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

and the conclusion stunned Lieutenant Geo
Heisler, of our marine corps, so that for a
time his life was despaired of. I started to
go forward to see how things were working
there, and the wind of huge rife shell
knocked the cap off my head. 1t was a
time of terror our guns were firing as rap
idly as possible, and the howitzers were do.
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 on them, and Capt.
Broome of the marine corps, opened into
her with two nine-inch guns,
A REBEL VESSEL BLOWN TO PIECEs-ALL
| 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 FLAGSHIP 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
for moment it seemed we must fall prey
to the ravages of fire. A fire was also
burning on the berth deck. The fire hose
was on 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 Oft. During this stage of affairs we
grounded, and our fate seemed sealed; but
our men worked like beavers, and the en-.
gineers soon got the ship astern and afoat.
It 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 Of death were moving With light
ming swftness in all directions. Steadily
we piled shell and grape, interspefsed with
shrapnel. Rebellion began to quake; her
boats were fast being riddled by we'll di,
Tected broadsdes, and they WHO were able
made for the shore to run them on, so that
they could save their lives. Some were on
fire and others were sinking. Our boys
were cheering with hearty good will, and
well they might, for we had almost won the
day, and we were nearly past the forts. Our
ship had been on fire three times, and she
was riddled from stem 10 stern. The cabin
was completely Quilted, the starboard steer
age all torn up and the armory all knocked
into "pi." My clothing was strewn abaft
decks, and I was obliged to pick it up piece
by piece. The manuscript Of the lombard
ment came near to destruction by a rife
shell, which tore up my 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 q stern and several through
US. l frankly confess | am unable to de-
scribe the scene. Words cannot EXPIRE IS
any adequate idea of the engagement.
wrapped up in smoke, firing and being fred
at, shot and shell whstling like locomotive
demons around, above, before and in the
rear OF you; flames from fire RATS enclrcling
you, splinters flying in all directions and
shells bursting overhead can you imagine
this scene If you can, it is more than |
ELEVEN REBEL STEAMERS ON FIRE.
AT halt.past five O'Clock no less than
eleven rebel steamers were in flames along
each side of the river. We steamed up by
the Quarantine to 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, be run his nose into
the bank of the river, and Immediately
about thirty men came up out of the hatch
end run on shore The Mississippi fred
two or three proadsides into her and board
ed her, but finding she was of no earthly
account, again fred into her, and she drifted
down The 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 glo.
rious cause.
THE VERONA AND THE REBEL VESSEL.
Captain Boggs of the Verona finding
that steamer (name unsnown), was about
to run into him, put the vessel in such po-
sition thas in being damaged he could re-
pay it with interest. On came large
steamer all clad with iron about the bow,
and hit the Verona in the port waist, cutr
ting and crushing in her side. She drop
ped alongside and cleared out to butt again.
She bit the Verona a second time, and
while in a sinking condition the Verona
poured the eight inch shells into him so
last that the rebel was set on fire and driven
on shore.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL VESSEL GOVERNOR
MOORE.
No sooner had the Verona cleared her.
self of this customer and while endeavoring
to reach the river bank, than the steamer
Governor Moore formerly the Morgan),
commanded by Lieutenant Beverley Ken.
non, came along in crippled condition and
endeavored to run away up the river. The .
Oneida gave cha:e and she surrendered to
her. She was then found to be on fire, and .
before the fame could be subdued, was
burned up.
yy,i. VI