Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-16
The Western Gunboat Fleet.

route, and follow them pell-me to the Tennes-
see capital
The Western Gunboat Fleet
The first signs of the forward movement are
manifested in the gunboat fleet which seems
to be now ready for action, though it is proba-
bic that they may wait for a raise in the river
which will carry them safely over any obstruc-
tons which can be laid in the way at low
stage of water.
During the recent reconnaissance of the gun
boats down the Mississippi, they found the reb-
els had a small lookout steamer, six miles
above Columbus, which, as soon as she dis
covered the ilotiIla, steamed off for Columbus,
in hot haste.
1t is found that the chain stretched across
the river at Columbus is control ed by steam
engine on the Kentucky shore, which tightens
or loosens it at pleasure. TO the bottom OF
the chains is attached three large torpedoes, in
tended to explode on concussion with the wheel
of boat. All of the rebel vessels. with the
exception Of the Water Witch are below the
chain, the latter vessel being light draught, can
pass over it, and consequently remains above
to reconnoitre.
When the Federal gun-boats approached
Columbus they could plainly see the batteries
at that place While the artilleriss stood at
the guns, ready to fire, and the whole Confed-
crate force were under arms.
The Mississippi expedition appears to have
been well prepared. The total number of boats
is seventy eight, of which twelve are gun-boats,
thirty-eight mortar boats, and twenty eight are
tugs and steamboats,. The gun-boats draw five
feet of water. The bows and bow bulwarks
consist Of about three feet of oak timber, boil
ted together and sheathed with the best quality
OF wrought-iron plates two and a half inches
thick. The sides have the same sheathing.
with less bulk of timber. Each boat is pierced
for thirteen guns, four on each side, four on the
stern, and three at the bows. The how-gunS
are eighty.four FOUNDER rihed cannon; the
others are eght-inch Columbiads.
The sides OF the boats, both above and be-
low the knee, incline at an angle of forty.
degrees, and nothing but plunsing shot from
high bluff could strike the surface at right
angles. The boil us and machinery are so sit
uated as to be perfectly protected, and may be
considered quite out of danger. The iron
plating has been severely tested by shots from
rified cannon at different distances, and has
shown itself to be utterly impcrviou to any
shots that have been sent against il, even at
range of three hundred wards
The Beuton is the flag ship of the expedition.
She has double hull, with wheels working in
the recess, near the stern. Her hull is of four
inch plank, and timbers eight by ten inches.
The hull is divided by five fore and aft bulk
heads, and thirteen cross bulkheads, making
folty-iye water tight compartments. The deck
frame-beams are ten inches square.
The main deck is planked with four and a.
half inch plank. The forward defence runs
down to the two feet water line, and is of twenty
four inch timber all sheathed with two and
a-half inch iron plating. The entir { boat is
sealed with three and four inch oak plank,
caulked and made perfectly tight. Classmates
extend around the whole boat and are made of
twelve inch timber. At the knucke on the
main deck, the lin Der is from three to four feet
in thickness, solid
The mortar boats are built Of heavy timbers,
the sides of boiler iron loop holcd for musket-
ry, and are so arranged that they can be used
for bridges. They will each carry one fifteen
inch mortar. The mortar boats will be towed
into position by tugs.
With this formidable armament, and force
of 10000 men, the onward march must be com
paratively reSiStless. The progress of the fo-
tilla will probably lie by the Mississippi to Col
umhus and Memphis by the Tennessee to the
mouth of Sandy river, and by the Cumberland
river to Nashville. Within few DAYS we shall
make history very fast.
From trial the jar caused by firing on the
different boats is so slight as to be hardly per-
cepGble, while the craft can he moved in posi-
ton easier than was an licipated. They will
soon thunder their hroadsides before Columbus,
and ON their effect will hang the fate of he rebel
stronghold.
While the federal gunncrs, under cover Of
The iron sides, will be working more safely than
in casemates' their opponents within open earth
works will be fully exposed to the falling storm
of shot and shell. The advantage possessed by
assailauts in such case was fully shown at
Port Royal, and with the immense mor'ars and
splendid guns of the present fleet IN inil pay
Columbus cannot be held. The country Tor
mile surrounding there can IN iess ena" ""l
be made wholly untenable, perfect rain OF
shell falling among its defenders, while not one
shot in two hundred fired at the boats will prove
efTsctiye. unless setting at nausht all calcula-
tons of science