The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-05-21
THE CAPTURE or HGw ORLBA ANS.
Scenes ae the P0res aud In the City.
fHE riGHf AT rHE HoRrA.

fHE riGHr AT THE FORTS.
Shot, shell, grape and canister filed the air
wisa deadly missiles Il was like the breaking
up Of thousand worlds-crash-tear-wh
Such another scene vas never witnessed BY NOR
tai man. Steadily We steamed on. giving them
SHE'LL the forts firing rifle shot and shell, ID inch
col9mbiAds, forty two. thirty two and twenty
four FOUNDER balls ard, TO add to this state OF
affairs. thirteen steamers and the floating battery
Louisiana, OF the enemy, were pouring into and
around Us hail storm of iron perfectly indescri-
babe. Not satisfied With their firing, ere raft
after fire raft was lit and set adrift " do their
work Of burning. the ram was busy 1t work
trying to shove them under the bows Of our YES.
sell
THE BARBErTE GUNS sILRScxp
As We drew near abeam OF the forts we inter
mingled grape with shell, which had the ef-
feet TO silence IN measure the barbette guns.
The shot from the enemy, which for some
time had gone over US. nov began to cut US
through.
NARROW ESCAPE or THE FLAG OgYlcRR.
While in the port m zzen rigging the Flag OF
Ger narrowly escaped being bit with rifle she'll
A shell burst on deck, and the conclusion stun
ned Lieut.. George Heser, Of our Marine corps,
so that for time his life was despAirsd of. l
started 10 go forward to see how things we're
working there, and the wind Of q huge rifle shell
knocked the cap of nv head. 1t vas q time Of
terror, our guns were firing a. rapidly IS possible
and the howitzers in the tops were doing excel
lent execution.
REBEL sAHRrsuoorras.
TIE rebel steamers were croxd ed with troops,
Hho fred volleys of rifle balls at us, most Of
which did US NO harm. One Of them came near
us, and thing am safe in saving she contained
two hundred men. our hOwi,zers opened on
them, and Capt Broom, of the Marine corps,
opened into her with two 3 inch guns.
A REBEL VESSEL BLOWN TO YiEcks-ALL HANDS
An explOsion-terrific yclls-a csreeD, and
that fellow was done for. Their steamers were
bold and fearless; but no sooner did they
come in sight of our gunners than they were
sank. The Varuna sunk six Of them one after
the other.
THE FLAGSHIP AGROUND AND ON FIRE.
In the midst of the awful scene, down came
a tremendous fire raft, and the ram showed her
under our port quarter. The flames caught our
rigging and side, and for moment il seemed We
must fall prey TO the ravages Of FIRE. A fire
vas also burning on the berth deck. The Ere
hose Was on hand, and we soon subdued the
flames, and gave the ram doee of ri6ed shell.
She, however, came up for US again, but some
| other vessel tackled her ard she drew of. Du-
ring this stage Of affairs we grounded, and our
| late seemed sealed; but our men worked like
| beavers, and the engineers soon got the ship
astern and afloat. 1t de6es the power Of my
brain to describe the scene at this time. The
| river md its banks were one sheet Of fame. and
the messengers Of death we're moving With light.
ming swiftness in all directiOns Steadily We
piled shell and grape, interspread With shrapnel.
Rebellion began to quake; her boats were fast
being riddled by well directed broadsides, and
those ~ho were able made for the shore to run
them on, 90 that they could save their lives
Some we're on fire and others we're sinking. Our
boys were cheering with hearty good will. and
we'll they might: for We had almost won the day,
and We were nearly past the forts. Our ship
had been on FIRE three times. and she was rid
died from stem to stern. The cabin was com
ple,eIy Quilted. the starboard steerage ell torn
| up and the srmory all Knocked into "pi." Ny
clothing was strewn abaft decks, and was OBJ
| liged to pick il up piece By piece. The manu-
| script Of the bombardmsnt came near to de-
structon by rife ehell, which tore up my room
aud killed a man.
We ARE PAST TIE FORTS.
After being under terrific FIRE for enc hour
and twenty minutes, We were past the forts, bad
~ cut up. shot hole through mannsat, two in
stern and several through Us. frankly confess
! am unable I'd describe tho scene. Words can
not express any adequate idea of the engage.
ment Wrapped up in smokc, firing and being
fred at, shot aud shell whistng like locomotive
demons around. above, before and in the rear Of
YOU, flames from fire RATS encirclng you, spln.
ters flying in all directions and shells bursting
overhead. Can you imagine this scene? II yos
can, it 10 more than | can describe as | would
wish to.
ELEvEN STEAMERS ON FIRE.
At half past five o'clock, no less Than eleven
rebel steamers were in flames along each side Of
the river. We steamed up 10 the Quarantine to
anchor, when 10. the ram made its appearance,
and saucly fred at the Richmond.
THE MISSISSIPPI DIsABLEs THE MANASSAS.
The Mississippi being near at hand, about ship
for the black devil and At him che went With the
idea Of running him down. The ram ran, but
finding the Mississippi gaining on him, he run his
nose into the bank Of the river, and immediate
" about thirty men came up out Of the hatch
and run shore. The Mississippi fred tive or
three broadsides into her and boarded her but
into her, and she dri!ted down the river sinking
very fast. On reaching Quarantine We found
that the Varuna had been sunk, and that, after
her brave exploits she fell, crippled in a glori.
Gus cause.
THE yARUXA AND THR REBEL vKssEL.
Captain Boggs, Of the Varuna, finding that
steamer (nsme unknown) was about to run into
him, put the vessel in such position that in being
damaged be could repay il with interest. On
came large steamer oil clad over With iros
about the bow, ard bit the Varuna in the port
waist, cutting and crushing in her aide. She
dropped alongside and cleared out to butt again.
She hit the Varuna second time, and in . sink
ing condition the Varuna poured the inch
shells into him so fas, that the rebel was set on
fire and driven ashore.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL VESSEL GOvEREOE MOORE.
No sooner had the Varuna cleared herself Of
this customer, and while endeavoring 70 reach
the river bank than the steamer Governor Moore
formerly the Morgan,) commanded by Lieut.
Beverley kennon, came along in q crippled con-
dition, and endeavored to run away up the river.
The Oneida gave chase and she surrendered to
her. She vas then found to be on FIRE, and be-
fore the flames could he subdued, was burned
up.
The Varunss exploit rank among the bright
es, Of those of the engagement. She fought her
guns until portion Of the gun carriages we're
submerged ia the water. Captain BOggs saved
Ill his wounded but the dead vent dswn With the
vessel. The Stars aid Stripes we're waving from
her uas head as she sunk.
TIE BATTERIES xKAR NEW oRLKASs-YHEr oPEs
Alta quarter Of eleven We discovered two works