The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-29


away up the river. Tie Oneida gave
chase and she surrendered to her. She
was then found to be on fire. and be-
fore the flames could be subdued. was
burned up.
The Varuna's exploit rank among the
brightest of those of the engagement.
She fought her guns until a portion of
the gun carriages were submerged II
the water. Capt. Boggs saved all his
wounded, but the dead went down with
the vessel. The Stars and Stripes were
waving from her masthead as she sunk.
At quarter of eleven we discovered
two works known as the Chalmet Bat
teries, one on each side of the river.
One, l should Judge, containing ten
and the other eight guns. The signal
was Immediately made to prepare for
battle. No flag was flying on either
work, nor did they hoist one at any
time. At eleven O'clock both batteries
opened fire on the Cayuga. Owing to
the very swift current, we were unable
to go ahead very fast, and it was five
minutes after they opened fire before
we could fire bow gun. The enemy
cracked away at us, and the shot few
around us very rapidly, most of their
shot raking our deck, and striking on
or near our poop. For twenty minutes
we stood the fire without being able to
return a broadside, which we knew
would soon silence them. In the mean
time the other vessels were working
with their bow guns on both works.
AT the end of twenty minutes we
were within fifty yards of tho battery
of ten guns, one being a mortar. Then
we let drive a broadside. It's effect
was terrible, and nearly silcneed the
work Another broadside of grape,
five second shell and a sprinkling of
shrapnel finished that work, but as the
rebels did not hoist white flag as they
should do, we gave them another touch
up, three cheers, and left them to run
as fast as they chose. The other bat
terry was soon silenced, this slip throw
: ing broadside to aid in the good work.
The enemy fired at us with infantry
an artillery company was coming tc
their support, when they found it was
; of no use. / thirk the enemy los
t quite number of people in the engage
; ment We lost one man, Thomas, cap
!. tain of the forecastlc and of rifle Par.
rott. 1t is supposed he was blown
overheard by the wind Of n passing
ball ard reached the shore in safety.
| heard of one man being blown over
board from the Brooklyn. Your cor
respondent was hit hy splinter, but
not seriously injured. From the time
, the batteries fired on us till we had
} taken them and on our way to the city
, it was less than an hour
The river was filed with ships on
fire, and all along the lcvee were burn
ing vessels, no less than eighteen yes
} sells being on fire at one time, and the
: enemy were firing others as fast as they
could apply the torch Such vandalism
! never was heard of. The atmosphere
was thick with smoke, and The air hot
with flames. 1t was grand but sad
: sight. Hundreds of thousands Of dol
, lars was being wantonly destroyed. Al
the levec, inst by the Custom House
lay burning ram-tle Anglo Norman
The unfinished frames of two or three
more were on the stocks at Algiers. A
: terrible rain squall came on, and after
dolging around the river for some time
; we came TO anchor. 1t was then one
} o'clock.
The view from our decks was one
such as will never, in all human proba
bilitv, be witnessed again. A larg,
city lay at our mercy. Its levee wa
crowded by an excited mob. TIL,
smoke of the ruins of millions worth o
cotton and shipping at times half con
, , cealed the people. While men were
T, Fastening up the levce, firing Ships anc
! river crafts as fast as possible, the PEG
: pie were rushing to and fro. Some o
them cheercd for the Union, when the,
were fred upon by the crowd. Men
women, and children were armed Will
pistols, knives and all manner of wea
pons. Some cheered for jeff. Davis
r Bcauregard, &C., and used the mos
] vile and obscene language towards u
e and the old flag. Pandcmonium her,
| was living picture. Order was t.
$ them thing past and forgotten
I. and the air was rent with yells of de
g lance.
, At two o'clock Captain Bailey wen
I on shore, flying flag of truce, to com
: municate with the authorities. AS thu
e boat drew near the levee, the mol
: cursed the flag and everything pertain
ing to it. 1t was with the greatest dit
/! ticulty that the naval officers reached
the City Hall, where the City Council
the Mayor, and Major General Lowell
were awaiting the arrival of our com
\ munications.
S Flag officer Farragut sent word Il
e the authorities that he demanded tn,
: surrender of the city of New Orleans
: and assured them Of the protection O
: the old flag. The city being under
martial law, the civil authorities o
] course could do nothing; but Major
I General Lowell, with all the pomposit,
2 he could command, and with all tn,
: buster he conld make, said, a
"Sir, will never surrender the city.
! He was politely informed. that thu
city was in our power, and, as mnch a,
T. We regretted the wan.on destruction o.
property, we wonld not disturb them
[ provided they made no demonstrations
!, against as. After some talk, Lowell
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