Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-13
Victory on the Mississippi.
FLAGSHIP BEnToN, ABOVE FT PlLLow


To Mr.. WelleS, Secretary Of Navy;
The naval engagement for which the rebels
have been preparing, took place this morning.
The rebel feet OF eight iron.cad gunbOats,
four of them rom ms, came up handsomely.
The hght lasted an hour. Two rebel gun
boats were blown up and sunk, when the enemy
retreated precipitaIely under the guns Of the
fort. 0nly two of our vessels were engaged
The Cincinnati sustained some IL Jury from
the rame, but will be In fighting condition to-.
morrow.
Captain stemble distinguished himself, and
10 seriously wounded.
The Benton is unipjured. The rebel squad
ron was supposed 10 be commanded by Hollins.
(Signed) G. n. DAVIS,
Commanding Mississippi FlOtilla protein.
CAiRo, May IL The desperation of the
rebel cause on the Mississippi eliminated yes
tefday in an attack on the hotilla.
Early Saturday morning, eight OF their gun
boats came around the point above the fort, and
boldly advanced toward tie feet.
The Cincinnati, which was stationed at the
point where the rebels came up on Friday, did
NOT attract their attention until the feet bad
passed above.
As soon as she was eeeD, simultaneous at
tack from the whole Of their gunboats was made
upon her with bus little effect, as the guns were
poorly aimed
The Cincinnati, in the mean time, had hauled
into the stream where an iIon-clad ram, sup
posed to be the Mallory, advanced In the face
OF continued broa1sides from the former, until
within forty yards
Being faster saior, she succeeded in moving
between the Cincinnati and the right bank,
where men appeared upon her decks preparing
to board, with grapnels thrown out, which dc.
sign was frustrated by throwing hot water from
the steam batteries of the Cincinnati.
In the mean time the rest of our gunboats ar.
rived ct the scene of action and engaged the
rebel feet.
The Mallory, undaunted by the failure of the
attempt 70 board, crowded on q full head oi
steam and came toward the Cincinnati, evident
ly intending to run her down.
Captain Stemble, in command of the latter
waited until he rebel monster was within twen'
ty yards, wheu he sent q broadsde into her from,
his Parrot guns, which did fearful execution
The two boats were go close together by thii
time that IL vas impossible for the gunnerE
ON the Cincinnati to swsb out the guns, and i
was only By bringing the steam batteries 60 beal
upon her again that the Mallory was compelled
to haul off. ,s g .- .-srF
Captain Stemble ehot her pilot with his re
volyer, and was himself wounded by pisEo
shot fred by the piloHs mate of the Mallory.
While the eng igement between the Mallory
and CincipnaH Was in progress, our shots hat
exploded the boilers Of one Of the rebel gun
boats, and set Are TO another, burning her to tn,
waters edge. az .1Sgif .tg.sl -tgtfl
The air was very heavy, and under cover o
the dense smoke which hung over the river, th'
rebel feet retired and was pursued until the.
gained the shelter of Fort Wright
None of the boats were injured except th'
Cincinnati, and the damage to her is go sligh
chat II can be repaired in twenty-four hours
Four men on her we're wounded, including th'
masters mate No casualties are mentioned.
When the smoke cleared away, broadsd'
from the fag-ahip Benton was sent after th
Mallory. Shortly alter khe was seen to csreen
and went down with all oa board.