The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-12

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they wheeled about each boat discharged It's
broaisids guns as fast as they we're brought
wthn range When the boats had taken their now posi-
ton they renewed their fire. The distance at which the
action commenced had been shortened somewhat anu
the boats within loss than hall mile Of each other
Up to this time damage had been caused either by tue
Union or rebel guns. A few shots from thelatter iei
quite the Benton Cairo and shc struck the
water less than ten feet in front OF the tug JESSIE IN
which an anxious journalist had enseoncet himself The
spray was thrown completely the party IN the tug
but no ono injured.
At the time the action opened the rams Monarch and
2 cen Of the West were lying at The Arkansas shore,
abo II half mile in Of line Of battle They had
on full! head Of steam, and at the moment signal was
made for the gunboats around these rams start
Cd from their landings and advanced to ssgo in" AS
they passed through line dense clouds Of smoke
issued from their smoke stacks the wheels revoved
with unaccustomsd rapidity. When the gunboats
commenced wearing ronnd the rebels advanced;
bat when they rams approaching they
stopped short, and evidently thrown into
CONSIDERATION. The Queen OF the West about
fourth Of mile in advance OF tho Monarch. and
made for the Bcauregard. As the Queen approach
%, the Bsauresard fred bow gun at apparently not
more than four rods distance but the shot went wide Of
its mark and fell in the river mile ST. Louis than
its point OF departure The Beauregard then turned just
In time to avoid the stroke OF the Queen which passed
On and hit the Sterling Price, which drifted down the
stream and stranded on the Arkansas shore The PROV
OF the Queen the Price jus. forward or the
wheel house the iarboard side and the force OF
the blow given diagonay the timbers crushed
in and the entire larboard wheel carried away AS the
Queen by the Beauregard the latter fred second
shot, which took OBJECT, but did particular damage
The Little Rebel fired several shots a. the Queen one of
which struck tho casemating around her boilers but
failed to go through. Almost at ths instant the Queen
struck and disabled the General Price she herself
struck by the Bsauregsrd and somsw hat injured HeI
engines 10 working order and she drftcd down
the stream until afterwards taken in by tho Monarch
and drawn to the Arkansas shore. During the entire
time tho Queen was in action her sharpsaootsrs
busy In picking of several OF the Beauregard's
noniers, and essened the OF three other
boats. These men behaved finely, and entitled to
much credit for the part thsy took In the affair.
TIKI MONARCH MAKES MARX.
Whom the Queen Of the West moved toward the
B.aursgard, the Monarch selected the Lowell as
the object Of her special attention. The Loyel
attempted to svade the blow, but was unable to
do so, aud she was hit by the Monarch fairly on the
starboard side, just forward Of the wheel Hes sides
crushed in if made Of pasteboird and she sunk
IN less than three minutes, her upper works floating
away with several OF her clinging to it, The water
was full Of swimming and drowning rebss calling for
aid and the Benton at put OF her for their
assistance. One OF them swampcd in launching and
two Of the Benon's drowning The other
boat fastened to the Of the disaster and fol-
lowed by the tug JESSIE the tender Of the Benton few
saved but it is estimated that at least fifty Of the
Loyslls must have drowned.
FINISHING OF HxAUREGARD.
After the Monarch had disposed OF the Lowell she turn.
Cd TO the Beauregsrd, which just ending her little
affair with the Queen. She was too near to get on
sufficient head Of steam strike the Beauregard with
force enough to damage her sides and she therefore
run alongside, and grapplsd the latter at bow and
stern. She then opened with her hot water hose
and for few minutes drenched tho decks
| Of the Beauregard with a scaidng food. Her
sharpshooters kept constantly at work, and their
rifles caused considerable havoc among the enemy.
While she in this position rebel boat came up to
strike her. but she suddenly let 90 her hold Of the Beau
regard and backed ont permitting tho blow intended for
herself TO fall upon the latter The pilot Of the rel
sackened his speed and tho stroke upon the Beau.
regard did little damage; but while the rebels we're re.
covering from the CONSERVATION into which they had
been thrown the Monarch up the other sde and
gave the Beauregsrd tremendous butt. II was too
much for the latter, as her SLOW but steady, settling
into the water plainly showed She gracefully in
four athoms water, and be easily raised whenever
wish TO bring her 70 the surface Her upper works
visible and appear good condition. but il is feared
that her hull is considerably damaged. The Monarch
retired unaured from the action satisfied with
her well earned aurels and went To the assistance OF
the Queen of tho West Twas unable to learn The name
u her captain bat he deserves great credit for his gal
LIANT behavior.
GuSsoArs TAKE 4 PART
After the Monarch and the Queen OF the West passed
gunbsats on the way TO join the engagement the
latter vessels ceased firing through fear Of nurng their
friends When the Queen retired disabled and the no.
arch after sinking the Lowell and Beauregard went to
her aid thu UnJn sunboa,s, having approached within
range rsopencd Gse with able effect Aehot
the Cairo passed through the steam drum Of the
Little Rebel and she drisi shore No balls struck
the Sumter, but their proximity to the wheel house
frightened her pilot, and he her 10 the Arkansas
bank where she deserted by her As soon as
the manning the rebel boats landed the shore and
nsd to the timber, three OF glnboats, the Cairo
carondelet and Louisville opened upon the woods with
broadsdss OF grape and shell and completely cleared
them Of the enemy. Two shots struck the JsG Thomp.
son disabling her machinery, and after drifting slowly
down the river three miles she ashore and
was set FIRE by her The flames gained ra-
pidly upon her and in 6ftesn minutes her boilers blew
M. Twenty minutes later ,he FIRE reached her maya
zine and ended the career or the JET Thompson An
enormous and dazzling fash Of light, huge volume or
dense black smoke sullen like that Of half dozen
mortsrs combined and the air for many seconds filed
with falsg timbers, comprised the blaze Of glory
in which the rebel gunboat expired. One shell
upon her burst few minutes before the Hnal crash Of
tho magazine, but It's report was a. nothing compared
with the sound Of the nnal grand explosion.
TIM GKsrRAL CHANGES OWNERS.
The General Bragg exchanged several shots with the
Benton the fortune Of the contest being decidedly
vsrss III, frmer. nfty-pound Parrots shot struck
the Bragg end passed entirely through her. and she
hued three times By thrty,wo pound shells. One Of
The latter her fire. and she run upon the Ar.
kansss shors and abandoned by her ofncsp and crew.
she dried 81 and boarded BY Lieutenant Bishop Of
the Benton who succeeded IN sxnsushng the ars and
saving the vessel At the time he boarded her he found
- no,les red hot and was obasd 70 use arsst