The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-10-02
The Gunboat Essex on the Lo,ver Mis-
- sissippi E-s- I'll
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 9.

New ORLEANS, Sept. 9.
The United States iron>clad steam
err Essex Comodore w d Porter, ar
rived from up the river yesterday.
We have some very important and in
teresting news by thisarrival, eompri>
sing some Of the acts of this monster
iron ship, with "5r0n hearts"
About a week (more or less) ago, as
the Essex was cruising along the river
the lookout reported the rebel gunboat
VIM. III. Webb in sight. Chase was
immediately, given and she was pur-
sued past the guns at Vicksburg. The
Essex theu started down the river, and
and on reaching Natchez sent boats
crew ashore for ice. The boat, on
nearing the shore, was fired into by
the rebels, and several Of the crew
wounded. For this act Of temerity the
whole shooting force of the Essex was
brought to bear upon that illfated city
for about two hours and a hall, when
a deputation was sent with PROPOSE
ton to surrender the city and hoist the
stars and stripes.
Commodor = orter then ordered the
firing to cease, and proceeded down
the river until off Byron Sara, where
he came to a stop long enough to burn
hat Inflated abode of rebels. There
were but two houses left standing
one belonging to gentleman who is
said to be friendly 10 the union cause,
and the other the property Of lady.
We did not learn what insult was the
immediate cause OF this visitation Of
vengeance.
On Sunday, as the Essex was coming
down the river, rebel battery Of
thirty four guns, opposite Post Hvdson,
opened upon her, and fierce battle, at
no more than eighty feet distance, be-
gan, which lasted an honr. At the
end of that time the battery was
silenced, and the steamer passed on
down. .....-...
The rebel battery was mounted with
guns Of very heavy caliber; but that
circumstance only suficed to prove the
remarkable powers Of resistance Of the
Essex. Her iron sides wer struck in
multitude of places with 10-inch and
other sized balls, the result in all cases
being the samoa slight indentation
into the sides of the steamer, and then
the balls breaking into a thousand frag-
ments and falling harmlessly into the
water. The Essex commenced with
the upper gun, and silenced them all,
one after the other.
She is truly formidable craft and
comes fully up to the most sanauine
expectations other designer and builds
err, who our reaeers will recolleet, is
Com. Porter himself Certainly no hing
the people of New Oheans have ever
seen in the shape ofan ''iron~clad''-
can compare with the Essex.
1t was impossible to ascertain what
the loss Of the rebels was, as those
engaged on the Essex were too well
protected by iron armor to permit their
seeing ashore; but as the action was at
very close quarters, the loss on shore
must have been heavy. There was no
casualty en- the steamer.
The names of Porter and Essex
have already passed into history in q
former generation, and the exploits Of
the gallant old frigate in the waters o.
the pacific have been the animated
theme Of discourse around millions u
American hearthstones. This genera
ton can now, too, boast of a Porter
the son of a gallant sailor who sheb S,
much luster upon the United State
navy; and the Essex, too, a craft Of hi
own invention, named after the famou
cruiser, and Ike her distinguished 70
being almost without a rival in he
line of service.