The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-17
skill, and metal, and were being badly

skill, and metal, and were being badly
worsted
Cayt Davis, on the flagship Benton
directed every movement Of our feet with
the sagacity land style OF veteran in
naval warfare He made no mistakes
Not boat was moved but with fearful
effect upon the enemy. Did the Caronde.
let put her bows up stream, it was to let
fly her stern guns; did the CAIRO turn
about, it was that broadside might give
its destruction to the foe.
The Mound City, st. Louis, Cincinnati,
and the old war horse Benton were each
Conestoga, wooden, lay off at safe dis
lance and made good use of her long
range guns.
The cannonading was fearful and its
reyerberation were most grand and terrible
| The noise was almots like one continuous
report, while the broad river was covrred
with dense volume Of smoke that for a
time completely enveloped both fleets and
hid them from view 1t was at this time
that a report louder and more distant than
that of gun attracted general attention,
and when the smoke lifted little it was
found that one of the enemy's boats was
blown to atoms.
have no means Of knowing the loss OF
life by this terrible casualty, but must
haveibeen very great. A few lucky fellows
wero seen floating about on fragments Of
the wreck, and were picked up by the
crew persisted miserably.
Scarcely had the excitement caused by
this fearful and..unlooked for event passed
away, when a second report startled all
ears, and another rebel boat with its crew
had disappeared Both vessels were blown
up by the explosion of shells from our
guns in their magazines All this time
our boats continued to pour their deadly
rounds into the enemy, Gripping such OF
their craft as were not wholly destroyed,
and carrying death to hundreds of their
crews. While themselves unhurt, they
proudly defed the heaviest missiles OF reb-
ell guns their invuinerable armor, stepping
sides, repelling both shot and she'll with
perfect success, No enemy could stand
against such extreme and destructive fire
as our boats continued to give while their
own guns were impotent for mischief
much less in their crippled condition with
three of their eight boats destroyed, could
the rebels MAINTAIN their grounds.
At twenty minutes past seven they
withdrew to the shelter Of their batteries
The casualties on our side were scarcely
: 3 ctcuipeA was
slightly wounded in his left shoulder, and
two seamen were injured, though TO what
ertent has not been learned
Our gunboats behaved most admirably,
and all of them come out Of action with
out any serious damage.
The Cincinnati was in the thickest Of
the fight throughout and bore the brunt Of
the attack, but was not injured enough to
prevent her from Immediately going in
to action action again. The report that
she was badly disabled Or sunk is errone
Gus.
The st. Louis, that run down the rebel
Mallory, was but slightly damaged her
self and is ready again for duty.
When the engagement closed the gun
boats returned to their several positions
and their crews prepared their breakfast
as though nothing unusual had happened
To do justice in the way of credit 10 oul
officers engaged in this affair, would &C
quire the mention of all hut / canno
forbear speaking of the efficiency and sig
, nal abilities of Capt Davis, the acting
flag officer, nor Of the GOODNESS and deter.
mined bravery of Capt. StemLel.