Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-24
IhS~ STANDARD.
WAR N EWS.
LATEST FROM FORT PILLOW.


Grand NuUaL Blttle at Plumb Point-OuT Cotton
Bouts Victorious
The Steamer Golden Age arrived at our wharf
Yesterday afternoon, says the Memphis appeal,
from Fort Pillow and from an officer in the engage
ment we gather some interesting particulars of the
grand naval battle which took place there on Dat
urday.
Gen. jeff Thompson, who is in command of the
gunboat fleet at Fort Pillow, on hearing that it was
the intention of the enemy to come down and at
tack that place on Saturday, concluded that he
would go up and anticipate their movements. Ac-
cordinsly aoout o'clock on Saturday morning
the fleet was put in readiness and about o'clock
the fight commenced. The steamer Bragg, Capt.
VIM. Leonard, led in the attack. She steamed up
amid shower of balls to the st. Louis gunooat'
which was coming down, and struck her on tne
starboard side, the Sumter, Capt Wallace Lamo'
followed next and butted the ST. LINUS near the
stern; the Gen. Price, Capt HenthoTne, followed
next, and also butted the 50. Louis in the stern;
knocking away her rudder and sternpoSt. The van
Dorm Capt Fukerson, came up last
The BraQ1 had her chain shot away, and dropped
back. the Sumter was surrounded by three gun
boats which, for the space of fifteen minutes, pour
ed a most deadly fire upon her. Some OF the enc
my's boats were almost alongside the Sumter in the
engagement yet she was not seriously disabled,
though her cabin was almost ridd.ed. The Van
Dorm had special engagement with the mortar
boat and il is believed seriously damaged her. In
deed it is reported that the mortar boat has since
sunk. Some of the enemy's balls penetrated as
much as six feet into our boats, yet far as their
serviceable capacity is concerned they were unin-
jured. The Tan DOrn's upper works were almost
riddled A spy glass was shot out of the hands OF
her captain.
There was no damage done to the hus or ma
chlnery of our boats. Gen. Thompson was on board
the Bragg, which made the first attack. All did
their duty nobly, though special mention is made OF
Capt Fulkerson, of the Yam Dorm.
The ST. Louis was seriously damaged, and was
run on bar opposite Plumb Point Yesterday, at
noon, she was still on the bar, with transport
alongside supposed to be in sinking condition.
The fight brought to close oy the Federal
gunboats withdrawing into shoal water, where ours
could not 60. They then opened broadsde after
broadside at us, throwing some three hundred shot,
but with no damage.
The Benton gunboat Com. Foote'S flagship, did
not leave the Shore but all the time poured the
most destructive fire upon our boats
The Federals made an attempt to board the Sum
ter, but the boarding party were all dispersed by
shower of balls and hot water. Several of the Fed
erals were killed at their guns, and others at their
forecaSte. We fired from our big gun not exceeding
twenty shots, mostly from the jeff Thompson.
Our loss in the engagement is two-the cook on
the Bragg, and the steward on the Van Dorm. The
former had his leg shot off at the thigh, and tie
latter had his head shot off. We also had four
slightly injured The Federal loss is known to be
ut least twenty-five.