The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-19

his squad. At length they began to
move up stream, not rapidly, but leis-
urely. They kept their lines, which
had ben formed iu admirable order.
Nearest the Memphis, in its front line
view, was the Beauregard, then the
Little Rebel, then the Price, and then
on the Arkansas side the Sumter. Be-
hind the Little Rebel, having the right
of the line, was the Lowell, then the
jeff Thompson, the Bragg and the Van
Dorm.
The Federal gunboats were early in
line, the Benton being nearest the Ten
nessee shore, next the Carondelet, next
the ST. Louis and lastly the Cairo-the
Queen of the West and Monarch hav.
ing been tied up to the Arkansas shore,
and the Lancaster No. 3, and Switzer-
land about mile up stream. When
| Commodore Davis saw that the rebels
intended to fight, he displayed the sig
nal to prepare for action. The crews
leaped to their quarters with cheers !;
decks were cleared in a twinkIing |;
guns run ont; boarding pixies distrbu-
ted; marines beat to quarters, and
boarding netting stretched, with an
alacrity which showed that the hearts
of the men were in the work. The
time they had longed for had come
to meet the rebels in a faifand square
fight.
THE LITTLE REBEL OPENS FIRE.
AS soon rs it was discovered that
the rebel commander was in earnest,
the signal was given to round to. Up
TO this moment the fleet had been head
up stream. The rebel commander saw
the movement, and evidently desirous
of knocking some holes in the stern
and sides of the gunboats where they
were unprotected by iron plating,
opened fire. The Little Rebel threw
the first shot with her bow gun-a
thirty two pound rifed gun. 1t was
thrown to obtain the range 1t was
aimed at the Benton, and was in good
line, forming almost directly over the
flag ship, over the tug Jessie, Benton's
tender, which was near at hand, and
dropped into the water far up stream
towards the transports. The rest of
the rebel fleet waited to see the effect
of the shot before opening fire. The
Beauregard saw it strike, depressed her
left hand bow guns, and sent sixty
four pound shot, which flowed into the
water abreast Of the Benton, but sew
eral feet to the right The Sumter fol-
lowed, aiming at the Carondelet sixty
four pound rifle shot, which passed
close to the muzzle of the left hand
stern gun, and threw up column of
water between the Benton and the Jes-
sic, within few feet of the latter
Up to this time the Federal war dogs
had remained silent. The Cairo hav-
ing n position on the Arkansas shore
in consequence of the bend of the river,
was nearest the rebel fleet All were
within easy range-not more than
three fourths of mile distant from the
enemy's line of battle, but there was a
disposition to get within close range
before going into the work, but the
Cairo, from her position, had a fair
sight at the side of the Little Rebel,
she tried one of her stern guns. The
shot spun through the air and dropped
into the water close under the hull of
the enemy's flag ship. 1t was the sig.
nal for general letting lose of the
dogs. Bang! from the Carondelet-
bang! from the St. Louis and Louis.
vile. and lastly, bang from the iron
mailed Benton-each giving a shot and
watching to see the effect. Some OF
the guns were too much elevated and
one or two too much depressed. The
rebels waited while these civiities were
extended, and then opened fire from all
their boats and all their guns. Replies
were given as fast and as frequent
fifteen minutes the cannonading was
very severe, shaking the earth with
thun0er, and shutting out the combat
ants from sight.
1t was sublime spectacle. The all
was stll-sO calm that the dark vol
umes of smoke from the chimneys and
sulphurous clouds from the cannons
mingled in one and hung thick and
heavy, a black pail streallcd into gray
over the combatants, shutting out the
morning sunshine. The gathered
thousands on the shore behind it, toe
much amazed at the scene, too mucl
absarbed, and too much interested il
the result to make any demonstration
In breathess anxiety they watch ed the
sudden flashes and narrowing space be
tween the two hostile fleets.
The Federal gunboats slowly turned
in the stream, and while turning there
was lul in the cannonading on ou
side, but none from the enemy.
THE QUEEN OF THE WEST SAILS IN.
While the Little Rebel opened th'
ball the crew of the Queen of the Yves
leaped to their stations with the same
alacrty and enthusiasm that had char
acterized the well tried tars of the gun
boats.
!, Col. Ellett-brave, daring, having
complete confidence in the ability o
the Queen to crush any rebel gunooa
into kindling wood, called all hands L
quarters. The sharp shooters seizinG
their Austrian rifles, and with an eager
ness surprising that of the boats crew
J of the New Bedford whaler when the,
hear the cry there she blows" spran!
each to his appointed loop hole.
Immediately, black, pitchy smok
n rolled from the smoke stacks of tn
0 Queen. The fremen had caught TIL
a enthusiasm. There was a surging o
= steam i'm the boilers as If they ais