGHTENED DARKIEs.
On Monday, the 23d, the fleet passed belo'
Island No. 81, and whistled when opposite
plantation. The noise, or the sight of tn
| feet alarmed some twenty negroes at work il
a field with two or three overseers, and the en-
tire party scampered off on foot and mule
back, as If his Satanic Majesty were at thei
heels Whether the overseers ordered tn
negroes to run, believing the Yankees woul'
steal them, or whether the whites pursued tn
darl1ies, thinking they were about to fly t.
| freedom, is a question still undecided.
| DISCOVERY OF A VALUABLE GERMAN.
| On the gath, the Lioness and Mingo wer
left at Island No. 103 to guard their coal ban
| ges and the three others continued their wa
| down the river halfa-mile from each othel
the Fulton being in advance on account of ii
light draught and ease of management
During that day Capt Cadman, of the Flu
ton found German in skiff who said h
lived in Vicksburg, and that he had been row
ing two deserters from the rebel forces ther
| to place of security. He declared himself
strong Unionist, and asseverated that the haI
piest day of his life would be that ON whic
the South would be compelled to succumb :
the legitimate Government.
IMPoRTANT FROM yICKsBURG,
The German was very communicative an
told Colonel Elicit there were two batteries q
Vicksburg, one above and the other below tn
town, each on lofty elevation, and that bot
of these mounted ten good-sized guns, who's
calibre he could not tell. There might
other Notifications, he said, but he had nc
seen them Commodore Farragut was thre
miles below Vicksburg, but had not began tn
attack up to that time, though it had been n
ported his feet had shelled and burned tn
little village of Warrington, whence the rebe
had fired upon his vessels.
HAZARDOUS ADVENTURE.
Finally the faithful and loyal German offere
to guide any of the officers or crew of til
Monarch over to the National fleet TO comml
nicate with Commodore Farragut saying til
way by land was only two miles. The Ge