The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-08-09
The Naval Fight at Vieksbu1x.
q. g. Ram SWITZERLAND, OFF V1cKsl
no. BURG, Miss, July ~, 1869.

Correspondents Of the Chics 90 Evening Journal.
The attack on the ram Arkansas and the bat
teries about Vicksburg is over, and am sorry
to say it was not % successful az We could have
wished; but it was no fault Of Col Ellet or the
men of the ram feet
The ball opened at q quarter before O'Clock,
and lasted about an hour and hall. The
original plan agreed upon BY the commanding
officer was that the Essex should engage The
Arkansas and grapple with her, while the ram
under Col Ellet would strike at her. When
Col. Ellet came in sight Of the ram, much to his
surprise, he saw the gunboat Essex loug dis
tance below the Arkansas, making for Oommo-
dore Fsrragut's feet. Nothing daunted, Col
Ellet made up his mind TO mako strike st the
Arkansas, unsupported as he was. The rebel
boat not lying in . good position, Col. Ellet
passed her, and then turned and struck the Ar.
kansas terrible blow, which made her reel and
twist very much. The ram sprung back and
made . second pass at the rebels, but slipped
past her and went on the bank with terrible
force. hHh f'H.NE
All this time Col. Ellet was under . raking
fire from all the batteries at Vicksburg; but not
until the ram had struck her, and WAS preparing
for another FIRE, did the Arkansas open fire.
She then poured terrible broadsides at the ram,
ba none Of the shots bit the boiler. They we're 90
close to the rebel that Col, Ellet and his son,
Edward, fred into the port holes. Col. Ellet
vas now again disappointed In not finding Com.
Farragut with his feet at the point agreed upon.
His feet did not come up to close quarters, but
laid of qnite distance, throwing shellA The
ram Sumter was also to have been there.
/ Whatever fault can be found, It cannot be said
that Col. Ellet did not do his part. The fol.
lowing extracts from letter sent by him, on
the 20th, will explain the position in which, by
agreenent, he was placed: .-..-....
ssi ~. 8. RAN Sw1rzEsLAMD,l
Above Vicksburg, Miss, July 30, 1881
80. B. DAVIS, Flag Officer: Ais.;''iRp; RiDer
me to cay, Commodore, that apprehend the
continued existence of the rebel boat Arkansas
60 near, 10 exerting . very pernicious influence
UPON the confidence Of our crews, and even upon
the commanders Of our boats; and, in view Of
this state Of facts, it does seem to me that
some risk should be encountered to insure her
destruction, and re-establish our prestige on the
river.
II trust you have given my proposition your
careful consideration, and trust you may not
conclude that the risk of failure is too great to
attempt the accomplishment. I feel great con-
fideuce that with united action 1t may be made
. complete success.
81 win myself, command the boat select to
ran the Arkansas down, and very small but
carefully chosen crew, while, If you and Com
modore Farragut will vigorously attack the bat
teries, should feel that success would be sure
to attend the effort.
"Hoping to hear from you favorably as to the
attempt to destroy this rebel ram Arkansas, and
that you will excuse the freedom Of the .sugges-