The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-27
MEMPHIS, SUNDAY. JULY 27. 1862.


tive, entering the Unionists sides, piercing her
umbers and sending showers Of splinters over
her dick Before the Tyler had reached the
mouth of Old river eight of her men were
killed and seventeen wounded. Five Of the sail
ors' heads were shot entirely of by single bali
from thesenemy, and the unfortunate fell ws
fell together, bloody, deformed and hideous
mass of quivering flesh.
Exodus Of the Queen Of the West.
The Queen of the West, seeing the Tyler
turn from her enemy, and observing that the
rebel was powerful ram as we'll as gunboat,
knew it would be useless TO attempt to butt her
adversary. Besides, as she was under the COM
pland of the gunboat, and saw her eonsort
avoiding the action, she thought it right to
initiate the example
The Arkansas has an immense wrought iron
PROV or beak, weighing several tups, before
which the little wooden ram could have offer
ed no more resistance than paper boat There
was no prospect of her gaining anything in so
( entirely forlorn a hope, and so the Lieutenant
in command of the expedition was advised, l
understand, by most of the military officers on
I board. to avoid 3 collision, and he did. Many
/ blame him, but / know not Why. IheTeis no
4 coursge in attacking railway train N mo-
ton, and the highest valor is always tine.ured
with discretion. The ram would net run out
4 of sight of the gunboat, which she might easily
( have done, but kept little in advance, and
/ though struck number of times, received No
! permanent or even serious injury.
The Fleet Warned OF the Approaching
III Enemy.
The Tyler and Queen passed rapidly out Of
/ Old River, to give the feet in the Mississippi
! warning of the approach of the Arkansas
/ but, as soon as they appeared above the bend,
4 the cause of their early return was suspected.
/ The heavy firing had been heard for an hour,
| and as it grew louder and louder, it was evil
/ dent our vessels must have met y formidable
I and powerful foe.
Gallant Fight OF the CHrOndOlet.
/ rhe Carondolet, Captain Henry Wake,
saw and knew her antagonist at once, but de-
termined to give her battle, and she did so in
/ the most gallant style. There are no Drawer
/ officers and men in the fleet than the Caron-
doiet bears. She has always distinguished
| herself where an opportunity occurred, and
| SD, always will under her present command.
I The Union vessel sent several shot againt the
mailed sides Of her foe she advanced, but
did her no apparent harm. The Ar kansas
answered with heavy metallic voice, and her
! tones told fearfully on the valiant craft.
Before the third rebel shot, a number Of men
we're killed and wounded on the Carondolet,
which, during spirited engagement of ten
minutes lost nine men in killed, twenty-five
| wounded and three missing. One of the hos
tile shot severed some part of her machinery
and causing the steam to escape, so alarmed d
portion of the crew, that they jumped over
board to avoid, as they supposed, being scalded
to death and in this way the three, probably
drowned, are reported missing. None o.
these injured are officers.
AS soon as Captain Wake perceived hs
could not injure the Arkansas with his ggns
he resolved to board her and gave the order
which had hardly passed his lips when tbs
| Unionist ran alongside, and q brave band
leaped on the narrow deck or top of tn,
J enemy. But every thing was iron proof anC
tightly closed. Only the ports and the loop
holes for sharpshooters were open. After en-
deavoriBg in vain to get inside of the Askan
sas for some minutes, the sailors were forced
to return dispirited and chagrined to their Owl
boat.
A few more shots were exchanged, whel
the Arkansas moved off and passed so rapid,
| down the river that the Carondolet, in ne
crippled condition. could not follow her.
Progress sf the Dangerous Enemy.
Very soon after the dangerous enemy wa
; seen coming, at diminished speed, toward tn
, fleet, very few of our vessels haVing u
steam, ana the rams themselves carryin!
+. little more than enough to make head sgains
the current. No boat feared the Arkansas
but every one was anxious to see if she woul
! have the temerity to ATTEMPT running by th
, entire Gordon of Union ships. She left ther
! little time 10 doubt. She moved on in
, measured and deliberate manner, and in
. direct line.
Accident on the Lancaster.
As she passed the rams, the Lancaster, wit
only sixty pounds OF steam, attempted to b.
her, but before she could place herself in pC
: sition to do so, the Arkansas fired sewers
times into her side, wounding several of th
rams crew and bursting her mud receiver
The steam burst put all over the Lancaster, an
it was thought her boilers had exploded, e
! pecally as she began drifting down the rive
Several tugs and transports went to her ASST
: tance, and toxed her up stream, when it WI
discovered that two of ner negro deck hanc
; had been killed, six of the men scalded, an
= two or three missing the last having bee
. drowned by leaping overheard.
q The Arkansas stilI Advancing.
The Arkansas continued her course by Il
Hartford and Riehngond, neither of whic
: gave her a broadslde, though they AIRED at b
q repeatedly; passed the Oneida, Iroqltois, Rist
i hiekon, Cincinnati, Sumter, Bragg, Esser Be,
q ton, and sll the rest. They ali fred st b
n Wncu sue WdS dOONo, as sue went GOWH, III
: when she was below; but, though heavy sh
4 often struck her, they did not seem to injui
q her, but all glanced of, as a rife bullet from
8 hard rock. Now she had run the gauntle
: and was seen turning the bend, and soon aft
i she ran under the guns of the water batteri
> of Vicksburg, reposing under the shade Of Il
Z laurela she had so nobly won, and welcome
: by every true rebel heart in the rebel city,,
The Benton Renews the Battle
L The Cincinnati and Benton in fifteen mil
y utes got up more steam and ran down the ri
e e., again opening their guns upon the hatteri
le and the Arkansas, both of which replied vi
't orously. The Benton steamed immediSte
rs under the enemy's guns, and was struck
7, number of times, three Of the shot passing in
% and through her. One of her crew, VIM.
of Lewis, had his head and part of his body sh
g off while holding the end of a lanyard; AZ
Or two others, VIM. a. Travis and John Il. Gre
\