The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-22
The Gun.soht Fight At Fort Pillow.
Correspondence Chicago Tribune.

Correspondence Chicago Tribune.
FoRr Pillow, May 10, 1862.
The most magnificent naval engage
ment of the war, excepting the great
conflict at Hampton Roads, occurred
here this morning. About seven o.
clock the rebel fleet, consisting of six
gun-boats and three rams, made their
appearance round the bend. Immedi
ately the Benton, Mound City and Gin.
cinnsti started out to meet them, the
remainder of the fotilla following in
line of battle. A terrible cannonading
from both sides announced the opening
of the conflict, which ragged with una.
bated fury for nearly three quarters of
an hour. The three rams could be seen
silently but swiftly advancing, making
no response to the repeated broadsides
that were hurried against them. Two
of them started directly for the Gin
cinnati, aud one for the Mound City ;
from the latter, Commodore Hollins
was clearly recognized by Capt. Kitty.
Hollins evidently intended, from the
number of his men and their arms, to
grapple and board, he having posted
them behind a barricade of cotton
bales on deck, but few round shot
soon leveled that fertilization, and the
men sought shelter below. The ram,
however, bore steadily down upon the
Mound City, in handsome style, and
struck her on the starboard bow, cut
ting clear through, but in the interior,
our gallant gunboat was sending shot
after shot through her crowded sides
and suddenly the hot steam was seen
to burst from every port-hole. A ball
had struck its boiler, and it f1oated
down the stream helpless wreck.
In the meanwhile the two otherrams,
supported by bold little gun-boat,
had surrounded the Cincinnati, whose
deck seemed literally to blaze with con-
tinuous broadsides, while the shot from
the splendid Ga Parrot in the bow OF
the Benton handled by Captain Phelps,
tore with fearful havoc through their
wooden walls. Each discharge from
that gun was followed by crash like
the falling of tree in the forest. The
loss of life upon the rams at this poin,
must have been very heavy. 1t did
not prevent them however, from run.
ming three times into the Cincinnati,
twice into her stern, and once into her
side, the last making a fearful crevasse
below water line, and compelling her
to run ashore to avoid sinking.
One of the rams-the other had al
ready been too seriously injured for use
then made for the Benton, and Flag
Officer Davis ordered her to bear right
down upon her, trusting to the Benton's
superior weight, but before the coils
ion occurred, Capt. Phelps had sent a
shot from his favorite Parrott into her
machinery, and away she fioated hOrs
du combat.
The retreat of the rebel gunboats
Immediately followed, and victory once
more crowned our cause. During the
engagement between the Cincinnati
and the rams, Captain Stembel Of the
former was dangerously wounded, his
First Master mortally, and the pilot
seriously-all from rifles.
The Cincinnati was spendidly fought,
but fear is irrevocablv lost. Our list
of casualties was six wounded-two
MORALLY.
The rebel attack, considering their
armament, was daringly conceived,
and executed with a gallantry pleasant
to witness; but it failed, with the des-
truction of three of their boats, and
heavy loss of life. 1t was the desper-
ate effort of an expiring foe, and have
no donbt that an article in the Mem
phis Appeal of the 9th inst, had con-
siderable to do with it. 1t was a most
savage attack upon the inefficiency of
rebel gunboats, and the cowardice of
their commanders.
The rebels, however, will probably
claim victory, having, as at Corinth,
executed both the great military ma
neuyres, of advance and retreat.