The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-07-26

ished. was towed by the 'rebels. uR the
Yazoo river, in Arkansas. A week ortwo
ago rumors began to reach the feet near
vickSbdtg that this gunbost, named the
Arkansas, had been finished, and was
coming down the (Yasoo) river. The
gunbonts Carondelet and Tyler were sent
up to look after her, and early Friday
morning of last week, sure enough, the
Tyler, which was In Advance, met her near
the mouth of the Yazco. The Tyler,
being a wooden boat, Immediately turned
about and sped down the river to give the
alarm.
The Arkansas kept on her way, and a
short distance below, met the Carondelet,
which, being warned by the Tyler, was
ready for action. The odds in strength
were great, but her commander met his
antagonist boldly, and opened with his
bow guns the moment she came within
range, and the Arkansas also opened with
three bow guns, of which one is supposed
to be q Que hundred and twenty-eight
FOUNDER The Carondelet ranged close
alongside of her, and poured in broadside
after broadside, receiving in return heavy
shots, against which her light armor was
otproof The balls from the Carondelet's
guns rebounded from the iron side of the
Arkansas, and fell into the water harmless,
or crushed like egg shells against the
invulnerable armor. She could not be
penetrated at any point. =.
This contest was TOO unequal to last long,
and, the two boats coming in contact, the
Carondelet's men boarded and sought to
take the Arkansas by storm, but, when
they got possession of her deck, they
could not get inside of the vessel, and they
were forced to abandon the undertaking
ports were all closed. The roof was invul.
nerable, and the rebel crew were as safe
from their fury as though a thousand
miles away. In the meantime the boat
had drifted near the shore and the Caron-
delet got ground. The Arkansas poured
in few more shots, and left her with
seven men killed and . number wounded.
Her armor was pierced in half q dozen
places
The Tyler had, by this time, got q good
start and was making for the protection of
the feet as fast she could 80. Tho Ar
kansas resumed her course, and was quite
near her when the Tyler turned the point,
q couple of miles above the fleet, discharg.
ing her stern guns and receiving rapid shots
from her pursuer.
In an instant all was confusion and prep
aration. The feet unfortunately had no
steam up, probably on account ofthe eariy
hour, and none of them were in condition
to maneuvre; but the guns were run out
and everything put in readiness to receive
her
Gunboat No 6, of Farragut's feet, was
highest up the river. She let fly her stern
guns, and. when at close range, ran out an
ll-inch gun and poured into her a storm
of iron. One Of these balls struck her in
the stern and displaced the armor some
what, but did not penetrate it. Solid shot
seemed to Hatten against her armor, while
shells were scattered into thousands of
fragments. Those who saw the fight say
that n fash of FIRE denoted the spot where
every ball struch, SO terrible was the con.
cussion and so strong the resistance.
She passed on unframed, delivering her
FIRE from six guns right and left, closing
her portfolios after each shot, and present
ing dead wall of eight inches Of solid
iron for our cannon to play against
The Hartford poured her broadside of
thirteen guns into her; the Iroquois gave
her like salute; Oneida bleached forth
her fire the Benton, Louisville. Cincinnati,
and the four Farragut gunboats all opened
with terrific thunder and hail storm Of
iron: and still she kept calmly on. her
way. firing TO the right and left, and re-
ceiving solid shot against her sides Of
every description, from thirty-two to one
hundred Founders, without seemingly
deriving any injury.
| She put holes through the Hartford, the
| Iroauois, the Benton and half of the gun
| boats.
The ram Lancaster started to make a
run against her, aud she put shot through
her blowoff pipe, which made an explosion
Of steam, and killed three men and wound
ed ten or fifteen She received ten inch
balls from the Hartford and lroquois
which fairly made her careen with the
force Of the conclusion, none of which
went through her.
A portfolio was at one period Of the
passage left::unconsciously open, and q shot
entered, which killed ten men and wound
ed number 1t was quickly closed, and
and she was again like wall Of rock.
The Benton got aground and had to be
pulled off She then started in pursuit
and followed her down to the point opposite
Vicksburg within reach of the batteries,
opened on her and struck her four or Ave
times. She had one man killed during
the engagement
Thus, in about twenty minutes time,
the rebel boat passed through our entire
feet of twenty five or more boats, and
safely and not seriously injured under the
batteries at Vicksburg She has some
hard knocks, for her pumps were going
and stream of water run from her deck
which was undoubtly from leakage.
The results Of the engagement were the
loss Of twenty-three men killed and
twenty-five wounded Many of our boats
were struck, but none were seriously injur
ed. The Tyler was badly riddled, and
| several Of her men were killed.
During the entire engagement the Ar.
kansas did not attempt to use her iron
prov, which is solid, weighing ten or
fifteen tons. 1t was put on her before she
left here. This may have been from lack
Of speed, as she is said to move quite
slowly, not faster than our iron gunhoats.
Having thus cornered their enemy. our
| feet was not slow to take advantage Of
the position. She lay end to the lcvee,
under cover Of tho upper batteries, and a
plan was Immediately formed which it was
hoped would succeed in sinking her. This
was to pass down that very night with
Com. Farragut's entire aset and pour iato
the contumacious boat successive broad.
sides as each vessel passed her.
The feet of Com. Davis accordingly
took up station at about dark, and open.
ed on the batteries to draw their fire.
They succeeded admirably, and At an
unexpected moment the feet Of large
vessels struck into the channel and de
ecended tho river. As each boat arrived
opposite the Arkansas she slackened and
poured her broadside into her. She
answered as we'll as she could in such q
storm Of missiles, and put one or two balls
into our vessels, but her main occupation
was to be still and take it. Upwards of .
hundred guns, some of them throwing ten.
inch shots, poured their deadly charges