, 1862-05-16
THE GUN BOAT FIGHT AT
FORT PILLOW,
THRILLING DETAILS OF TIE
AFFAIR.
The ATTACK ON the CINCINNATI.
Rams vs. Gun Boats---A Narrowly
Won Victory,
fFrom an Occasional Correspondent. ]
u s. TRANSPORT WISCONSIN,
f1pH Div

osened the advent Of magnificent day.
How far from our thoughts was it, rs the
Cincinnati dropped slowly down stream
amidst the beautiful exhibition Of nature, that
she vas hastening to her own ruin. But SO it
sas. Having received orders the evening be-
lore to take our turn at guarding the mortar
which is sent down 10 the point every morn
Ing, ne proceeded at 5 O'Clock to obey them
Got under way and dropped down to posi-
lion about two hundred yards from the NOR
boat, where, having made secure to large
tree, We began our daily routine Of duties.
The order Was given to ''holy stone'' decks,
and coon the whole crew was busi1y
engaged scrubbing and washing the gun deck.
We had not been at work more than ten min |
utes before ehout and hurried steps upon
the spar deck apnounced that = something |
was up." I ran up the companion way, and t
upon looking aft, saw. just abreast of the |
point, great black mass, out Of which rose d !
long chimney and two maste. Dense volumes |
Of thick, black smoke poured out of her chin
ney, presenting sight as terrible as it was
unexpected. The boatswain'6 shril whistle
rang through the boat, calling It oil hands to
quarters" the engineers got up steam as fast
as fire and water could make it, water buck
cts heaved one side, and men bare-legged and
wet from washing decks, sprang to the guns.
The cable which tied US to shore was slipped,
and slowly We swung from shore. ALL this
time the large rebel craft, which possessed
marvellous speed, rapidly neared US, and In the
wake came another, and another, followed By
still others, until six boats, all huge, ungainly
looking hulks, came sweeping up the river.
One glance around showed us how critical
was the state Of Affairs. Fully two miles and
hall lay between us and the remainder of the
fotilla who, not anticipating an attack, lay
with steam down, tied securely to the shore,
far shove US. To attempt to escape up the
river then were worse than useless. Our
only hope was in God and our noble guns.
"DoWn stream with her." cried the Captain,
and obeying her rudders, the Cincinnati slowly
swung round. The first rebel boat which was
now but . few hundred yards from Us, diyining
ourintentlon, sheered out to get chance at our
stern as We came around, the next one came
directly on, while the third kept in toward the
shore. We were thus surrounded on Ill
sides. Turning directly for the largest Of our
adversarics, we poured into her sides the
Whole starboaEd battery at a distance Of not
| over three hundred yards, This huge craft
being nov above us, turned and headed direct.
| II for cur 6tarboard quarter, her immense hull
looming full thirty feet above the surface o1
| the river, not . nan nor gun, nor any thug
but huge black mass to be seen. Down she
came, plowipg up the water at her bows
"Giye it to her, boys,'' shouted the gunner
L bright flash, deafening roar, and whole
broadsidc poured into her bull, but 1t did moi
arrest her progress, and the next instant, witt
!. terrible crush, she came into our starboarG
quarter. Ne seemed to be lifted bodily ou
Of the wafer. We surgcd Oh to one side, bu
soon settled back as the rebel boat drew back
She turned again On Us, when the Cincinnati
even then in q sinking condition, swung Ii:
tie and at a..distance of only ten yards, sent
t,rrible shower of solid shot crashing througl
the monsters ribs. Smoke and steam cam
foading again, though SO near that the bali
were With difficulty raulued home, the sta1
board battery bclened tnrtn aDother broad
side Through and through the blac'
hulk t1c rails tore their way. Th
, the monsters yitals are touched, his hea
huge mass d1i'ts do*n stream During tli
tilnc, another craft painted Il dirty mud colol
Of the same build, but not quite SO large a
our first adversary, came steaming down Q
+ our por'-quarter, but on our 6aeering she IL
{ asteIn, al d cro,7ciug on steam came tairly H.,
= ing at US. our stern bA' tery only gbttwo sho1
!; 1T her, when about three miuutcs after tt
4 first shot struck the second cI1ne into OF
i stern with 4 crash that to4k nearly every or
I Oft their tert. Tie water now poured into OF
L | hpfT fWh rnhr1Enn 6fri3ma ffint ii
!! Stenlbcl had been shot while giving orde
u on the spar decs, and ahout the san
!. time the Fourth Master while gallant
: working his division, WAS shot down in b
footsteps By shot through the porthol
h The boat was gradually settling, aud dct
gloom oyezsprcad 51., crew As our apalllng s.
