The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-31

abont finished her victim, pushed aIono Q
past her and stood for the Tyler which
had stood by the Carondelet through,
the whole fight. The Ter discovered
her motion and knowing her thin frame
would stand no chance when brought
IN contact with the eDemy's invulnera
l'le sl'les, headed down the stream
Keeping just clear Of the Arkansas and
firing her stern battery. This chase
was kept until the mouth of the river
was reached when the Tyler, her boats
shot away, badly cut up Otherwise, came
into view of the whole feet. Not a
vessel in the whole fleet, from some
strange fatality, had steam enough TO
move. The Louisiana shore was lined
with our transports, ordnance boats,
DC, while directly opposite them, three
or four abreast, lay Farragut's aud Da-
Wis fleet, scarcely two of which could
fire without pouring their broadsides
into some of their own vessels. All
eyes we're strained to see the cause of
the Tyler's commotion. The ram fleet
which lay near the mouth of the va
200, are scattering in every direction.
"A m"ment more and the long dreaded
"Arkansas" steams into full view and
heads right for the center Of our fleet.
Bang! goes a gun at the ordnance
boat Great Western, while one from
her port battery at the rams, who are
leaving in every direction She now
passes, the Richmond, whose splendid
battery of nine inch Dahlgren's is held
quiet by the J. III. Dickey, who lays
just opposite. Bang! bang! go two
more guns at the ordnance boat Pass
ing down, she put two balls into the
Champion, while in the meantime her
port battery is bnsy with Farragut's
fleet. Steadily she pnrsues her way,
nothing daunted, nothing checked.
She is now more than half way down.
She passes the Hartford" but the no.
ble old flagship is situated like the
Richmond, for the same broadside
which wnnid have hailed on the car
kansas" would have annihlated the
splendid hospital boat 'Red Rover"
with her cargo of human freight. The
"Oneida' hits her with her eleven-inch,
hnt the pon,lerous missile produces no
effect. The "Wenona" aud "Wissahi-
con" engage her, but she passes their
fire unscathed, unharmed. Can moth
ing burst the rebel monster? A dubi-
Gus shake of the head. is the only re-
Sp"nse, as ball after ball drops from her
sides into the water. Steadily but
surely she keeps on the way, firing one
broadSide at the transports, and the
other mt some vessel on the other side.
She has nearly run the gauntlet. One
more boat on'y To dispute her progress,
and that the Cincinnati, which far be-
low the rest of the feet is doing picket
duty nearihe point. All eyes are upon
her, and repetition of her Fort Pill
low experience seems inevitable. On
comes the Arkansas, seemingly like
Anteus of old, picking mp new strength
al every step. She is sure of her prey
and is making right for it. The Gin
cinnati had not steam sufficient to
tackle on her or even hardly enough t"
hold her head up stream. She slipped
her cable, however and headed for the
Mississippi shore, drifting down stream
all the time. her own motive power
hring insufficient To stem the current.
TIE Arkansas discovering her inten
tiun heads for her, when the gunboat
opened brisk and calling fire on the
advancing rebel at short range, the
rifled Pnr"tis apparently piercing her.
The other shots dropping harmles>ly
off % The ram fires heavily as she adj
vames, and is rapidly gaining en her
opponent. When inst as all were ex-
prciing collision, the Arkansas sud-
denly checked up, heals the other way,
fires a parting broadsi,le and rapidly
leaves the Cincinnati behind her. The
uunboat had drawn her into too shal
low water which she had no intention
of being caught in. The Cincinnati,
assisted bv the Wenona. kept up AN
incessant fire until she hld rounded the
point and was in the arms of her friends.
This unparalleled audaciiy and bold
ness clirits unqualified admiration of
all. Such a thing never took place be-
fore, and will probably never take
place again. In broad day light, in
the very teeth of hundred guns, this
craft slowly and deliberately made her
way. selecting her own victims, and
hurling the glove of defiance at the
combined fleet. 1t is an example of
cool. daring courage nnexampled, and
the name of "Catesby JONES'" her
commander, viii be awarded by all
men as deserving place among the
list of those "who knows no fear"
The fact of her success is undoubtedly
owing To the circumstances under
which she caught us. Our position
aud every thing worked against us.
The Essex had discovered burnt
boiler the night before, aud n new one
was being inserted at the time. The
Louisville was lying at the blacksmith
boat repaing. The s'Sun.tcr" had her
waste pipe out and new one being in
serted. Everything worked in her
favor. Those boats that were all
ready, could not use their guns for fear
of doing more damage TO their friends
than their foes.
lar transaction for other pens than
mine. Different person will Of course
have different opinions. All that Is lett
us is To say what might have been, aud
resolutions wluat we will do. The Ar
kansas is safe for time. / wont au-
swer for her being so long.
Killed. Wounded Xissino
TYLER 10 - 3S lC