Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-13
LATEST NEWS
BY THE MAILS.
Battle at Fort 9ilDOWe
Especial to the Chicago Times.

-
Orr Foar PILLOW, May 10l
via CAIRO, Aay IL.
| At last the monotony is broken. We have had
. 6ght, and glorious one too, purely naval, with
| nearly IN equal number OF beats on esch side
| and have sent the rebels back down the rivel
at six O'Clock. Al before eight they were 20 bad
ly whipped that they will never again attempt
such job.
| Yesterday morning they sent boat up with I
flag Ct t, uce, tstens.bly to arrange An exchange
| of two Surgeons captured at the battle Of Bel.
mont, but, as NOW appears. simply to ascertain
definitely the position Of cur feet.
| Esrly this morning. as usu-l, our mortar boatl
we're towed down to their position for firing, il
being point on tho Arkansas shore about one
| mile from the en- Of Crs!gshead Point. The gun
boat Cincinnati ran down - . convoy.
! Scarcely had the MORT ars been mOored in theil
position, when the rebel ram Louisiana srpe red
coniog around the point, accompanied by tour
other gunboats. The ram Immediately opened
fire on the Cincinnati, to which the latter reuied
| wish interest. The rebel boats we're oil held in
check BY the Cincinnati slone, when the rest OF
| the FEDERAL feet got under way and came to her
| assistance.
guns fectual agans, the iron arnor Of the Ciu-
c,nnati, appros:he her with the evident inten-
| { on of running her down. Captain Stembel. OF
t1e latter, prepared to meet the assault II the
ram by opening his 8 cam batteries and putting
them in rea tincss for use.
As the rebel craft approached within close
| .e, the Cincinnati turned her he abou
causing the ram TO run along close beside her
when Capt. Siemhel drew HIS pistol and very
cooly shot the pilot, killing him instantly; but,
| second aiterwards, q musket ball ruck the ga
liant CAPTAIN in his eft shoulder, inaicting pain
| full, though tot serious, wouni
At this time the contest between the two hoats
was most ictens-ly excl ing. The crews Of each
were AIMED with carbines, cuttasses and board
lag pixies, and were dseharging 'vo ley after vol
ley in quick su"ces ion at each other; while the
ram was also eadeavoring to get her head about
to run into and, it possible, sink her antag-
onist.
Just then the steam batteries Of the Cincinnati
we're opened with terrible effect, throwing heavy
volumes of steam and scadiSg water into the
midst of tn rebe; crew, placing all who appeared
de * kors du combat instant y, and causing the
craft to Withdraw with all haste.
In The meantime the r.b>l feet had been rein
| for cd by three other vessels, and among ZEN
the new iron clad .unboat Mallory, lately bull,
| at NJ, mpnis. These three ran imm ediately up to
the Cincinnati and engaged her at oDcs. she
withstood the assault most nobly, the shot of the
enemy slancing of from her iron pa,ing without
using the 81, htest dana e, while her own guns
we're raining shot and shci. 'yi,h fearful effect
u.on the enemy.
Y pt. StembeI, though baa., wounded, remain
ed at his pos: aud directed every movemont with
the GOODNESS and dciiberation for which he is
noted.
turing this engagement the Mallory approached ed
the Cincinn ii with the design Of accomplishing
that VIII CD be ram had Jailed IN doiug. As s Q
came close proxln ty, the FEDERAL boat s.. Louis
bore down upol her. and coming with a IL Ii hea !
Of .team on, struck her mii>hips, cutting her
nearly in two, and causing her to sink in a very
few minutes. Numbers Of her crew escaped by
IL ~. -
up by the Cincinnati, but the larger proportion
went down with the boat.
While iris work was in progress, the 9th er boats
Of fee; had engaged the remainder IF tae
rebel feet. and a most terrific battle was raging,
the like of which the usually peaceful waters VI
the Mississippi has never befqre witnessed.
Report followed upon report, like ,hecontinuous
rattle of musketry. Tho rebels fought bravely
and with determi nation, but they we're met Dy
gfcater bravery, sAill, and metal and were being
badly wors;ed.
Capt. Davis, on the lag ship Benton, directed
every msvement of our feet with the sagacity and
style OF a veteran naya! warfare. He M do no
mi stakes. Not boat was moved but with fearful
effect upon the enemy. Did the CaroDdoiet put
her bow up s'rean, was to let fly her stern guns;
did the Cairo turn about, IL was that Il broadside
might give its destruction to the foe. The Mound
City, st. Louis, Cinc nnati and the old war horse
benton were each ana all diligent AMI efiec i've.
while the ConestOga, wooden. lay off at safe dis
lance ami made use Of her long range guns.
The cannonading was fearful and its reverbera
tions were most grand and terrible. The noise
wss ALMOST like ono con,inu Dus report, while .
broad river vas covered with dense volume of
smoke tina, for time completely cnveloped both
cts and hid them from view. 1t was at tn s
time that report louder and moro di>t.nct tn an
that of e gun attracted general attention, and
" hen the smoke Ii ted a little it was found that
one OF the enem, 3 boats was blown to atoms
bo,. - Of krsu vii ,ho eofl, 20 L.
this terrible casualty, but it must have been very
great. A few lucky fellows were seen a'ing
abou: on fragments of the wreck, AMI were picked
up by the re.ei boa's, but the majority Of the
rebel crew perishcd miserably.
scarcely Lad the excitement caused by this
fearful and unlocked for event passed. away. when
a second report startled all ears aud ancth ar reb-
cl boat with its crew had Disappeared Both YES
sis wore blown up by the explosion Of shells fr, m
our guns in their magazines. All thi: time cur
beats continued to ur their dea !y rounds into
the enemy, GRIPPING such of their Graf, W. re
rot wholly destroyed, and carrying death to bun
d reds of heir crews. While themselves unhur..
tey proudly devied the heaviest m ssiles Of tn
rebel guns, their invu!Rerable armor. stepping
sides, repeling both shot aud shell With perfect
| success Ne encE y could stan against such *
treme nd Ge.tructive fire as our boats continus d
mischief, murh less in their crippled condition wi
three OF their eight boats destroyed, Could the
rebels MAINTAIN their ground.
At twenty minutes past seven they withdrew to
! tho shelter Of their batteries.
The casualties on Cur side were scarcely worth
| mentioning. Captain Stembel was slightly
wounded in his left shoulder, ana two seamen
were iuj ared, though to what extent has not beer
| learned.
Our gun-boats behaved most adm rably, and ali
| Of them come out Of the action without any seri
Gus damage.
The Cincinnati was in the thjckest of the f9h,
throughout aud bore the brunt Of the battle, bu
was not injured enough t. prevent her from i'm
medatrly returning into action again. The repor
that she was badly disabled or sunk is erro .eous
The st. Louis, that run down the rebel MALLORY
was but slightly damaged and is ready again ie
I duty.
| Whea the engagement closed the gunboats re
turned TO their several positions and their crew
| prepared Their breakfasts as though nothing nm
usual had happened.
70 do inst ce io the way ef credit to our ONCE,
engaged in this affair, would acquire the nen,io,
Of sll, but cam forbear speaking Of tho en-
cheney and signal abilities Of Captain Davis, To-
acting fsg officer, nor Of the coolness and deter
| mir Cd bravery Of captain Stemb-l.
The narration Nf the fight as given above. car
ries its own commentary on The conduct of the
| and all the other officers
q. WATCd And CLOCK q