Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-05-28
The Staqdafe.
WAR NEWS.
LATEST FROM FORT PILLOW.


Grand N.ras Battle at Plumb POint-0ur Cotton
Boats Victorious.
The Steamer Golden Age arrived at our wharf
yesterday afternoon, says the Memphis Appeal
from Fort Pillow, and from an officer in the engage
ment VIC gather some interesting particulars of the
grand naval battle which took place there on Sat
urday.
Gen. JEFF. Thompson, who is in command OF the
gunboat fleet at Fort Pillow. hearing that 1t was
the intention Of the enemy to come down ana az
tack that place on Saturday, concluded that he
would 60 up and anticipate their movements Az
cordingly aoout 6 o'clock on Saturday iIsrnnS'
the fleet was put in readiness, and about O'CLOCK
the fight commenced The steamer bragg, Cap'.
VIM Leonard led in the attack. She steamed up
amid a shower of balls to the ST. Louis gunbeat,
which was coming down. and struck ner on tue
starboard side, the Sumter, Capt. Wallace Lan,o'
followed next, and butted the 81. LOUIS near 'he
stern; the Gen. Pr1ee Capt' 1en:hGsn. nv ,o s,srn
next and also butted the st. Louis IN the stern,
knocking away her rudder and sternpost. The "a"
Dorm, Capt Fukersun, came up last
The Brago had her chain shot away, and dropped
back: the Sumter was surrounded by three gun
boats which, for the space Of fifteen minutes, pour
ed a most deadly fire upon her. Some of the enc
mys boats were almost alongside the Sumter IN the
engagement, yet she was not seriously dlSaoieu'
though her cabin was almost ridd.ed Inc va"
Dorm had q snecial engagement with the mortar
boat. and it is believed seriously damaged her. In
decd it is reported that the mortar boat has since
sunk. Some of the enemy's balls penetrated as
much as six feet into boats, yet so far as their
serviceable capacity is concerned they were unln-
jured. The Fan Dorns upper works were almost
riddled. A spy glass was shot out Of the hands OF
her captain
There was no damage done to the hulls or ma.
chlnery of our boats. Gen. Thompson was on board
the Bragg, which made the first attack All did
their duty nobly, though spedM mention is made OF
Can't. Fulkerson of the Vxn Dorm.
The ST. Louis was seriously damaged, and was
run on bar opposite Plumb Point Yesterday, at
noon, she was still on the bar, with transport
alongside, supposed to be. in a sinking condition.
The fight was brought to close oy the Federal
gunboats withdrawing into shoal water, where ours
could not go. They then opened broadside after
broadside at us, throwing some three hundred shot,
but with no damage.
The Benton gunboat Com. Foote'S flagship die
not leave the shore, but all the time poured the
most destructive fire upon our boats.
The Federals made an attempt to board the Sum
ter, but the boarding party were all dispersed by
shower of balls and hot water. Several of the Fed
erals were killed at their guns and others at their
forecastle. We fired from our big gun not exceeding
twenty shots, mostly from the jeff Thompson.
Our loss in the engagement is two-the cook on
the Bragg, and the steward on the Van DORM The
former had his leg shot off at the thigh, and tie
latter had his head shot off. We also had four
slightly injured. The Federal loss is known to be
At least twenty-five.