The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-23
The Gunboat Fight at Fort Pillow,

The Gunboat Fight at Fort Pillow
We publish the following kilograms tC
the Chicago papers, which give. another
shade to the action from those first trans
mitted. 1t appears that two of our gum
boats were sunk. We hope our base imita.
tions of Confederate lying will cease al
once.
Private Dispatch to the Chicago Post.
CAIRO, May l3-In the engagement with
the rebel rams on Saturday, two of our
gunboats suffered more than was at first re.
ported. The Cincinnati and the Mound
City were both struck by the rebel rams,
and both were caused to leak badly. Find
ing they were about to sink, they were run
into shoal water where both went down.
The ram which ran down the Cincinnati
was the Mexico, and was greatly Injured.
It is supposed that she afterwards sunk, but
the smoke was so dense and heavy over the
water for an hour after the fight that it was
impossible to ascertain with certainty the
extent of the damage sustained by the reb.
els. t'
The rebel ram Van Dorm struck the bow
Of the Mound City, causing her to leak rap
idly. She was run into shoal water, where
she sunk, but was pumped out after the
engagement and the leak stopped. She
is now coming up the river for repairs, in
tow of two steamers. y E.1
The Cincinnati lies on the Tennessee shore
in nine feet of water, and will be raised inns
mediately. -.
The rebel gunboats did not enter the en- .
gagement at all, but seemed to rely entirely
upon the rams to perform the work of sink
ing our fleet.
Special Despatch to the Tribune.
CAIRO, May l3.-Eeight of the enemy's
boats, three being rams, and the remainder
iron clad gunboats, came around Craighead
Point where Union mortar boat and the
gunboat Cincinnati were lying, yesterday
morning at seven O'Clock, and brisk fire
was opened upon them by the Cincinnati.
This was returned for lew minutes by tie
larger of the rams with pivot bow gun.
The craft was named the McRae. She inns
mediateIy ran towards and finally into the
Cincinnati, her iron prov penetrating her
side and creating an extensive breach. The
Union boat kept up firing and finally rid
died and disabled the McRae, and sent her
of. She foated down the current to the
Point and sunk. The Union boat Mound
City and flag boat Benton came to the as
sistance OF the Cincinnati, and opened upon
the three rams damaging and destructive
fire. The rebel gunboats kept of and only
fred a few guns, leaving the swifter rams
to take the brunt of tue battle. The inten-
ton of the attack was doubtless to cut off
and capture the Federal mortar boats, which
for three weeks had poured deadly hail Of
shell into Fort Pillow. In fact, the guns
were first aimed at the mortar boats. The
mortars were lowered and returned the COM
pliment. Two balls entered the former,
making holes as large.as mans fist, but
doing no permanent harm.
Alter the McRae retired, the other rams
named Sumter and Van Dorm, came up,
the former striking the Cincinnati and filt
ing her bulkheads. She commenced to sink,
but continued her broadsides, and with the
aid Of the Mound City and Benton. con.
tinued to drive off the rams. They re-.
turned and attacked the Mound City, and
made break in her, from the effects of
which she began to fill. '''