The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-17
BATTLE AT FORT PILLOW.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Times


Orr FoRr Pillow, May 10
At last the monotony is broken. We
have had fight and glorious one too,
purely naval, with hearley an equal num-
Der of boats on each SIDE, and have sent
the rebels back down the river badly
crippled They attacked US this morning
at SIX o'clock, and before eight they were
so badly whipped that they will never
again attempt such a jolt.
Yesterday morning they sent boat up
with flag of truce, ostensibly at arrange
an exchange Of two Surgeons captured at
the battle of Belmont, but, as now appears,
simply to ascertain definately the position
of our feet.
Eerly this morning, as usual, our mortar
boats were lowed down to their position
for firing, it being point on the Arkansas
shore about one mile from the end of
Croigshead Point. The gunboat Cincin-
natl ran down as convey
Scarcely had the mortars been moored
in their position, when the rebel ram
Louisiana appeared coming around the
point, accompanied by four other gun
boats. The ram Immediately opened fire
on the Cincinnati, to which the latter
replied with interest The rebel boats
were all held in check by the Cincinnati
alone, when the rest of the Federal fleet
got under way and came to her assistance
In the meantime the rebel ram, finding
her guns Intellectual against the iron armor
of the Cincinnati, approached her with the
evident intention of running her down.
Captin Stembel, of the latter, prepared to
meet the assault of the ram by opening
his steam batteries and putting them in
readiness for use.
A., II nl N
close range, the Cincinnati turned her
head about causing the ram to run along
close beside her, when Capt. Stembel
drew his pistol and very coolly shot the
pilot, killing him instantly but, second
afterwards, musket ball struck the gal.
liant Captain in his left shoulder, inflicting
painful, though not serious. wound
At this time the contest between the
two boats was most intensely exciting
The crews of each were armed with carb.
ines, cutlasses and boarding pixies, and
were discharging vollcy after volley in
quick succession at each other; while the
ram was also endeavoring to get her head
about so as to run into, and: if possible,
sink her antagonist
Just then the steam batteries of the
Cincinnati were opened with terrible effect,
throwing heavy volumes of steam and
scalding waiter into the midst of the rebel
crew, placing all who appeared on deck
hors du combat instantly, and causing the
craft to Withdraw with all haste.
In the meantime the rebel feet had
been reinforced by three other vessels, and
among them the new iron.clad gundoat
Mallory, lately built at Memphis These
three an Immediately up to the Cincinnati
and engaged her at once She withstood
the assault most nobly, the shot of tn e
enemy glancing off from her iron plating
without causing the slightest damage,
while her own guns were raining shot and
shell with fearful effect upon the enemy
Capt. Stembel. though badly wounded,
remained at his post and directed every
movement with the ooolpess and deliber
alton for which he is noted
During this engagement the Mallory
approached the Cincinnati with the design
of accomplishing that which the ram had
failed id doing As she came in close
proximity the Federal boat St. Louis bore
down upon her, and coming with a full
head of steam on, struch her midships,
cutting her nearly in two, and causing her
to sink in very few minutes. Numbers
of her crew escaped by clinging 10 the st.
Louis and others were picked UP by the
Cincinnati, but the larger proportion went
down with the boat.
While this work was in progress the
other boats of our feet had engaged the
remainder of the rebel feet, and q most
terrific battle was raging, the lke 'of which
the nsurlly peaceful waters of the Missis-
sippi had never before Witnessed. ass
Report followed upon report, like the
continuous rattle of musketpy. The reb-
elsfought brayely and wiAh determination,
but they were. met by greater bravery,