The weekly Butte record., 1862-05-17
Naval Engagement on the Mississippi

The following account of the recent naya
engagement on the Mississippi, is from th'
telegraphic column of the Union of the 1911
inst. Ii must have been a sublime spectacle
The rebel feet of thirty boats, If appears. sue
J ceeded in making smoke sufficient to permit
their escape from the two or three guuboat;
engaged on the Government side. The rebe
ram Louisiana, it will be seen, Is perfect tri
Omph. lis success in running away ought to
entitle it TO be named Pillow
The desperation of the rebel cause enlmina-
ted yesterday 10 the attack Of our hotilla By
/ the rebel feet from Fort Wright. At six
o'clock Saturday morning. the rebel ram Loui-
siana ronnded the point accompanied By four
gunboats, and Immediately opened FIRE on the
gnnboat Cincinnati, which was stationed in
advance. The rebel boats were held in check
by the vigorous Cincinnati alone until the
L ederal feet came to her assistance. Mean
/ time the rebel ram, finding her gun Intellectual
against the arm0r of the Coucinnati, approach
ed with the evident intention to run her down
Captain Stemple. commanding the latter. pre-
pared to meet the assault by putting his steam
batteries in readiness for use. As the ram
approached within close range, the Cincinnati
turned her head about, causing the ram to run
alongside, when Captain Stemple drew pistol
and shot the pilot of the ram through the head
At this time the contest was intensely exciting;
the crews Of each boat, armed with cutlasses.
earbines and boarding pixies, discharging yolley
after volIey in quick Succession. Just then the
steam battery Cincinnati opened with terrible
effect, throwing volume of steam and scad-
ing water among the rebel crew, placing all
who appeared Oh deck hors du combat, instant
y causing the craft to withdraw hastily
meantime the rebel feet had been reinforced by
thirty other vessels. among them the new iron
clad Mallory, lately built at Memphis These
three Immediately engaged the Cincinnati
She wthstood the attack nobly, the shot of the
enemy glaneing from her iron plating without
causing the slightest damage. while her own
guns were pouring shot and shell into the ene
my with fearful effect. During the engage
ment the Mallory approached the Cincinnati
with the design of accomplishing what the ram
failed to do As she came in close proximity
the Federal gunboat st. Louis bore down upon
her with full head of steam and struck her
amdships, cutting her nearly in two, and caus-
ing her 10 sink in few minutes. While this
work was IN progress, other boats OF our fleet
engaged the remainder of the rebel feet, and
most terrific battle ragged. Report followed
report, in a continuous roar. \ dense volume
Of smoke covered the broad river for time
and completely enveoped both fleets from view
1t was at this time that report louder than
usual attracted general attention. When the
smoke lifted little it was found that one of
the enemys boats was blown to atoms
Scarcely had the excitement ceased when
second like report was heard and another rebel
boat with her crew disappeared. Both vessels
were blown up by the explosion of shells on
the gunboat firing their magazines. Under
cover OF the dense smoke the remainder of the
rebel fleet retired at twenty minutes after seven,
the fight lasting but little over an hour The
Cincinnati bore the brunt, but was so little
damaged that twentyfour hours will fit her for
action. The St. Louis, that run down the
Mallory, was slightly injured and is again
ready for duty. No other of our boats was in
jured in the slightest degree. The loss of life
on either side was not ascertained"