Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-20

The correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette
gives the following interesting description Of the
part taken by the gunboats in the reduction Of
Fort ponelson:
THE TIRTNe.
At twenty-five minutes to three the nrst shot
was fred by the rebels from the water battery.
We were then a mile and a half distant from the
fort. The ball struck the water about one hun
dred yards ahead Of US. Two minutes later an
other balls 64-Poundsr from the same battery.
hundred and fifty yards. Several shots were d.
rected toward US, but without effect, before we
opened fire.
the battle for our feet by the discharge Of her g.
inch shell gun. The shot fell into the water
within few yards of the lowest battery Of the
fort. Our feet fred slowly at first, but with good
effect great number of our sheels bursting
within the enemy's Notifications.
We advanced on the fort slowly, but steadily
the four gunboats maintaining their line OF battle
admirably.
At quarter past three the firing increased IN
rapidity on both sides Shell after she'll was sen
from boat at intervals Of less than five seconds
Tie enemy's FIRE had by this time become terrific
They were using 81 pound ball principally, anC
firing more frequently than we, with great accu
racv. Our feet used twelve guns, each iron-claC
boat working its three bow pieces The Cones
toga and Taylor kept about 500 yards In our rea
firing shell at long range. The Conestoga free
thirty-sx S-Inch shell during the action; tn,
wa too great for effective working, but they KEEP
a couple Of the enemy's guns engaged during
greater part of the action, and thus diverted man
shots that otherwise would have been aimed a
the iTon-clad vessels.
About three quarters Of an hour after the com
mencement of. the engagement, the boats ha(
steamed within three hundred Yards Of the fort
and the hottest of the battle took place. Gu
gunners had by this time got the rnnge Of @,
rebel batteries much better than at first, and tie
shot and she'll were made to fall within tn,
breastwoTks and entertainments with great effect
The water battery WIS silenced, and the gum
deserted by the enemy. From the deck Of tn,
gunboats the rebel soldiers could be seen running
up the hill to seek shelter in the entrenchment
Of the upper batteries. Just as this occurred al
officer was observed to emerge from a redoub
ond wave a sword above his head. could no
tell whether he was cheering his men to victory
or driving them back to their guns.
The only flag we could discover on the for
was one which appeared to US to be plain red
that red predominates largely In the color,
composing the rebel flag. Some Of our mel
thought the enemy desired TO signify that b,
meant ''blood - Whatever he meant, he dis
played considerable foresight in p!acirg the fas
at a coed distance from his guns, thereby re
moving what is usually an excellent mark t.
shoe a..
At half past three a shell from one of our boat
struck the rebel flagstaff, breaking it off close q
the ground. An officer Of the fort immediatell
ran out and erected II near its former site.
ALL THE FLAGS CUT DOWN.
Scarcely mad the rebel ensign been displaced
when 81 pound ball struck the flagstaff of tb,
st. Louis, carrying 1t away close to the ship
deck. 1t had no sooner fallen than one Of GU
brave men jumped before the mouth of cannon
just about TO be fred, and selling the SPAR placed
1t in an upright position, and coolly remained
mark for the enemy, while he secured IL to TIT
this the Flagstaff OF The Louisville was carried
off, that Of the Carondolet went next, and that 0
the Pittsburg followed soon after.
DAMAGES TO THE BOATS
As we neared the fort the enemy commenced
pouring "plunging shOt'' into US with great IA
great execution. 32-pound ball struck tn
pilot house Of our vessel, piercing the inch-and- a
half iron and the ffteen-inch oak. In strikin,
the iron plate IL was broken A number of larp
fragments seattle red within the pilot house, MOI
tally wonnding one Of the pilots-F. A. Riley. o
misunderstanding Commodore Foote In tn
ankle, and slightly tnjuring two other men. I'm
mtdiately after this, shot entered our deck 81
the star6oaTd side, and passing throught
glanced downward to the shell ROOM striking tn
ships cook, Charles w. Baker, Of Philadelphis
in the head, literally tearing the skull off Sew
eral heavy balls now glanced over the pilot
house, piercing the chimneys, and carryin
away the chimneys guys These were follewd b
couple of shots which struck our vessel jus
above water mark.
II was now discovered that the wheel had bee
u. Il
OF the spokes were broken, and the vessel did M
respond well to her helm. An attempt was mad
to steer her by the relieving tackle, but II wa
found that the current was too strong The Con
mOdore, fearing lest the ship should turn a broad
slowly. """
The other boats we found were sufferin0souit
as severely as the flag ship.
One Of the guns of the Caroundelet bursted dur
ing the latter part Of the engagement; the tiller
ropes OF the Louisville We're cut away, renderin
u almost impossible to steer correctly; the Pitt,
burg received 4 number Of slots below waite
mark, causing her to leak very rapidly Thes
two latter accidents happening almost simultan
eoUsly with the injury TO the flag ship, rendere
withdrawal absolutely necessary. The orde
was then given for the entire feet to drop beyOn,
the range OF the fort.
Thong b feeling that the condition Of our boat
demanded this movement, IL was with prea
reluctance that the Commodore reconciled him
self te 1t. The enemy had almost ceased firing
having been driven from the lower forts an,
compelled TO seek refuge behind guns that Dor
but poorly upon US. Quick, however to motto
our disabled condition, we had no sooner com
menced to retire than they again ran to the lowe
batteries, and opened brisk and effective fire
The first OF these shots entered the port-bow O
the Carondeet, Lutting of two mems heads an,
wounding two other men.
The boats Tetiaed slowly to the point whenc,
they started for the scene Of action, about tw,
miles from the fort. The fire of the enemy KEEP
pouring In upon US from thirteen gune Will
our position in the river prevented US from usinS
more than half that number As we foates
slowly down the current the rebels took courage
and boldly sailed forth from their entrenchments
Hitherto the entire space within the fort appeared
one sheet Of untrodden snow; but five minute
did not elapse, after the stOppage Of our engines
when the whole scene was changed, as II ;
whirlwind had swept over the hill and removed
nearly every trace Of the storm of Thursday-th,
eneny's forces, wild with enthusiast m, had rushed
Gown to the, lower batteries In such numbers
The battle lasted one hour and seventeen min
utes. The last shot was fred by the St Louis
IL fell within few feet Of the river battery
causing earth and water to fly into the fort. A
this, about hundred Of the rebels started as 4
to run up the HILL they soon found, however, tina
we had withdrawn, and returned to open an In
enectual nre upon our disabled feet
IL took US abont half an hour for our feet 10 re-
IRE beyond the range Of the guns. The with
drawal was managed with great skill We per
United our boats 70 float gently down the stream
In the exact line Of battle and although the steam
ing apparatus Of the st Louis and Louisville wa
powerless, no collision or accident of any KIM
happened. We dropped anchor in good order
IL was found that the Piitsburg was leaking yer,
rapidly, and she was ordered TO tie up on the lief
bank OF the river.
The 81. Louis was struck 81 times in the en-.
gagement; the Pittsburg AZ: the Carondelet "A