Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-13

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on him, be run bis nose into the bank Of the
came up out Of the hatch and run on shore.
The Mississippi 6rsd two or three broadsides
into her and boarded her, but anding che
was Of no earthly account again fred into
her, and she dritted down the river sinking
very fast On reaching Quarantine We found
that the Varuna bad been sunk, and that,
after her brave exploits, she fell, crippled In
s glorious cause.
TIE BRILLIANT ACTION OF IHE YEEUEA.
OF the noble part taken in this desperate
conflict by the VsFuna, Capt Boggi, in s
letter to his family in New Jersey, gives this
modest and graphic account. 1t is dated the
25th April, on bOasd the Harriet Lane:
Yesterday our great battle was fought
The squadron passed the forts under IS Sc
we're IRE as any feet probably ever endured.
The ships were much cut uo, and there were
many killed and wounded. .G
l can only give you a hasty narrative of
what occurred on board the Varuna, IS in
that you will take special interest.
We started at 2 o'clock a. NJ, and received
the frst Rre at $3.50, Just IS the moon was
rising. Ny vessel was terribly bruised, bat
we returned the Ere with interest. On pass
ing the forts, found myself the leading ship,
and surrounded by q squadron Of rebel steam
ers, which annoyed me much By their hre;
90 that steered as close to them as possible,
giving to each brOadslde in succession as l
passed, driving one on shore and leaving four
others in flames.
During this time the firing OF guns, whist
ling of shot, and bursting Of shells was terri
bic; the smoke dense. As this cleared of,
finding more steamers ahead, I stopped to
look for the rest of the squadron. The ship
was leaking badly, but thus far none were
hurt. AsteFn, IsaW the Oneida engaged with
6 rebel steamer. The latter shortly after
came up the river, when engaged him, but
found my shot OF no avail, as he was IRON
clad about the bow. he tried to run me
down, aud | to avoid him, and reach his val
nerable parts.
During these movements be Faksd me, kill
ing three and Wounding seven, and attempt
ed to board but we repulsed him. Driving
against me, be battered me severely, bnt In
these efforts he exposed his vulnerable side,
and succeeded In planting couple of broad
sides into him, that crippled his engines and
set him on Ere. BE then dropped OF, and as
he moved slowly up the river and passed me
l gave him another and parting bFoadSide.
now found my ship on FIRE from his shells,
and it was with great difficulty that 1t was
put out Just then another iron. clad steamer
bore down and struck heavily on my port
quarter, and backed of for a second blow
This second blow crushed in my side, but al
the same instant gave him q full compile.
meut of shot and shell that drove him on
shore and in flames.
Finding myself in q sinking condition,
ran my bow into the hank and landed my
wounded, still keeping up fire on my first
opponent who at last hauled down his flag
My last gun was fred as the decks went IN
der water. FffF &@Es.f
No time to save anything; the officers and
crew escaping with the clothes they had OIL
their backs
We were taken of BY bOsts from the squad
ron which had now come upi the crew.
cheering as the Varuns went down with hel
flag flying; victorious in defeat and cOverel
with glory.
think We have done we'll. Eleven steam.
srs destroyed BY the squadron The old ram
Manassas sunk by the Mississippi.
This has been aRallsnt hlght-nO less than
10 guns playing on Us. The forts are cui
of from succoT, and must soon surrender
The way to New Orleans is open, and the city
Is probably ours at this moment-for the feet
Immediately passed up the river.
The Commodore, ss q post Of honor, dis.
patched me in my only remaining boat, with
8 picked crew from the Vsruna's men, tc
carry dispatches to Gen. Butler.
Having been in the boat for tWenty-siz
hours, after such days previous work, you
may imagine / am somewhat exhausted-
What my next position may be do not know
PUgsnhy-GB bec0nsS naval nd J6s h9Of GsenGs::
raj Butler.
"Capt. BoggS is too modest to say that he de-
stTOyed six out ofthe eleYen.-EDs.
THE sURRENDER or THE FORTS.
On the 25th Com. Porter,-who with his
mortar feet, remained below the forts-sent
demand for surrender which was refused.
On the 2sth 1t. Col. Higgins, who was in
command Of forts, sent communication
saying he would surrender, and Com. Porter
took possession. The latter thus narrates
some infamous transactions connected with
the surrender:
While had flag Of truce up they were
employed in towing the iron floating bat
terry OF sixteen guns, q most formidable af-
fair, to place above the forts and while
drawing up the articles of capiiulation in the
cabin Of the Harriet Lane, It was reported
to me they had set FIRE to the battery and
turned it adrif upon Us. I asked the Gene
raj if it had powder on board or guns loaded.
He replied that he would not undertake to
say what the Navy officers would do.
He seemed to have great contempt for
them. told him 1--WE could stand tAe FIRE
and blow up, if he could, and went on with
the conference, sfrer directing the officers to
look out for their ships. While drifting
down on u.s. the guns, getting heated, ex-
pleded, throwing the shot above the river.
A few minutes after the floating battery ex-
ploded with q terrific noise, throwing the
fragments all over the river, and Wounding
one their own aen in Fort. St. Philip, and
Immediately disappeared under water. Had
she blown up near the vessels, she would
have destroyed the whole of them.
When / had finished taking possession Of
the fort, got under way in the Harriet Lane,
and started for the steamers one of which
was still flying the Confederate flag. fred
q shot over her, and they surrendered.
There was on board of them q number of
naval officers and two companies Of marine
artillery. 80 WEw1ss
l made them surrender uaconditionally,
and for their infamous conduct in trying to
blow US up while under q Gag of truce, l
conveyed them to close confinement as pris-
oners OF war, and think they should be sent
to the North and kept in close confinement
there until the war Is over, or they should be
tried for their infamous conduct. have
great deal to do here, and viii send you sll
the papers when am able 10 arrange them.
On Friday the 25th, the feet nearsd New
Orleans. The two 0balmetts batteries were
soon silenced, and the feet passed on to the