The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1862-08-01

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ENGAGEMENT

2Azoq GlEf July len<
hdlof aglttf Hhe country may
usll bo proud and iubilant over The gIeai
victory achieved hY our gunboai AfEap
as, iof she haa performed q TEAS nefe
before taualled ii the annala 81 naval
warfare Her officers and men are aiI be.
foes-they behaved with 8 coolnea and
inhepility unsurpassed. Mellthey knew
the immense odds they had lo encounter
but that knowledge only tended 70 brace
their nerves and give them strength e go
into the fight with ihe determination io
ron0uer or die Right nnbly did they G0
their whole duty. and evels man stood ,o
iiis post unfinohinaly Capt. !. n Brown
had The boat finished here under allheul.
wv ttut ut4 ielt iss1
and when ordered TO 20 out Of the Yazoo
river and attack the fleet, be proceeded
to perform bis duty, and with one single
vessel encountered a whole feet living In
wait at the mouth of the Yazoo and in the
Mississippi rivers This fleet numbered
some twenty vessels, consisting oi iron
clad gunboats, rams and sloops Of war al
with steam up ready to engage the ear
kansas On the morning Of the 18th in.
slant, as the "Arkansaso was sleaminr
down the Yazoo, OF, rather, Old river. and
when within one and a half miles IRON
the Mississippi the encmy's vessels hove
IN sight consisting Of one heavy iron clad
gunboat mounting twelve guns, and two
rams, all Of which steamed up to engage
the Arkansas.
The enemy began the action BY firing
from their rifle guns, advancing and en-.
deayoring to get IN the rear Of the Arlsan.
sas, which manouvre was prevented by
opening with the bow guns, causing the
enemy to turn and retreat, closely pur-
sued, the rams keeping well ahead, the
gunboats stopping astern Of them, Pass
ing rapidly two Of them, she encountered
the foremost boat, whose speed was supe
rior TO that Of the Arkansas, but this was
soon equalixed by the well directed bow
guns into her stern, which soon silenced
her guns and drove the crew below AZ
this she sheered into shallow water where
the Arkansas passed her at thirty feet
distant, pouring in her port bloadside
with her guns well depressed. Sheasfuck
her colors and was left hanging to the will
lows. Capt. Brown having lost the seryi.
ces Of the Yaxoo river pilot BY 4 severe
wound in the head was thus prevented
from securing the prize, and pushed on TO
the Mississippi, where lay the great fleet
in battle array, awaiting his coming
vessels all lying on the east side Of the
the river. Nothing daunted at this most
formidable sight, the gallant Brown or.
dered his pilot to steer right for the enc.
my, and onward dashed their famed ahip.
passing within pistol shot Of the enemy's
vessels, giving Il to them right ond left
ahead and astern.
Al this juncture, one Of the rams goi
right ahead and took her position fof
running into the Arkansas, but the bow
gun, an e.inch celumbiad, under the well
directed aim Of Lieut.. Gift, sent she'll
right into the boilers Of the LincoInite.
blowing up the vessel and causing the
whole crew to Jump overheard.
Still onward speeds the Arkansas III her
course, dealing death and destruction from
her terrible guns, and so close TO the feet
IS to prevent the rams from getting me
mentum If they should have attempted
to run her down. Yet unharmed she
continued to pass through the fiery Or.
deal, and as q parting compliment, she
shoots into and fires one ol the enemva
vessels. The gauntlet Is now run, and
this nov famous gunboat "ArlansasD has,
unaided and where assistance could not
have reached hen, encountered the boast
ed Yankee heer, causing one Of Their
great iron clads, carrying two more guns
than the "Arkansas,0 to run ashore and
strike her colors, blowing up a second and
burning third, besides inilicting 4 vast
injury on the remainder Of the fleet. So
daring was the attack, and SO well man.
aged the boat, that the fleet did not pur-
sue her until she got out Of sight, when |
one ram followed, which was soon driven |
back by the upper battery at Vicksburg
The "ArkansasD then came to Viclss
burg rounded to and anchored, receiving /
the well earned cheers and acclamations
Of the great throng.
Considering that most Of the crew Of
the Arkansas had only been taken on
board few days before she went out to
make the attack, and had but little time
to drill at the guns, together with the i'm.
mense feet she fought, 1t may be set
down as the most extraordinary naval
success ever achieved in the worlds his
tory. The casualties we're ten men killed
and fifteen wounded Capt Brown re.
ceiving two knocks down and two cuts on
the head both slight. The men we're
killed and wounded by shots entering the
ports. Except the smoke stack having
been nearly shot away, the vessel has eus.
tanned little injury, and is again ready to
6ght any Yankee fleet in our watere and
viii not be over particular about mum.
beTs.
The distance from where the action be.
gan near the Mississippi to Vicksbufg is
fourteen miles, and tho fight lasted from
8 to 81 o'clock. Capt Brown had two Of
his pilots severely wounded, Mr. shocklet
and Capt. Hodges, leaving him Mr.. Del
more and Mr. Brady. The boat was steer
"a by M. Brady, who stuck to the wheel
through the storm Of fire, like hero as
be is, and under the cool and judicioas
Guidance Of the brave Brown, brought the
vessel safely through the hosts Of foe By
izl-r .ssss.-.ss.;----- :
To mention one officer more than ano-
her as having performed his duty well
would be inyidious, aa All the officers, and 0
nen too, did their whole duty, fighting 3
With a cool, determined heroic courage IS 0
men alone can fight who are battling for q
heir homes and liberty.
It is proper that when men perform G
aeritorious acts az have the gallant of. o
efs and brave men Of the "Arkansas,D I
hat the country should reward them q
hcrelofo let their services be handsomely d
ed substantially acknowledged At once b
, the Government. Their names viii q
9e ID their counlFy's hist0fg. for they B
fa all heroes; they have performed the i
lost daring, and beyond All odds the 0
Iost brilliant feat Of this war. Let their