The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-05-15
Naval Engagement on the EEissis-
siDDi

rebels have heen preparing took place this
morning. The rebel feet of eight IRON
clad gunboats. four Of them rams, came up
handsomely. The fight lasted an hour.
Two rebel guaboats were blown up and
one sunk, when the enemy retreated pre-
cipitately under the guns of the fort.
Ouly two OF our vessels were engaged
The Cincinnati sustained some injury from
rams, but will be in lighting trim tomor-
row.
Captain S.emble distinguished himself,
and is serioualy wounded
The Benton is uninlured.
/ The rebel squadron is supposed to be
commanded by Hollins.
C. II. DAVIS,
Commander pro tenn.
Orr Fort PILLOW, Nav 10
! At last the monotony is broken. We
have had fight and a glorious one too.
purely naval. with nearly an equal number
of boats on each side. and have sent the
rsbe's back down the river badly crippled
Early this morning. as usual, our NOR
tar boats were towed down to their position
for firing. il being point on the Arkansas
shore about enc mile from the end of
Craigshead Point TIE gunboat Cincin
natl ran down as a CONVOY
Scarcely had the morrars been moored
in their position when the rebel ram Lon
isiana appeared coming round the point.
accompanied BY four other guuboats The
ram Immediately opened fire on the Gin
cinnati, 10 which the latter replied with
interest The rebel boats were all held in
check hy the Cincinnati alone, when the
rest of the Federal fleet got under way and
came to her assistance.
In the meantime the rebel ram, fndinr
her guns iheffect ual agains! the iron armor
OF the Cincinnati, approached her with
tie evident intention Of running her down
Captain Stembel. Of the latter, prepared TO
meet the assault of the ram by opening
his steam batteries and putting them in
readiness for use.
As the rebel craft approached within
close range, the Cincinnati turned her head
about. causing the ram TO run close beside
her, when Capt. Stembel drew his pistol
and very coolly shot the pilot. killing him
instantly; but, second afterwards,
musket bali struck the gallant Captain in
hls left shoulder. inllicling a painful and
serious wour d.
At this time the contest between the two
boats was most intensely interesting. The
crews of each were armed with carbines,
cutlasses and boarding pixies. and were
dlSchsrging volley after volIey in quick
succession at each other; while the ram
was also endeavoring to run into her an.
ra3ouist
just then tie Steam batteries Of the
Cincinnati were opened with terrible effect,
throwing heavy volumes Of steam and wa
ter into The rebel crew, causing the craft
to vi hdraw in haste.
In the meantime the rebel feet had been
reinforced by three other vessels. and
among them the new iron clad gunboat
Mallory, lately built at Memphis. These
three iah Immediately up to the Cucin-
natl and engaged her at once. She with
St God the assault most nobly, tie shot If
the enemy slancing off from her iron
plating without causing the slightest dam
age. while her own guns We're raining shot
and shell with fearful effect rpon the enc
my.
Shortly after the commencement, Of ,be
engagement. and while The smoke rendered
the boats invisible. a most terrific explo
sion was heard. which proved to be the
blowing up Of one # the rebel boats. The
explosion WAS caused by the explosion 90
shell in her magazine Scarcely had the
rev"rberalions died away. when another
similar one was heard. which originated
from the same cause. The crews of both
vessels Were nearly all destroyed. either
by the explosion or drowning afterwarJ
FoRr Pillow, May II.
L. has been ascertained beyond doubt
that llcllins was in command OF the rebel
fleet during the engagement yesterday
morning.
The rams made two attempts to run
the flagship Benton down, but were avoid
ed.
Our guns made perfect breaches clean
through the rebel oats wherever they hit.
Kidding them sadly.
This victory will create a more utease
Juror for ironclad vessels than did the
Monitor and Meriimac affair.
Occupation of Norfolk.
Fortress Monroe, May II.
At 4 o'clock this morning "A bright