The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
An IRON PLATED REBEL VESSEL
.u.. on TIE MISSISSIPPI, y vgp
FIGHT ON YAZOO RIVER.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ACTION

PHILADELPHIA, July 20.--A special dis
patch to Forneys Press states that tele-
gram to the Grenada (late Memphis) Ap'
peal, reports the rebel ram and iron~clad
gunboat Arkansas, under command of Col.
J. N. Bryan, came down from the Yazoo
River on the 18th inst, ran by portion of
our feet, which lies above Vicksburg, sue
cessfully. and anchored under the batteries
surrounding the city.
The Appeal says the ram ran down sew
eral Federal war vessels, and disabled many
more.
One of our vessels was blown up. The
Arkansas is a very formidable ganboat, be-
ing plated with ~ inch iron, with plates
and nails riveted. She has very heavy
armament, and is furnished with two pro-
pellers, seven feet 10 diameter, With four
fanges each.
The rebel loss is set down at ten killed
and thirteen wounded. The Federal loss is
not known, but it is said to have been
heavy.
CAIRO, July 2l.-The despatch boat
which arrived from Memphis brings the
following account of the escape of the rebel
gunb0at Arkansas:
Several of our gunboats started up the
Yazoo to reconnoitre. Eight miles from
its mouth they came suddenly upon the
Arkansas lying under bank.
As our boats rounded the bend she opened
upon them with 68-pouuders.
Our gunboats returned the fire and for
short time fierce engagement ensued.
Finding that the channel of the river
prevented successful maneuvering they
dropped down towards the mouth, the Are
kansas following closely.
just as the latter was passing over the
bar the Carondelet closed with her, intend
ing to board. She succeeded in throwing
the grapple aboard and getting out plank,
when the Arkansas opened her steam pipe
throwing hot water across the plank. The
Carondelet replied in the same manner.
While thus engaged both vessels ground
ed. The Arkansas succeeded in getting off,
The Carondolet remained fast for nearly an
hour. The Arkansas Immediately passed
down the river, one of our gunboats preced-
ing her, maintaining running fight with
her greatly superior adversary.
None OF our gunb0ats with the feet had
steam up, and the entire feet was so scat
tered that few could fire at the Arkansas
as she passed, without dagger OF hitting our
own boats as she approached.
Such boats as could safely do so, opened
upon her, but the plating resisted most of
the shots.
A solid shot from Farragut's gunboat
number six struck her larboard side bow
passing through under the plating, ripping
it off for considerable distance.
What further damage was done not as
certained. The injuries to our feet were
light. The Benton received shot near
the edge of the after part of the larboard
side, killing one man.
WASHINGTON, July % The Navy De-
partment today received the following, from
Cairo via Chicago on the 2lst:
The rebel gunboat Arkansas, armed with
twelve riaed GO Founders, came out of the
Yazoo River on Tuesday.
She fret encountered the Tyler, CarOndo-
let, and the ram Lancaster. After a rum
ming fire of ten miles, the Carondolet closed
with the rebel craft, and both vessels
grounded fighting side by side.
The rebel boat, being outside, succeeded
in getting eff. The Tyler steamed ahead,
maintaining running fire until the feet
was reached.
Our transports, being in range, prevented
an effective FIRE from our gunbo ITS.
The Arkansas succeeded in getting to
Vicksburg, under shelter OF the batteries
there, to appearances much injured
The total Union loss is u killed and
wounded. Among those are the engineer
and pilot of the Tyler.
Commodore Farragut's entire feet is
below Vicksburg. Slight damage was
done to our vessels.
GEO. ID. WISE,
Captain & A. Q. NJ.
CHICAGO, July 22.-[Special to Tames.1
AT Memphis the night of the same day
that the Arkansas succeeded in running
through our feet, Farragut made an inef-
fectual attempt TO sink her. His entire feet
passed down the river, each vessel pouring
oroadsides into her as che passed. The
rebels acknowledge one seven-inch steel
pointed shot went through her, but assert
this the only damage sustained. Reconnois.'
sance next morning showed the Arkansas
was undergoing repairs, but did not appear