Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-08-23
A later dispatch has the following !:
The Navy Department is 10 receipt of Volu-
mino US dispatches from Admiral Farragut, aud
among them is the following
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
DAToN RoUGE, Aug. 1th

FLAG SHIP HARTFORD
BATON RoUGE, Aug. 1th
Sir 1T is one of the highest moments
Of my life that am enabled 10 inform the
Department OF the destruction of the ram
Arkansas, not because / held the iron clad
in such terror, but because the community
did. On the fourth inst. sent the Ten
nessec up to Baton Rouge with provisions
or commander Pcrler and the gun boats
stationed at that place
Ga the night OF the 5rh she returned with
Information that the enemy had made a
combined attack on Baton Rouge 10y the
ram and two gunboals, the Webb and Mu
sic. At daylight the Hartford was under
weigh for this place, with orders for the
other vessels to follow as fast as ready
arrived here to day at II NJ. in company
with the Brooklyn, Wes field, Cnton,
jackson and Soiota. had sent the Cay
urge up agreeLle to a request of Gen.
Blu Ter, on my arrival was informed by
Com. W. d. Porter, that yesterday morn
ing at two O'Clock, the enemy's forces under
General Breckinridge attacked Gen. Will
Jams and drove in his pickels. Gen. Will
Jams having had ample warning, all was
prepared for him.
The fight was continued with g!eat ea.
ergy GU both sides until 10 A NJ by
which time the enemy had been driven two
or three miles, but unfortunately he gal.
liant Gen. Williams was killed. Had in.
formed Lieutenant Commanding Ransom
the evening before of his plans, aud request.
ed him not to fire gun until he uotlie d
him, and when he did so our gunboals
opened with fLe effect, throw ing their
! shells directly in the midst of the enemy,
producing great dismay and confusion
among them. Lieut.. Ransom had an officer
on the State House, and could direct our
shells. AS soon as the enemy was repulsed
j Com. Porter went up the stream after the
D ram Arkansas, iiw hich was lying, apparently
0 afraid 10 take a share in the conflict.
e According to the preconceried plan, a;
e he came within gunshot he opened on hel
J. aud probably soon disabled some of her
Q machinery, or steering apparatus, for sht
became unmanagable, continuing, howeve
TO fire at the Essex.
s Commander. Porter saysih took adVan
0 tage OF her presenting weak point 10
4 wards hlmi aud loaded With ncendiar'
shells. After his first discharge of thi
projeclile gush Of fire came out of be
: side, and from that moment it was diseov
cred that she was on fire, upon which h
u cont inued his exertions to prevent
being exlinguished. They backed he
ashore and hen made line fast which 500
IS burnt and she swung of into the river wher
n she blew up with tremedous explosion
thus ending the career of the last iron cla
= on the Mississippi.
will leave a sufficient force of guT
IS boats bere to support the army and d.
part Immediately for Ship Island with
7. light heart that have left no bugbear {
J. torment the communities OF the Missi
sippi.
# D. g. PARRAGUT. Flag Officer
j, Commodore Porter says the Arkansa
J. had crew OF lS0 men, and mounted /
guns, six 8-iDch aud four so FOUNDER rife
!. The gnnboat Essex, commanded by hin
D mounted guns, and had only 40 men Q
duty at the time OF our going into aetiol