Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-22
From tie Missouri Democrat
From Com. Foote's FIotiIIa and the Slepe
of Fort Wright.

we reached Island No. 10, and without being
challenged gIided by into the forbidden
ground over which the rebels have so long
held control. In doing SO we iet like a
trespasser-co Id scarcely appreciate our
privileges as lOyalist, nor entertain proper
contempt for the grim dogs of war" that
drowned upon us from the main land and is.
Rand so recently occupied by rebels, but
now IN the quiet possession of federal arms.
The fleet had left this place and nothing re.
NAMED but submarine that was engaged in
resurrecing the scutlle and partially sunk-
en- rebel boats.
AT NEW NADRID-wE REACH THE GUNRoAT
FLEET.
New Madrid was reached at s o'clock.
where most lively scene was presented
Transports lined the shore for several hundred
yards, some laden with troops, while others
were receiving them. Gen. Pope had re
moved his headquarters to the river, and was
evidently intent upon some important move
ment. Here we learned that the fleet had left
at 10 A. NJ. for fort Pillow, and was then near
Its destination. General Pope's preparations
were beyond doubt to follow suit One of his
deputies ordered the De Soto to make fast and
receive troops. This, Capt. CAROLS orders
would not suffer him to do, aud upon re-
specuuliy declining, was taken to headunar-
tiers, to argue the case, where he represented
the boat as being one for Commodore Foote'S
special purpose, and then having mail and
private dispatches, which it would be wrong
to delay. The general concurred in this
opinion, aud the boat kept on, finding the fleet
at A. NJ. lying at the mouth of Obion river,
l45 miles below Cairo and 26 miles above
First Chickasaw Bluffs, upon which tort PHI
low is located.
EXPLORATION OF THE oBioN RIVER
The tlhipu rivur l. I.a
rising in west Tennessee, aud flowing south
west into the Mississippi. ii is one hundred
and fifty miles in length, and is navgable for
sixty miles. The fleet having reached its
mouth early last evening, the tugboat Daunt-
less, capt. Seeds, was sent up on a recounuis.
ance. The captain went sixteen miles, stop
ped and couyersed with number of citizeEs
living along the hanks, and found them gem
orally disloyal. At one place he found a
barge containing about 800 bales of hay
and beng mistaken tor rebel boatman, was
| asked by the owners if he had come up 10
| take the hay down for The government The
captain, perceyng the mistake, kept up the
delusion until fully satisfied Of the owner
diSlOyaity, and then informed him that Com
modOre Foote's fleet was lying at the mouth
OF the river, and that the Dauntless was only
on a tour OF inspection.
YOu can imagine the Tenneseean's SUNRISE
| and haste to make amends for his innocent re.
velatlons, and, as a matter OF course, to pre.
vent Delng taken prisoner Vi war, suou
lapsed from vender of hay to the conteder.
ate government INTO Union man, who had
been much pIundered and prosecuted by the
rebels. The Dauntless had no time TO snare
and returned to report her adventures to the
flagship.
THE FLEET UNDER WAY.
This morning at O'Clock the feet was an
imposing sight. The gunboals in advance,
transports, ordnance boats aud mortar boats
formed line two miles in eugth, along and
in under the deep green forests bordering the
Tennessee shore. The trees are in lull bloom
and alive with the MARBLE OF teathered sony.
sters. A most delightful odor was borne across
the decks tthe boats By a bamy breeze such
as is a stranger to northern chimes TIL late in
May. All these marks OF spring, SO much
more forward than at Cairo lead us to consult
James river guide, to learn tile distance we
had penetrated the south, and we found our.
darA dqkSn RstTe es te states It ars
ABOVE memphis, or within days run even
with our gunboats.
THE REBEL FLEET DISCOVERED
AT seven o'clock this morning len ar tweIvo
transports, all crowded with troops from tbe
boiler TO the hurricane deck, rounded the bond
above us, and gained the rear of the fleet
Nhlie our force was thus accommodating. NV
looking below, across ''neck of woods" which
shot out into the river, contributing TO its tor.
tuous course, long trains OF smoke could he
seen rising up, betraying The approach OF four
or i've rebel steamers Three OF them proved
to be gunboats. They formed in line of bat
lie IN the hrst bend Of the river below, and
| quietly looking on at the extent of our souad
ron, seemed determined to arrest its further
! progress south
The flag officer could not suffer this hmm.
dence. The Bent0n'S lines were loosened
and she Immediately headed down upon the
| rebel gunb0ats, with signal tor the OTHER gu,.
boats TO get under way flying from her
mainmast. This was quickly obeyed. and 40
six of our ugly, horrid looking monsters sci.
ting low down in the water, with dense vol.
uales of black smoke pouring out of their
chmneys and obscurlng every thing behind
bore down upon the front Of the rebel boats
our interest and suspense were awakened IN a
degree which surpas ied every thing that trans
pred at Columbus or Island No. 10. The
sight bore the AR of desperation We thought
h2nd TO hand conflict was about to ,ns'Ie
that broadsides were to be taken and Given in
close quarters.
By recent accounts OF a3lormidable fleet of
| guhboatS lying in sailing order al New Or
leahs' we thought some of those were TO he
cCntenued against; that the Ram, Manassas
widely known by her protc and proaress was
about to make Il few darts and thrusts into The
mailed sides Of our flag ship or thai nm at.
Tempt would be made to board our boats and
Inc cutlasses and boarding pixies. which inns
lar nave been idle, be brought into bloodv uSe
at the port holes '''''' use
LITTLE SHOOTING on BOTH sIDEs
he current OF the river was with orr hnn4s
ana the distance between them and the .nar,v
rapidly diminished. They were sipnallrd ~
close up In few minutea we were within
rance Why don't the Benton omen fire 4 was
an anxious inquiry that passed around. but
scarcely had 1t been made, when Il cannon at
hpr bow answered it. The shot fell short
lie elevation was insufficient AWAY wont
| another gun This was IA shell. 1t burst ion
soon. Then another shot was sent howliup At
tue rebel GunOonts, which up to this time, had
appeared as bold as lions. AT this iuncture
me Carondelet which had steadily preserved
the LETT, seconded the efforts of The Benton.
Inc -lnclnnati, steaming down on the right.
was holding her guns for short range The
o. Louis, Mound City, and Pltslurg, were
clo'e IN the rear. o.
Captain Pauding of the ST. Louis. could
not brook any longer, his disposition to fight
and accordingly paid his first compliment 10
the confederate navy. The rebels threw Two
shell at us IN return, and then, with an evident
dlStaste for the warmth into which the contest
was waxing, headed down the river, and were
soon out OF reach and little later. out of
sight Both OF their shell burst Il little over
ana between the Benton and Carondelct. and
were thrown with much greater accuracy than
any of our own.