Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-18

high and dry upon the bank, in the eager
ness Of the crew to escape. They left their
flag still flying at the stern--a large beau
tiful silk flag, which was captured by
Capt. Maynadier Of the mortar fleet.
The rebels went into the woods south Of
Hopedale upon the double quick. BY
this time the Cairo had passed round the
point. She opened her broadside upon
them, treating them to a score of parting
farewells.
Here | have to record that which will
put every honorable man to shame, and
fill every loyal heart with Indignation.
Just before the Beauregard sunk Capt.
Pike Of the ordnance department came
along side in his tug and rescued an officer
who had been wounded by splinter and
who was lying helpless upon the deck.
He was taken on board the Benton and
kindly cared for. He states that when his
commander fled, one Of them, a brother of
ficer, stopped down and picked his pockets
Of a valuable gold watch. This is the
elimination Of meanness and yilliany. The
fleeing pirate undoubtedly thought that the
next moment he would be sinking beneath
the whirling waters and it was a good OPP
portunity to get a gold watch. But the
act is in keeping with the course pursued
by the Ccnfederacy, by Floyd and jeff
Davis. Their government is built on muir
der, plumber, theft, robbery and piracy, and
all the crimes in the calendar. What Won
der then that we have this exhibition Of
chivalry9
FLIGHT OF TIE REBEL FLEET.
One half Of tie fleet had been disposed
Of, and the remaining vessels now attempt
ed to flee. The Federal feet was sweep
ing on the while, its cannon laundering,
and Kidding the enemy's boats. While
these appalling scenes were going on
while men were leaving in seores-while a
portion Of the fleet were securing the enc
my's, there was no cessation in the efforts
to crush out completely all armed resist
ance.
A short distance below the Little Rebel
the jeff Thompson was run ashore and
abandoned. She was repeatedly struck by
shot, with what damage will never b.
known. Again the broadsides Of the boats
were turned upon the panic-strikon crew
fleeing towards tho Arkansas swamp.
Further along the Sumpter was ran
ashore and still further down, the Gen.
Bragg. Both suffered severely in the fight
The Gen. Bragg had the timbers forward
Of her wheel house, and the hull, much
splintered by ten-inch shot. A shell ex-
ploded among the cotton-packing of her
sides. The cotton was set on fire, but by
the timely exertions Of Lieut.. Bishop and Z
boats crew from from the Benton, it was
extinguished. Both vessels Were subse-
quenty towed back to the city by the rams
and Transports.
The Van Dorm alone escaped. She is
a swift steamer. Had the Conestoga OF
Lexington been at hand, she too would
have beer captured. Shot and shell were
discharged at her till she was beyond
reach, when the fleet, rounded to, return
ed to the city.
BURNING OF THE JEFF. THOMPSON.
There was no time to pick up the prizes
as the fleet passed down. Commodore
Davis was intent upon destroying or cap
turing all. AS soon as tho fleet rounded
to, the Cairo and Louisville were sent NJ
in advance to protect the captured boats
and save them from destruction. But they
were too late to save the jeff. Thompson
Flames had already broken out. Wheth
or she was set on fire by the rebels, wheth
er from her own furnaces after desertion
or whether by our shot, is not known
The flames nade rapid progress, A boa
from the Cairo went up to save something
il possible, but they could not approach
the Thompson. A wide berth was giyeI
10 the burning vessel The flames burs
through the upper work, and curleC
around the chiraneys. The cotton bul
warks burnt slowly, sending out immense
volumes Of white smoke.
The boilers, heated to redness, hissec
and smoked like a million serpents, ano
burst at last, enveloping ship, flames ane
all in a momentary mist. But though
sharp and shriil the voice Of escaping
Steam, though sublime the sight, there was
second sight grander than all others-the
explosion Of her magazine! 1t Gaze. a
mighty pillar Of fire sprang from the burn
inc hulf-lifted itself four hundred feet
spread out into an umbrella like form o
rolling, surphuric clouds, folding in and
III, rolling over and over in thick, heavy
creamy masses, filed with timbers, plank
bars Of iron, fragments, Of charred timberi
and Goals of fire, cannon, shot and shell :
all commingled-all raining down upor
forest, and river, as if an avalanche o.
meteors Of vast proportion had fallen from
heaven though a cloudless sky to earth
Then came q shock which shook all The
windows Of Memphis and took away th'
breath Of men not far distant from tho
place. Following the explosion were les
ser ones, in the air above and all around
r L J. ~. l. III