The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-08-05


+" Your very obedient servent,
alt. Col. uFRED W. ELLET,
Commanding Ram Fleet"
INTERVIEW OF THE coMMoDoREs WITH 1T. COL
This communication couched in terms of
go much respect, and breathing-a spirit of
confidence and courage, ELECTED prompt
response from the naval commanders. and
at an hearty hour on Monday morning
Com. .Farragnt had crossed the peninsula
dividing the fleets, and joining Flag Officer
Davis, the twain paid visit to 1t. Col.
Elet, on beard his hag-ram, the Swiizer-
land.
The interview lasted over an hour, d1r-
ing which time the plan proposed in the
communication was fully discussed and ex-
picitly agreed upon. The Commodores also
agreed that the Essex, which is regarded
as little less than invulnerable. should go
ahead of the ram and attack the Arkansas,
grapple her, and SO distract her attention
as to give the ram the best possible oppor-
tunity of batting her.
Col. Ellet on his part agreed to furnish
the ram Queen of the West for the enter
prise, because of her superior power, speed
and prestige, and the three commanders de-
cided to make the trial the ensuing morn
ing at daybreak.
PREPARATIONS FOR DESTROYING THE ARKAN-
The Essex tcoaled' and her crew were
sent ashore to fill sand bags, which were
packed on her upper deck Immediately over
the boilers. The Louisville, Cincinnati,
Benton and Bragg also ''coaled" and pre-
pared for the attack.
Col. Ellet, to whom really belonged the
danger and haz ard of the enterprise, select
ed a volunteer crew for the Queen, and told
his men in plain terms that he wanted no
man to accompany him, that was not ready
to risk his life in the project. In a few
minutes the following crew had volunteered,
and declared themselves not only willing,
but desirous to lend their services for the
destruction of the rebel vessel: Lieuten-
ant James NJ. Hunter, Fifty-third Illinois
Volunteers, and four sharpshooters: Alex
ander Ford, B F. Ray, Roley S. Mckay,
pilots; Jacob Kauber, John Mccullough,
John P. Shelton, Granville Roberts, engi-
neers; Thompson Woods, blacksmith; James
Kerr, greaser; Peter Brown, Martin Tremp,
OCOs ACVy AlCAdu0Ci OOOhs luOlu-
ton Stewart, Geo. Ball, James johnson,
Geo. Williams, Timothy Harvey, John Will
son firemen; VIM. Fl. Nixon, John Monta-
que, Joseph Taylor, (refugee,) deck hands.
This little band of brave fellows were
fully alive to the hazardous exploit before
them, but they emulated each other in
courage. bravery and patriotism, and grew
impatient for the eventful morrow.
ATTACK UPON THE REBEL GUNBoAT.
On Tuesday morning between three and
four o'clock Flag, Officer Davis fleet was
under way, and with the Essex taking the
lead, soon approached the bend above
Vicksburg. The Queen and her gallant
crew followed, and as soon as the firing
commenced Der ful head of steam was put
on, and the devoted vessel steered direct
for her formidable and dread. inspiring foe.
The Essex had gone ahead. and as soon
as the Queen came in sight of the Arkansas
the Essex was seen at least half mile be-
low. This disconnected COL Eilet consid-
erably, for ne expected to find the iron clad
vessel in close quarters with the rebel gun
boat just at this critical moment, too,
Flag officer Davis waved his hand from the
Benton, to Col. Ellet, and shouted, "Good
luck, good luckl which Col. Ellet under
stood to be, $50 back, go back !" and
Immediately gave orders for the engines to
be reversed. The time thus lost was we'll
improved by the rebels, who gave the
Queen last lasting proofs of the power and
accuracy of their guns; besides the check
thus given to her speed resulted fayorably
to the rebel vessel.
The Arkansas had steam up and lay i'm
nediately in front of one of the lower
water batteries, which it was the duty of
Com. Farragnt to have engaged, bat siu-
gular and uuaccountable as it may seem, he
signally failed to do. The only part be
took in the affair was firing few shells
from his mortars.
ENCOUNTER WITH THE ARKANSAS.
Col. Ellet and his heroic son, Corporal
Edward c. Ellet of the 59th Illinois volun-
teers, alone stood upon the upper deck of
the Qneen of the West, and as she ap-
preached the Arkansas shower of bullets
from sbarpshooters along the shore whis-
Ted along their heads. The Arkansas dis
charged her forward and lsrboard guns at
the ram, doing great deal of damage to
her timbers, but idjurIng none of her crew
She lay with her Prov up stream, and
concealed her stern, which, it is stated, was
injured few days ago by the explosion ol
of one of our sheels.
The voices of the rebel guuboats crew
were heard in clamorous blasphemy rising
in terrible distinctness above the clash and
clang of the Queens machinery as she bore
down upon her foe, and as the blow was
struck, the disappearing and terror. stricken
wretches were. hurled to the larb' ard side o.
their vessel and plunged head-foremost out
Of her ports to escape what seemed 10 them
inevitable destruction.
The ram struck the Arkansas immedi.
atey aft the third or last gun on her lar.
board but the blow was gancing rather
than direct, owing to the position of the
rebel vessel, which presented slanting sur
face to the PROV of the ram. L: would be
difficult TO tell the extent of the injury done
the Arkansas, as the ram found it necessary
to make good her rereat on recovering
from the shock.
Several lengths of the 7 iron, covering
the sides of the Arkansas were seen to star
from their pieces and fall half of, but tha
was the only perceptible damage she sus
tanned. AS the Queen drew off, some o
the rebel gunners rushed to the ports t.
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