The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-18

The Fight OF the Esssx with the Arksa-
OFFICIAL IMPORT o. coAnAND9 PoR1R, o. fRB
DssEx.
UnrD STATES GuzsoAs Essu,l
OsT bAToH ReUGB August !, leo2.
10 the Hon. GIDsoH wuLn, Secretary OF the Navy
6n-Permis mo 70 draw your attention - some facts
relating thh ship running the blockade Il vicksburs
These facts will relate principally the which
she 10 plated but In their detail will BE- necessary 70
stemens Of all the circumstances connected
with my running the blockade
Al six A. II. on the morning OF the 10Th Of July we
heard heavy firing up the Yazoo and had the evening
previously taken board deserers from vicsburg,
WHO hid stated that the Arkansas ready 10 come
down the vver (they were sent board the flagship
BentonJ, suspected this vessel making her way
down and prepared fos action. beg stato that
passage from Cairo TO vcksburg my port boiler had
bursted OF the bottom sheets and repairing
II at the time herein mentioned. At eight A. M. the
Chilled States gunboat out Of the mouth Of
the Yazoo closely followed by the rebel The former
passed. down and took refuge behind this vessel well
some other belonging TO Colonel Elets neet AS
the Arkansas passed discharged at her guns,
striking her three times Of my shot penetrated her
iron covering and did considerable damage; but,
recovering, she passed on, the Benton getting
under way and following her for some distance
tho batteries at Vicksburg. II was now deter
mined by the two commanIers-in chief to mako
effort destroy the and hence, the ing
OF the day the Arkansas passed the upper lee.
Flag officer Farragut with the New Orleans ce that had
previously attacked The vcsburg batteries, coming up.
stream, concluded TO the blockade and while going
down, try sink her. The flagship Benton, with the
gunboats Louisville and Cinc.nnati accompanied his feet
TO within range of the forts the the
ram was not accomplished.
Flag Officers Farragut and Davis, with myself tho
2lst, held o council Of board the Benton, and
volunteered the services Of the Essex TO mako attempt
10 destroy the ram, and tho following programme
agreed on:That the morning Of tho ed precisely
four O'Clock the whole available feet under command Of
Flag Ocer LAWS get under way, and when within
range lombard the upper batteries at vcksburg the
lower Aset under Flag Officer Farragut 70 do the
ssme and attack the lower batteries the Essex
push on strike the rebel RAM deliver her nre and then
fail behind the lower fleet.
On tho merniDg herein stated got under way and
passed the Benton. Flag Oh1csr Davis hailed and
"wished me success" now pushed ON according my
understanding Of the programme and precisely at half
past four A. NJ the eneny's upper batteries opened upon
me, but heard response at this time from fleets
arrived at the ram, devorsdmy fire and struck her. the
blow glanced, and high the river bank with tho
bows OF the ship where lay ten minutes under three
batteries Of heavy guns ! backed OIL and loaded
up. The enemy had drawn up three regi-
ments OF sharpshocters and several batteries Of
Ecd pieces, ranging from sxpounders 20 twenty four
Founders. found II hnrcasibls under these circum
10 board the rebel boat though such was my
original intention After delivered my Ore but Ave
feet from the distinctly heard the groans Of her
wounded and SAW lier crew jumping overheard She did
not fire gun after had delivered ours, and have
since seen IN the robe papers that they admit loss Of
very large hole in her side. At this time began o.k
for aid FROM tn. fleets, but without it, ordered tho
pilots 70 get the Essex hsad up stream with the inte
ton Of holding until The lower feet up, and then
mako another attack on the A. this time | was
under the grns Of hroo batteries VI which not
over one hundred feet N. heavy tcninch shot from
the battery struck my forward caseats about
i've from the deck bet tunatey did penetrate
rife aud hall inch shot from the sanas battery
struck the casenate about nine feet from the dsck il
pcnetrated the ron but did not get through, though
severe was tbs blow that II started four inch plank
two inches and eighteen feet long the insico. A
coaicsi shell struck Tho the port sdc
were rounding 20 TIA three quarter inch iron
pSodel through, Hitting one man and slightly woundug
three small piece grazed my head aud another piece
tore tho legs Of the First Mastsg's pantaioons.
bad been under Are upwards Of hour, and
thirty minutes Of the tune from eighty foot TO hun
arr ~ ns oss
Time longer. but the enemy begsn 20 IRE
flashes q his guns through my gun hslee drove my
from the guns. AZ hst, through the smxs, asw the
lower feet nearly three miles on and still at anchor
Seeing hope OF relief assistance, concluded to
the gauntlet Of the enemy lower forts and seek
anchorage below the 1eet therefore reluctantly gave
the order 70 s'put her head down ste1m but de
termined 10 be In hurry. They had rlenty Of
time 70 prepare, and 80 rapid their ro that for half
hour the hull ri this slip completely nvc.opcd In
the heavy jets Of water thrown over her by tho eneys
shot, she'll and rlfo balls. The department may have
como idea of the amour. md number or shot she'll plugs
and rife missiles throsn OF this vessel when tboy
informed VIC were hours md half uudcr fire
Of Seventy bav. guns IN battery twenty Geld pieces and
three heavy guns board tho ram During that time
Ibis vessel heavily struck ory-tvo tnes, and only
penetrated twice. This fully proves the admirable
character Of the iron plating the thcas iron but
inch, with inch az india rubber beneath according
10 my method patented. e# nf
stu hope opportunity may yet be given me TO
make second attempt destroy the Arkansas be.
lieve II he done and ready and do IL. Worry
respectfully, your obedient servant,
14RtN& W. n. PORTER,
Commanding Division Of the Fleet in tho wcstra waters