The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-26

| v1UAsOur8, bringing the nrSt news nom there
Regarding the late battle between the new
rebel gunboat Arkansas and the Federal fleet
lying above Vicksburg.
This gunboat is well known o. one of greal
strength and strong armament See my des.
cription sent from here. She was built 81
Memphis at immense expense, and has beer
Wanted as invulnerable by the rebels-no,
even second to the Merrimac in their estima.
ton.
Intelligence was received through deserter,
and others that the Arkansas WAS makins
preparations to descend the Yaxoo and attaci
the fleet. Her formidable proportions wert
sufficient to excite some apprehensions Of th,
result, and the gunboats Carondolet and Tyle,
the latter wooden boat and the forme,
partially iron-clad, were dispatched up the
river to look for her. The Tyler, being ahead
had gone some ten or twelve miles up the rive,
when, in the gray Of the morning, she discov
cred strange craft coming down. Her iden.
tity was uncertain at first, and she was sup.
posed to be tug, of which there were one o,
two out foraging.
A shot was fired across her bows, which was
Immediately answered by return shot, and
the Tyler, ascertaining the real nature of her
opponent, lost no time in heading down the
river. She is nothing but an ordinary wood
en- boat. and of no service in an action.
The Arkansas kept on her way, and, short
distance below, met the Carondolet, which, be-
ing warned by the Tyler, was ready for action.
The odds In strength were great, but her com.
mander met his antagonist boldly, and opened
with his bow guns the moment she came with
In range, and the Arkansas also opened with
three bow guns, of which one is supposed to
he one hundred and twenty FOUNDER.
The Carondolet ranged close alongside of her.
and poured in broadside after broadside. re-
ceiving in return heavy shots, against which
her ig ht armor was not proof. The balls
from the Carondolet's guns rebounded from
the iron side of the Arkansas, and fell into the
water harmless, or crushed like eer-shells
against the invulnerable armor. She could
not be penetrated at any point.
This contest was too unequal to last long, and
the two boats coming in contact, the Caronde-
let's men boarded and sought to take the Ar.
| kansas by storm, but, when they got possession
q her deck, they could not get inside of the
vessel, and they we're forced to abandon the IN.
dertaking and return to their own boat. Her
ports were all closed. The roof was invulner.
able, and the rebel crew were,,as safe from their
fury as though thousand miles away. In the
meantime the boat had drifted near the shore
and the Carondolet got aground. The Arkansas
poured in few more shots, and left her with
seven men killed and number wounded. Her
armor was pierced in half dozen places.
The Tyler had, BY this time, got good start
and was making for the protectionlof the feet ss
fast as she could CO. The Arkansas resumed
her course, and was quite near her when the
Tyler turned the point, compile of miles above
the feet, dscharging her stern guns and receiv-
! ing rapid shots from her nura,,er .-.s, G
In an instant all was confusion and prepare.
ton. The feet unfortunately had NO steam up,
probably on account of the early hour, and none
Of them were in condition to msneuyer;.but the
i guns were run out and everything put IN readi-
ness to receive her. 50
Gunboat No. 6, Of Farragut's feet, was high.
est up the river. She let fly her stern guns,
and when at close range, ran out an II inch gun
and poured into her . storm of iron. One oil
these balls struck her in the stern and displaced
the 'armor somewhat, but did not penetrate it.
Solid shot seemed to aatten against her armor,
while shells were scattered into thousands Of
fragments. Those who saw the fight say that {
fash of fire denoted the spot where every bal
struck, 90 terrible was the conclusion and SC
strong the resistance.
She passed on unbarmed, delivering her fire
from six guns right and left closing her port
holes after each shot, and presenting dead wall
of eight inches of solid iron for our cannon to
play against. g..
| The Hartford poured her brosdside Of thirteen
guns into her; the Iroquois gave her like 60
lutte; the Oaeida belched forth her fire; the Ben.
ton, Louisville, Cincinnati, and the four Farra'
gut gunboats all opened with terrific thunder
and . hail.storm Of iron; and still she KEEP,
camly on her way, firing to the right and left
and receiving solid shot against her sides, oil
every description, from thirty.two to one hun
dred Founders, without seemingly deriving any
injury. b. .a.. ar5a
She put holes through the Hartford, the Iro
quois, the Benton and half Of the gunboats.
The ram Lancaster started 70 make . run
against her, and she put shot through hel
blow.pipe, which made an explosion of steam,
and killed three men and wounded ten or fifteen
She received ten inch balls from the Hartford
and Iroquois, which fairly made her c.reen with
the force Of the conclusion, none Of WhicAwent
through her. r. ,lssz 81; esa
A port hole Vas at one period Of The passage
left unconsciously open, and shot entered
which killed ten men and wounded number
II was quickly closed, and she was again like Z
wall of rock. , ss 1,., ,f.,
The Benton got aground and had::to be pulled
Of. She then started in pursuit aud followed
her down to the point opposite Vicksburg
within reach Of the batteries, firing her bow
guns a. rapidly - she could. The batteries
opened on her and struck her four or Eve
| times. She had one man killed during the en-
/ gsgement- sF Ef57. 3t.@s fa' it.
Thus, iE shout twenty minutes time, the
| rebel boat passed through our entire feet Of
twenty-five or more bosts, and landed safely
and not seriously injured under the batteries
Of Vicksburgh. She had some hard knocks
for her pumps were al going and stream Of
| water run from her deck, which was undoubted
" from leakage. &C ~ ~
The results of the engagement we're the loss
of % men killed and Is wounded. Many Of oul
1 boats we're struck, but none were seriously in
ljured. The Tyler was badly riddled, and several
of her men were killed. y
During the entire engagement the Arkansas
did not attempt to use her iron prov, which i
lsoiid, weighing ten Or fifteen tons II war
nut on her before she left here This may
have been from lack of speed, a. she 10 said
to move quite slowly, not faster than our iron
gunboats. -. ss,g.g,5
-. 80 elov tn tska sdvantapo nf the noaitiOn.