Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-26


Tha 0unbsas Figha aH Sames River.
Capt Constable Of The Eaughtuck hes
written the following account Of the attack
on the forts on James river.
On the evening Of the l4th inst We ar.
rived about tan miles below Richmond. The
Stevens had led the squadron, keeping about
TIVE hundred yards ahead OF the 0aleua,
sounding out the channel and looking out
tor distractions aud torsedoes. We we're,
ION account Of light draught Of water and
the readiness with which the vessel Worked) ,
Of great service 70 the squadron. Prom in
formation which we had gained we learned
that the enemy had, about two miles above
rs, heavy distractions across the river, con,
slsing Of spilss and suuken vessels, defended
BY very strong battery on = high bluf,
called Ward's Hill.
This Wards Hill was but sight miles be-
low Richmond, and at a council OF war, held
on board the hagship, (the Galena), consist
ing Of the commanders OF the hVe vessels,
il was arranged that the squadron should,
the next morning, attack The battery In the
order arranged. II successful In Bhelling
them out the Stevens was to haul out the
spiles, while men fiom the squadron spiked
the guns. was provided with chain for
the purpose, and intended pumping out aft
and submerging forward until making fast,
and heaving taut-then pump out forward,
and submeFge aft to loosen the spile in its
hold, and then haul upon it until drawn, So /,
Sc.
We learned that the enemy had rife pits
we'll manned, and even while at anchor on
the afternoon Of the 14th we were fred ct
several times from musketry In the bushes
along the shore. At the request Of the Com.
modore, l threw a shell from our Parrott
gun at quite a large force of the enemy on q
hill about two miles distant, which started
them OF at tdo1ble quick," and then threw
three or four rounds Of canister from Onr
light guns into the bushes where the rife
shots had come from, and during the night
We heard nothing further from them.
fortunately learned that evening that the
Galena had several large sheets Of boiler
iron not in use, (six feet BY three feet }
Twenty-Five of these procured; and fasten {.
ed them on the outside of the pilOt-heuBe
and cabin, and to their protection we were
all Indebeted for our lives in the action of
the 18th.
The next morning, on the first of the ebb,
the vessels moved up 10 their positions of at
tack, under q very annoying fire Of rifles
from the Woods-the river being less than
two hundred yards wide.
We opened Ere upon the battery with our
heavy gun, and threw shell and canister
from our brosdside ones into the woods.
Our station was Gbreast of their rihe-pits,
and was only about forty feet from the shore,
90 that their sharpshooters had fair chance
ct rs. During the fght and while our
heavy gun was performing spledidly, 1t burst,
but fortunately disabled bat one man. It
burst from the vent to the trunnions IN two
halves, throwing one half overheard on the
por. side, while the other half was landed on
deck on the staFboard side. The muzEle, for
ward of the tFunnions, remained entire and
was thrown forward about two feet. The
gun carriage was destroyed, the pilot-hosss
shattered, part of the upper deck crushed
in, and some Of the main deck beams started
How 1 escaped, God only knows. I was
within two feet Of the gun when it burst
having Just sighted and trained It upon the
battery. Ny speaking trumpet is complete
ly crushed, and q fragment of the gun,
W6lRuAlN 6DVht AtogV WuiBHtt ie4A ~ Ot1loig
70 me that It tors my coat. was hit on the
head BY some part Of the gun or carriage,
Il think it was one Of the large rubbeH,)
which stunned me for e moment, although
was able to keep the deck and superintend
the fighting of our broadside guns (which
were well handled under charge of Wilson,
until the squadron fell back for want of am
'I'uHisI''-I -'o--s an hour and s-hslf after our
gun bursted. After heaYing up our snobor
I tainted away; but after being cupped be.
hind the ears by the surgeon of the ArOos-
took, who came on board TO look out for the
wounded, was able to resume the charge
Of the deck.
Our little broadside guns did splendid ex-
ecution. driving the enemy out Of their rife
pits and clearing the shore Of every enemy
within canister range. By keeping the crew
under the protection Of our "iron-slad" cab
in, and only exposing them for . moment
while loading, our loss by their FIRE was only
two wounded.
The GaleHs OGs hit forty siz 6les twenty.
eight shots entered her armor and complete-
ly penetrated It; Eve passed through her
smoke stack. and three passed through deck
plating. One or two shot passed entirely
through her. She lost seventeen killed and
about twenty wounded. The other vessels
recsived but slight i1jury-ths Monitor none
1t all.