The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-23

there, and the wind of huge rifle she'll
knocked the cap off my head 1t was
time of terror our guns were firing as ram
ing excellent execution.
REBEL sHARPsHooTERs.
The rebel steamers were crowded with
troops, who fired volleys of rifle balls at US,
most of which did US no harm. One of
them came near US, and think | am safe
in saying she contained two hundred men.
Our howitzers opened Oh them, and Capt.
BrOOme of the marine corps, opened into
her with two nineinch guns,
A REBEL VESSEL BLOWN TO PrgCEs-AIL
HANDS LOST.
An explosion-terrifc yels--a careen.
and that fellow was done for. Their steam,
ers were bold and fearless but no sooner
did they come in sight of our gunners than
they were sunk. The Varona sunk six of
them one after another.
THE FLAG: HIP AGROUND AND ON FIRE.
In the midst OF this awful scene down
came tremendous fire raft, and the ram
showed her under our port quarter. The
flames caught in our rigging and side, and
| AVA - AiOHd$ ~ ~ CISuIIQ NC muSl Iuii u prey
| to the ravages OF fire. 4 fire was also
| burning on the berth deck. The fire hose
was Oh hand, and we soon subdued the
flames, and gave the ram dose of rife
she'll. She, however, came up for US again,
but some other vessel tackled her and she
| hauled oil. During this stage OF affairs we
grounded, and cur fate seemed sealed but
our men worked like beavers, and the en-.
| gineers soon got the ship astern and ahoat.
t defes the powers OF my brain to describe
the scene at this time. The river and its
| banks were one sheet of flame, and the
messengers CT death were moving With light
ming sWlttneS5 III al. directions. Steadily
we piled she'll and grape, nte!spersed with
strapped. habeldom began to quake; her
beats were fast being liddled by we'll die
Eected broadsdes, and they wing were able
made iCr the shore to run them on, so that
they could save their lives. Some were on
fire and others were sinking. Oar bows
were cheering with 4 hearty good will, and
well they might for we had almost won the
DAY, and We were nearly past the forts. Our
ship lad been on fire three times, and she
was riddled from stem 10 stern. The cabin
Was completely Quilted, the 8tarboard steer
age all torn up aud the armoGy all knocked
into "pi." My clothing was strewn abalt
decks, and I was obliged to pick 1t up piece
by piece. The manuscript OF the lombard
meDt came near to destruction By q rife
shell, which tore up ny room and killed one
man.
We ARE PAST THE FORTS.
After being under terrific fire for one
hour and twenty minutes we were past the
forts, badly cut up, shot hole through our
mainmast, two stern and several through
u.s. frankly confess | ain unable to d.
scribe the scene. Words cannot EXPIRE IS
any adequate idea of the engagement.
wrapped up in smoke, firing and being fred
at, slot and shell whstiipg like locomotive
demons around, above, before and in the
rear OF you; flames from FIRE rats enclrcling
you, splnters flying in all directions and
shells bursting overhead +; can you imagine
this scene ? 1t you can, it is more than |
can describe as | would wish to.
ELEyEN REBEL STEAMERS ON FIRE.
At halt,past five o'clock 10 less than
eleven rebel steamers were in flames along
each side of the river. We steamed up by
the Quarantine 10 anchor, when 10 the Ram
made his appearance, and saucily fred at
the Richmond.
THE MISSISSIPPI DIsABLEs THE MANASSAS.
The Mississippi being near at hand,
about ship for the black devil and at him
she went with the IDEA OF running him down.
The Ram ran, but finding the Mississippi
gaining on him, he run his nose into
the bank of the river, and Immediately
about thirty men came up ont of the hatch
and run on shore The Mississippi fred
two or three nroadsides into her and board
Cd her, hut finding she was of 20 earthly
account, again fred into her, and she dyifted
down he river sinking very fast On
reaching the Quarantine we found that the
Varona had been sunk, and that, after her
brave exploits, she FELL crippled in a clio.
FiGus cause.
THE VERONA AND THE REBEL VESSEL,
Captain Boggs of the Verona finding
that a steamer (uame un;n0wn), was about
to run into him, put the vessel in such po-
stiOn thlt in bsiBg damaged he could re-
pay it With interest. Ga came large
steamer all clad with iron about the bow,
and hit the Verona in the port waist, CUT
ting and crushing IN her side. She drop
ped alongside and cleared out to butt again.
She bit the Verona second time, and
willie in q sinking condition the Verona
poured the eight inch shells into him so
last that th2 rebel was set On fire aud driven
CD shore.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL VESSEL GOVERNOR
MOORE.
No sooner had the Verona cleared her.
self Of this customer aud while endeavoring
to reach the river bank, than the steamer
Governor Moore formerly the Morgan),
commanded by Lieutenant Beverley Ken
non, came along in a crippled condition and
endeavored to run away up the river. The
Oneida gave chae and she surrendered to
her. She was then found to be On fire, and
before the fame could be subdued, was
burned up.
The Varcna's exploits rank among the
brightest of those Of the engagement. She
fought her guns unti a portion of the car
riages we're submerged in the water. Capt.
Boggs saved all his wounded, bat bis dead
went down with the vessel. The Stars and