Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-11
NENPHIs. TFyy.. July %.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 80
The ram Queen of the West arrived yesterday
from Vicksburg, with intelligence of important
events in that locality. She brings details of the
second unsuccessful attempt to capture the Ar
kansas, and confirmation of the rumor that the
sege of VIeksburg has been abandoned
After several weeks exertion, with an arma-
ment of over two hundred guns, and naval
force unequaled in strength on our inland waters,
the Federals have failed to destroy forti6cation
mounting from thirty to forty guns, and have
been fairly bulied and baffled by one little iron
gunbOat, into running away and leaving the job.
The rebels entitled to raise the shout of ex-
utation which at this moment rings from one end
to the other Of the COnfederacy.
rapid resume of the events which brought
about this result will not be uninteresting. No
boats have penetrated the rebel blockade of the
river except the Queen, and the mails which have
been lost so breaks the connection that minor de-
tails are at present unattainable. The affair of
the 18th, when the new invulnerable made her
appearance and ran through our feet so compla-
Gently, is well known; also, the more recent at
tempt by Com. Farragut to blow her out of the
water by the combined broadsides Of his feet
when running by the batteries, which resulted in
little or nothing. From that time to the present
the events have not reached publicity, although
they are of interest.
The failure of the attempt to capture the rebel
boat sat heavily upon the consciences of our ma
val heroes, the audacty of her first appearance
disturbed their sleepy equanmty. A plan was
accordingly laid by which it was hoped that she
might be taken, and on the 18th, at about sun
rise, it was put into execution. The new iron
clad gunboat Essex and the ram Queen of the
West were detailed for the duty, and at a given
signal the Essex led the way upon the field of ac-
ton. The plan was that these two boats should
attack her and cut her out and carryher offbodily
while the rest of the gunboats above and below,
e0gaged the batteries. The latter part of the
arrangement failed, as the boats did not ven-
ture within range, and the gallant pair were left
to fight il out alone
The Essex made a grand dash around the
bend. and went at her enemy in fine style. She
was discovered Immediately, of course, and pre-
parations were made to receive her. The bow of
the Arkansas was swung out so as to present a
front to the Essex, and, il possible, receive her
on her iron PROV. This operated TO throw the
assailing boat out of her course, and, in avoiding
the iron prov, she struck glancng blow, which
did no particular haIru. Her gunners had been
active in the meantime, and several shots had
been fred into the Arkansas, one of which. an
eleveninch solid shot, went through her from
stem to stern. killing five men. After striking
the Essex recoed from the collision and swung
around below the Arkansas, with her bow close
in shore, and, while in that position both boats
opened a fierce cannOnading. The balls took ef-
feet upon the Essex, and cut her up badly, while
the Arkansas, as usual, was nvunerable. She
seemed to be impervious to the strength of DOW
der. aud turned the heavy missiles of her enemy
aside, like paper pellets. crumbled them to at
oms with fash Of blue light, and threw them
overheard piecemeal. The Essex was, meantime,
IN danger of being sunk, and prudently conclu-
ded TO leave. She had lost three men killed and
number wounded, and was fighting alone a bat
tie in which the whole feet should have been ell
gagged. She swung off, and started down stream
under the fire of all the batteries, and ran a
gauntlet which would have sunk any ordinary
gunbOat in the feet
Meantime the Queen of the West was getting
under wav She made her start. and had got a
good bea,iway on, when she was hailed by Com
modOre Davis. In order to receive his communi-
cation, she was obliged TO stop and return, when
il was ascertained that the old gentleman was
merely telling them to 90 it as strongly as was
feasible under the circumstances. This little di-
gression sent the Essex into action alone and be
fore the Queen was again under headway, she
had fought the battle and passed on. The ram
went down in fine style. She had hundred and
fifty pounds Of steam on. and was fairly bound
ing from the water when she struck the Arkan-
sas. She made circle TO strike her square, and
the conclusion was like an earthquake The Ar
kansas careeDed, and rose out of the water il
lifted bodily off her bed. A crash Of timber and
iron resounded in the air as the two boats parted
and the Queen backed her engines and prepared
for a second blow. The Arkansas gave heavy
roll and settled back to her position quietly, anc
again they came together. There was another
crash and another surge. and once move theJ
parted. The Queen turned and ran for the uppe
feet, amid a perfect storm of balls. which rat
tied about her in every direction. She was pierc
ed in every part, and only escaped sinking by
miracle She was in a disabled condition, fo
the only result Of her tremendous blows had beer
10 batter her PROV into a wreck. and unjoint th'
iron sheathlng with which il was covered. Sb'
got the worst Of it by long odds, for the Arkan
sas seemed 10 lie as quietly as ever, and as invul
nerable as ever. She was. in reality. uninlured
IL may be well to add that the man who tool
her into this storm of iron, to encounter Zoe o
ten times her strength, and fight single handed
battle in which there should have been hundred
fold more force was Lieut.. Hunter, who is stig
matized by the commander of the Tyler as
coward and po:trOon for bis course IN the hrs
engagement IL shows that hasty words may d.
great injustice A bolder thing never was done
IL having been demonstrated TO tls. satisfaction
SI me antiquated council which pres'des over tn
aesen'es OF me river feet, that the Arkansas wa
700 mgcn ior them, the next step was TO abandon
me neia ana leave her in victorious possession
Irue, she was but one, while they were fifteen o
s"e''y' o"e carried ten guns and was backed b.