Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-11

attempts to capture or destroy the rebel
ram Arkansas, both Of which, unfortunate
ly, failed;
Ar ANCHOR ABOVE VIoKsBURG,
Tuesday, Aug. p, 1862.
have to record two most terrible and
desperate efforts by the fleets above and be-
low Vicksburg, TO capture or destroy the
far-famed Arkansas, and very reluctantly
I am compelled to record the signal failure
Of both. The first attempt was made by
Farraguts feet, assisted by Davis. The
second by Davis fotilla alone. On the
night Of the 10Th Of July, the seven vessels
Of Farraguts feet which had some time
previous ran the blockade, got up steam,
weighed anchor and got in readiness for
leaving The object of their return was TO
sink or destroy the Arkansas, and every
preparation was made for the accomplish
ment Of that object. The Hartford and
Richmond had all their small boats triced
up on the starboard side, while on the port
side, hanging on to the end Of the main
cross-trees, were heavy anchors, intended
to be heaved either over or upon the rebel
boat, the other end Of the line to be made
fast on the Federal boat; and, thus secured.
the Arkansas was to be walked off into the
bosom Of our feet below. Everything that
ingenuity or experience could devise for
the successful aecompl Of this object
was executed; and, fitted out with every-
thing that the brain Of man could plan. the
heet started on their perilous Journey. II
was about 8 o'clock in the evening. The
Benton, Cincinnati and Louisville went
down ahead of the expedition and engaged
the upper batteries, while swiftly and si-
lently after them came the majestic ocean
vessels Of Farragut's feet The Iroouois
was the first to pass the point, leading by
few hundred yards only, the Oneida; next
came the sloop-of-war Richmond. twenty
two guns, the gunbOats Pamela, Wessahicon
and Wenona, while the rear was brought
up by the flagship Hartford The Benton
and her associates, which had been keeping
up an incessant eannonade for some fifteen |
minutes, now ceased to let the feet bv.-
Some five minutes elapsed and not a sound |
was heard, when at once most deafeping |
roar which seemed to shake the foundation |
Of the earth, announced the combat as OPEN !
ed This roar is followed BY another and |
another, until the whole sky was lit up
with the flashing Of guns, and the air fairly |
trembles with the tremendous reverbera- !
tions. The peals at last came in such rapid |
succession that there was no distinguishing |
them, the airis impregnated with a sicken-
ing sulphurous vapoF, the echo catches I'D |
the roar and repeats it ten-fold. To add 10 |
the scene, large FIRE breaks out in Ticks- |
burg, which casts lurid glare over the /
whole horizon. The scene was one Of ter /
rife grandeur, and viii never be effaced |
from the minds Of those that saw it. At
this ijuncture Of affairs low black mass
rushes BY the iron-clads and rounds the
point. Il is the captured rebel ram Sum
ter, who, like the roaring lion, is bent on /
mischief The cannonading grows weaker
and weaker, and at last only an OCCASION
al shot is heard. The iron-clads turned to
their old anohOring ground up the river
and a messenger is sent across the point to
ascertain the result This report dashes
the hopes Of every one. The Arkansas
could not Be found. Being Of a dirty mud
color she had laid in close to the bank, and
had there defed detection Our fire had,
however sileneed every battery which was
worked. Vicksburg had been taken, but
the victory was barren because it could
not be followed up. Nearly all the vessels
got hit, but very little damage was done by
the rebel fire. One or two men killed and /
twenty or more wounded, comprised the /
list Of casualties, The Sumter was slightly |
disabled So much for Farragut; now for
Davis
Appreeiating the danger to which his
feet was exposed by the neighborh9ad of |
such customer, Flag Officer Davis deter ]
mined TO see what the iron-elads could do /
towards the riddanee Of the monster. His 4
preparations were carried on with the /
greatest Of secrecy but an intelligent OBJ |
server could detect something in the wind /
from operations in the feet yesterday. The |
Essex coaled up. A hay barge was taken |
along side the ram Queen Of the West. /
The Carondelet, which was about leaving /
for Cairo for repairs, came 10 anchor qui- /
elly out in the stream. These were all |
sure signsof suthin up. At about dusk /
yesterday evening the flag officer visited |
every vessel in the feet, and soon it began I
to be currently reported that another at |
tempt was to be made on the ram. This |
vas hailed with JOY, for with the removal |
Of the Arkansas goes also tons Of anxiety, /
uneasiness and fear. A vessel which de- |
family sustained such pounding as she |
received while running the blockade, may
well excite dread and anxiety, and the
fears, alas were too well grounded. Three
O'Clock this morning found the whole feet (
under way, steam up and ready for action
The moon, now far gone on its last quar-
ter, cast kind Of ghostly light on land
and water, but even its feeble rays sufieed
TO discover the Benton slowly moving out
from the rest Of the feet, aud dropping
down stream. The Louisville pushed out
from the crowd and followed her. After
dropping down some distance they are
joined by the Cincinnati, which had been
doing picket duty near the point, when all
three stood boldly down stream. Dayjust
breaks as they reach the point, but was
Aurora ever uEhered in 80 before Bang,
bang 90 the rebel batteries, and tive big
rife shell epme soreaming through the air.
Our boats now open, but not in as animat-
ed q manner az heretofore Evidently
something else is on the tapis; and here il \
comes too. Looming largely up through
the gray mist Of the opening dag, putting
out huge volumes Of dense, black smoke
from her chimneys, comes the Essex, as
grin and savage Q locking warrior as
treads the water. She stops not with rs,
but pushes sBif.lyland silenlly past. She
rounds the point in full view Of the rebel
Psttsfies7 md heads directly for them.
Upon her appearance they cease fring;
they are evidently aaTing their powder
3 till they are arrs q. iis execution eur
q boats also ceased, and q painful and ouiiu-
q.