Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-08-23

August Z, 1S02--Sir--It is one of the hap
picst moments of my life that am enabled
to inform the Department of the destruction
of the ram 1rlyHsos. not because held the
iron.clad in such terror, but because the
community did On the 14th inst, sent
the Tennessee up to Baton Rouge with pro
visions for Commander Porter and the gun
boats stationed at that place. On the night
of the 9Th. she returned with information
that the enemy had made Il combined attack
on Baton Rouge by the ram and two gun
boats-thc Webb and Music--and calling
for assistance. At daylight the Hartford
was under weigh for this place, with orders I
for the other vessels to follow me as fast as
they got ready. | arrived here to-day at II |
NJ, in company with The Brooklin, Wcstiicld |
Clinton, jackson and Scota.
had sent the Cayuga up before me. agree
ably to a request of General Butler in con ,
sequence of the guerrillas firing into some of
the transports. On my arrival, ! was in
formed by Commander w ID. Porter. that
yesterday morning, at o'clock, the cncmy7
forces under Gen. Brcckinridgc, attacked
General Williams, drove in his pickcts, etc.
General Williams having had ample warn
ing, all was prepared for him. The fight
was continued with great energy on both
sides until 10 o'clock, A. NJ, by which time
the enemy had been driven back two or
three miles. But, unfortunately, the gallant
General Williams, while cheering on his
men, received Mimic ball through the
| heart
General Williams had informed Lieut.
| Commanding Ransom, the evening before.
! of his plans, and requested him no, TO fire a
! gun until hc notified him and when he did
! 80 our gun-hoat1 kinCo and Kathudn opened
with fine effect throwing their shells
! directly in the midst of the enemy, pruduC-
/ ing great di~may and confusion among them
! Lieutenant Ransom had an officer on the
State lIou'c. which overlooked the adjacent
country. and could direct the fire of every
shell.
A. soon H. the enemy was rcpulSr,l, Com
mandcr Porter went up the stream after the
ram Arkansas, which was lying about five"
miles above, apparently afraid to take her
share i'll the conflict, according to the pre-
concerted plan. .\s hc came within gun
shot he opened on her, and probably soon
disabled some of her machinery ot steering
apparatus, for she became unmanugrblc, con
tnuing however, To fire her guns at the
f.S,cN Commander Porter says he took
advantage of her presenting a weak front
toward him, and loaded gun with inCcndi-
ary shells
After his first discharge of this pr2icctilc,
D. Il gush of fire came ont of her side. and from
that moment it was discovered that ,hc Wa,
ON fire. which he continued his cNcrtion- to
| prevent from being cXtinguiShcd. They
. backed her ashore and made a line fast
e. which soon burnt. and she swung off into
. the river, where She continued To burn until
, She blew up, with Il trcm"ndou, explosion
} thus ending the career OF the last iron clad
of the Mississippi.
There were many person. ON the banks of
I, the river witnessing tile fight, in which they
/, anticipated triumph for Secession. hut on
the return of the E>~cN not q soul was to h,
/ seen.
will leave a sufficient force of gunhoa',
= here to support the army. and will return
f tomorrow to New Orleans, and depart i'm
| mrdiutcy for Ship Island with Il light hcnr
that | have left no humhcar +" torment tn,
T. commmitr, of the Mississippi in my all
,cncc
{, Very respectfully Your ohcdicnt servant
CSirncdD u. :. FANRiour
+ Flag officer Cum'd ". G.. Blockadin.
Squadron.
- Hon GIDEON WELLEs. Secretary of tn,
+ Navy. Washington, u. c.
Tho f,II,yyir,, i tho r,b,l ,.corr, nr In
II krkon.,. "a, .uIrnit,rJ to thr SECRETARY q
thc T.,,, Inv Ndn,ir,l Farr,rut
: FLAG SnIp "IIArrFoRu." NEW ORIEAH,
AuG. lO.-SIR since forwarding VI
Il I'P'''N VI i't''I' '',''N h'nS"'i' '.l,' ,'",
w. nai' p'oN',' VI, u nui,",t ~ ''rIm,. II',
',"' '!'' 5''n t'N1''>37' ''r W MN '''n @
e ,r,Ir r..,,,tin,; b,r ,>i; from ,Lc T,1no an
r',,,-Ii,,r H., i..t. TL,,..,I., ,,crc.. .
# To- tbr numbrr Killed and wounded ON enc
nf those ncc,,inn. m,kin,, in o,l ci~htcc
Ili,lnI ,,l q I,r,,, r,r,I,rr If v.ornIrI
NirksI,rr thn[ ,,I,trI tbc drc, Win iro
i. and fortified her win COTTON inside 81
then came, down in cnmmand Of I,i,ntcnar
.r II X stevens Brown having taken sick
m Virk -buru-witl, fine intention of making
f. combined attack with General Brrcklnrida
- ,pon Baton Rouur. but her port cnnir
lr broke down. they rcuaircd her in thu cour
r.- Of the day. and vrnt ont to meet the E,~c
~ The next morning thrv SAW her comir
re- IN. hut the ,tarhoard engine rave way NJ
,r they ran her ashore. size hcin., perfect
is unInanaecahlc. They ,av that when Il
r gun-hoa,, were seen coming up and Il
Essex commenced firing the captain set Il
he ram on fire and told In, crew to run a-hol
ir They also state that the Gun boat, wei
- and Music w,r. sent tor to tow her up t
4 q. a..