C uation became evident. i cheer reaches O
:" ears, and joy comes to every heart rs our ey
greet the Benton, Carondelet, Mound Cit
J Pittsburgh and st. Louis sweeping like an a
s. alanche into the rebel fleet; now came nav
T. engagement, the like of which has been 8
~ dom seen. The rams trying to run our DO:
y down while VIC poured broadside after brol
ir side into their huge bulls, they were not do
. with us yet. Our last adversary drew ba
Is fr~1n us some hundred yards, and crack
IT, on steam came rushing along at f:ar
:. rate, the port stern gun was trained On
a. and solid 52-Iounder ball entered her bt
ye and rakcd the entire length OF the bo
70 "Hall down your flag Yanks, .nd veil S.
| 4lua Euuulcu ebllIG AlOs0EI WIS
n o1:1y response, and the next Instant she stru
:, just inside the starboard rudder. The wa
~ ~. IVES now rising in the boat ut fearful IA
LII the engineers were up to their waists in wat
q few inches more would put out the tit
Underline impression that it was useless
es came do*n the companion way s
in said "Eoys fight zrAa7e yeu can,
~, Rag eriN not godo7en unti1 sce do."
70 mvn checred aud with renewed alacsity spr:
is to their guns, those at the st1rboard bait
r. had t*o broadsides st rebel CT
Which was trying to run the Carondelet,
es the Benton came between us and engaged
;,r She gave first her bow guus, wheeling she
:. liz. rid a whole troadsidc, and last, her ST
&C. battery. The rebel craft having IN iuame
he hole in her bow, hauled down her L lag vi
- the Bcnron ceased firing aud left for anott
~ but she was no sooner 4 Tay than the co Hart
If dastArdly rebels ran it up again.
1hNe Of the re5el boats were now DRIFT
hc1pll ssly down stream, one the t. Mcyic
-. was laboring heavily, while another WAS
ITO fire. But our Own condition WIS too crit
be to pay much attention to anything else.
p1d were slowly drifting down stream, and NO
~ soon be in range of the fort. Our rudd
lch | smashed, the fires out, our case did ind
re, look hopeless. But the gallant old Cincin1
w. WAS not destined to be another Cu1nbcrla
on, her days, glorious as they have been, were
n q over Jet. The powerful little tugs Je
Benton and Daunt1ess made fast to her I,
&C. aud Succeeded in running the boat quar-
wise across the river, just in time to get
on the bank, when she sunk. Comment:
oli. | this action we're useless from one who
H. nothing OF the general battle; for other +
Ae than mine will record even the little did
nu- but cannot close this letter without pa,
,;t~ Whist little tribute lays In my power to
l"y gallant officers Of our boat Capt, Stemb
and TOO well known for his indom1table cour
een energy and perseverance, for me to Say Al
concerning him. He did not belle his chs
OF | 1er, but fell, more than hero, while 6gh
his boat. The gunner, John r. Hall, was
| 1ywhcre and at all times, and to his en-
r,n- and forethonght is to bo attributed e
part OF the victory. He fought like
oy and WON for himself laurels which will Il
un- fade. John Fierce and r. B Smith. Third
t;,, Fourth Masters, did all that men could do
No1 s. grateful country will not fail 10 reward
in services But the pen grows unsteady ant
,t-o ! eye diHs as the name Of 6. ". Reynole
recorded. Cut down in the very flo wer 0
T IN | youth, go gallant. SO noble, we mourn his
as one that can never be replaced. he d
| glorious death-shor as he Wac sighting
~. guu. He carries with him into another '
LIZ the love and affection OF whole n&tion.
ccpt
!: the FROM ANOTHER CORREsP0NDEo
FoET Pillow, May 10, i
The most magnificent naval engssene
and the war, excepting the great conflict at Il
!, left ten Roads. occurred here this NOR
;,,ht About seven o'clock the rebel fleet, CO
ing Of SIX guuboats and three rsms, made
appearance round the bend. 1mmediatc