The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-17

! THE QUEEN OF THE WEST SAILS IN.
When the Little Rebel opened the bal
the crew of the Queen Of the West leap
ed TO their stations with the same alacri
ty and enthusiasm that had character
! lied the well.tried tars Of the gunboats.
Col. Ellet-brave, daring, having com
plete confidence in the ability Of th
Queen 10 crush any rebel gunboat int
kinding- wood, called all hands to quar-
ters. The sharpshooters seized thei
Austrian rifles, and with an eagernes
SURPRISING that of the boats crew Of
New Bedford whaler when they hear tn,
cry "There she blows J" sprang each Il
his appointed loop-boie.
Immediately, black. pitchy smoke roll
ed from the smoke stacks OF the Queen
The tiremen had caught the enthusiasm
There was surg;ug Of steam in the boil
ers as if they also wsre being nerved up
and they were. Flesh, blood, bones,
iron, steel-animate and .nanimate, pu
on energy for the occasion.
The Queen, when she had prepared
herself, cut loose from the shore, SWING
ing gracefully into the stream, crossed tc
the other side, as if moving in cotillon
or quadrille, swept past the Benton, close
to the Carondelet, almost lear ing from
the water in her eagerness. carrying a
white, silvery trail which sparkled in the
early morning, sunbeams falling aslant
across the waves. Faster, faster whirled
her wheels She moved straight on.
She had a purpose single thing in
view, and that must be accomplished.
The officers and men of the fleet look.
ed on in astonishment and admiration.
1t was bravery and daring which elic-
tied the admiration of the thousands on
shore. Up to the moment Of her appear
ance the rebel fleet had been slowly ad
vanclng. The Federal fleet in rounding
TO had made but little headway. The
glorious advance of the Queen, moving
so determinedly, brought the rebel fleet
10 stand-still. The guns which had
been aimed at the gunboats were brought
TO bear upon her. The Beauregard fired
with her pivot gun when the Queen was
within close pistol shot, but strange to
say, missed. The shot passed over and
fell near the Benton. Arriving within
rifle shot. the sharp shooters began their
work, firing with great rapidity from
their loop-holes between decks. Some
of the rebel gunners ran into the case
mates, while others boldly kept their po.
stion.
THE QUEEN AND GENERAL PRICE.
The intention of the Queen was to fall
upon the General Beau. egard, but the
pilot of the Beauregard with much
sdroitness put his helm hard down. The
vessel obeyed. and the stroke was avoid
I'd. The Queen passed between the
Beauregard and Little Rebel. Both yes.
sells poured in round shot to explode the
boilers OF the Queen. Giving no heed
10 these little attentions, and finding she
had missed the Beauregard, the Queen
came round in graceful curve, heeling
over in her eagerness 10 get on as if she
vas about TO lie down on her side, aud
cool her smoke stacks in the stream. She
passed round the Little Rebel, turned
ler head up stream, and gave General
Price tremendous punch in his ribs,
which knocked all his upper works away
TIE Beauregard discovering the inten.
ion of the Queen started TO intercept the
stroke. The movement was not soon
enough for that, General Price was al.
'eady used up, but before Queen could
she received the stroke Of the
Beauregard, which partially disabled her.
md which also further manufactured
wood on board the Price, which
an up the white flag. 1t was helpless
wreck.
THE MONARCH.
Following the Queen was the Monarch,
commanded by Col. Elet's brother-ope
II the largest, flee,est. and most power.
'ul of the Piitsburg steamers. The
queen was full half mile ahead of the
Monarch. Capt. Ellet catching glimpse
# what was going on through the smoke,
ame down with tremendous effect upon
he Beauregard, striking that vessel in
Ter bow, in the strongest part Of her hull, /
'ut with effect. knocking in the timber
nd completely disabling her. The
harpshooters joined in the fire, and the /
ngineer, adjusting his hose. gave them
continuous volley Of hot water from his !
orce pumps, which drove the rebels all
lnder cover aud forced them to hoist the
White flag.
The Monarch, seeirg that the Queen
nd Price both needed help 10 save them
elves from going TO the bottom, took |
hem ashore near Hopedale, which lies
pposite the city. and then finding that
he Beauregsrd needed like assistance. !
fastened back again, but TOO late TO save
Ier from sinking.
THE SHINING or TUE GEN. LOWELL.
While all this was going on. our gun.
oats were getting up speed-head down
he river The Benton. being on the left !
{ our line Of gunboats. came the an
agonist of the Gen. Lowell. on the right
1 the second line Of rebel boats. Cant. /
helps. one Of the most efficient artller-
SIS IN the service, ran his eve along the
lshIs OF ono OF the tilly. pound rifed /
uns at the Benton's bow, waited until |
he Lowell swung into the position which !
'ould give him rsking shot. and pulled
he lanyard. T.e shot struck just below