Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-25
.. s. quxpoAr FLorfLLA,

been rife for several days That theiArkan-
sas was preparing to come out, but large
majority hooted 1t down and scoffed at the
bare idea. It seems, however, that those
in authority plaoed some credence in the
report, and consequently the two gunboats
and ram were sent to look up matters.-
Upon entering the river the Queen shot up
ahead Of the rest, the Carondelet following,
while the Tyler brought up the rear.
They had proceeded about five miles only
when those on the gunboats were startled
by the appearance Of the Queen coming full
speed down the river, with evidently every
pound of steam she could make at work on
her shaft. She few by the Carondelet with
the words "The Arkansas is coming" and
shortly after long, low, mud colOred craft,
with a short thick, black smoke-staek in
her middle, putting out huge volames Of
black smoke, came swiftly around the point
and made for the Carondelet The river
was too narrow to turn back, even if Capt.
Walker had SO wished but the captain is
one who knows no such word as "baek
Out," and swinging around broadside, to
avoid raking shots, the Carondelet belched
forth a whole broadsids on to the rapidly
advancing craft. Imagine the eonsterna-
ton produced when the balls were seen to
strike and fall harmlessly in the water
" At him again, was the cry, and another
broadside was poured into the monster at
fifty yards range, but with no more effect
than if so many peas had been discharged.
The Arkansas now ran into the Caron-
delet's starboard quarter with q fearful
crash, pouring broadside after broadside
into the gunboat, which passing through
the wooden easemate raked the vessel from
stem to stern. The Arkansas showed no
intention Of leaving her victim, but re-
naming along her starboard quarter raked
her fore and aft with pointed shot. The
Carondelet's stern and after division Of
starboard batteries kept up an incessant
fire; but the huge solid shot few of like
India rubber balls. There was no tangi-
Bile spot to be seen, q very small round
hole, just large enough to admit the gun
constituted her ports, and on elevating or
depressing the port-hole moved with the
gun Finding his guns were doing no SER
vice, Capt. Walker had his boarders called
away, and into the rebel craft they poured;
but not man or a passage way could be
found The boArdeFs now returned and
the guns set to work, but it was so much
powder wasted. The ORrondelets stern
was now perfectly riddled, ell the officers
quarters shot away, and everything liter
ally torn to pieces At length a shot cut
away the steam pipe and the scalding va
por spread TO every part Of the boat
Many Of the men jumped overheard. At
this juncture Of affairs Capt Walker led a
boarding party on the rebels deck, but
eopId fud M v,osa;L,Ia ,r-o,- oF r.otss,. :. l..
low. The matches were all secured under
meath and the smallest kind Of an apper-
ture or hole was nowhere to be found. This
discovered, the party returned to give up
their boat only when the bottom Of the
river called for her. The flag which still
hoated from her stern was never 10 be
struck to the rebels as long as one board
hOated to hold it up. What men were left
stood by what guns could be brought to
bear and worked them until the Arkan-
sas, thinking she had ohnr,i- -e-4isl-~5-b-r,-
for the Tyler which had stood by
the -Carondelet through the whole
light. The Tyler discovered her mo-
tinn IL 1----:--s, - sIrtrr rruInU would
stand no chance when brought in contact
with the enemy's invulnerahle sides. head
ed down the stream, keeping lust clear of
the Arkansas and firing her stern battery
This chase was kept up until the mouth Of
the river was reached, when the TYLER her
boats shot away and badly cut up other
wise, came into view Of the whole feet
Not vessel IN the whole feet, from some
3tran ge fatality, had steam enough to move.
The Louisiana shore was lined with our
transports, ordnance boats, Sc, while di-
'eetly opposite them, three or four abreast
ay Farraguts and Davis feet. scareelv
,#o Of which could IRE without pour;ng
heir broadsides into some Of their own
Tessels. All eyes were strained TO sea the
ause Of the Tyler's commotion. The ram
leet which lay near the mouth Of the "a
90, are scattering in every direction. A
moment more and the long dreaded q Ar
.ansas F" steams into full view and heads
light for the centre Of our feet. Bangy
oes a gun at the ordnance boat Great
testern, while one from her port battery
t the rams, who are leaving in every d.
ecuon. She now passes the Richmond.
hose splendid battery of nine-inch Dahl
ren's is held quiet by the J. H. Dickev.
no lays just opposite. Bang bangl 20 J
70 more guns at the ordnance boat = 1
assing down, she puts two balls into the
hampton, while in the meantime her mort !
lt1ery Is busy with Farragqts fleet
.eaally she pursues her way, nothing
iuifted' nothing checked. She Is now J
ore than half way down. She passes the E E
aaftlorG! but the noble old flagship is :
tuated like the Richmond, for the same t.
oadside which would have hailed on The :
Arkansas " would have annihilated the
lendid hospital-boat Red Rover.D with .,
r cargo Of human freight. The Oneida
IS her with her eleEen-inch, but the nom =
-ous missile produces no effect. The \
y enona and "Wissahicon ENGAGE ~
!, but she passes their fire unscatbed :
harmed. Can nothing burst therebei
'nsterR A dubious shake of The bsa5 y
the only response, as hall altar hall tiC
BPS from her sides into the water. Stead Iha
but surely she keeps on the way. FIRING
broadside at the transports. and me
ler at some vessel on the other side y
mas nearly run the gauntlet. One d
re boat only to dispute her progress. :
I that the Cincinnati, which far below 4
rest OF the feet Is doing picket duty y
II the point. All eyes are upon her. and IL
epeltion OF her Fort Pillow experiences
ms inevitable. On comes the Arkansas '
mingiy like Anteus Of old, picking m aesa,
strength at every step. She is sure oSI
ler prey, and is making right for it TST TS1
cincinnati had not steam sufficient N bes
6le on her, or even hardly enough 10 ri9!
her head up stream She slipped her ysr
e, however, and headed for the Missis- . 1eS Z
u shore, drifting down stream all the 9.
!, her own motive power being insuf8- ..o
. TO stem the current. The ArkansnS AZ
oFering her intention, heads for n
n the gunboat opened brisk ~ neFi
nre on the advancing rebe' ID gall
e, the rifed PARROTS appp a at short
her, the other shots -rently pierc- en-, sAIi
y of. The ram g. Aropping harm
inees, and is rar' .es heavily as she .