The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-20
Interesting Details of the Run.
ming of the Blockade at Vicks
burg by the Union Steam Ram
Omeeu Of the West.

Interesting DttNbiS VI tHC Nuu
ming of the Blockade at Vicks
burg by the Union Steam Ram
Queen of the West.
CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-THE ram Queen
of the West has returned from below
Her trip down the river was most sue
cessful. She met three steamers with
provisions for the rebels at Vicksburg,
and succeeded in sinking them. She
took 6fty.six prisoners, one of whom
was q colonel.
The Queen Of the West went near
enough to Port Hudson to draw fire
from their upper battery.
Vicksburg letters say the brilliant q.
chievement of the Queen running the
gauntlet of the rebel batteries has had
most beneficial effect on the spirits of
our troops before Vicksburg.
A correspondent of the Jackson APP
peal says, that it is possible Gen. Grant
will make the canal a success. and sug.
gest that Grand Gulf, Port Gibson and
other points between VickSburg and
Port Hudson be fortified.
COL. ELLET's OFFICIAL REPORT TO ADMI.
RAJ PORTER.
Acting Rear Admiral Porter, in terms
of commendation, communicates to the
Navy Department the report of Col.
Ellet, commanding the United States
steam ram Queen Of the West, giving an
account of her passage of the batteries
at VlckSburg. The following is the re.
port:-
U. s. STEAM RAN QUEEN OF THE WEST |
BELOW VIoKsBURG, Feb. 2. 1868. !
Admiral-In compliance with your
instructions, l started on the Queen oil
the West at half past four o'clock this
morning, to pass the rebel batteries al
Vicksburg and sink the rebel steamer
lying before that city. l discovered i'm.
mediately' on starting that the change o.
the wheel from its former position to the
narrow space behind the Queens bull
warks did not permit the boat to be
handled with sufficient accuracy. An
hour or more was spent at rearranginl
the apparatus, and when we finally round
ed the point the sun had risen, and any
advantage which would have resulted
from the darkness was lost to us.
The rebels opened heavy FIRE upor
US as we reached the city, but we wer'
only struck three times before reaching
the steamer She was lying in nearly
the same position that the Arkansas oc
cupied when General Elet ran the Queer
into her on former occasion. The sam
causes which prevented the destruction
of the Arkansas then saved the City o
Vicksburg this morning. Her position
was such that if we had run Obliunel,
into her as we came down the bow o
the Queen would inevitably have glanc
ed. We were compelled to PARTIAL
round to in order to strike. The conse
quence was that at the very moment u
collision, the current-very rapid an,
: strong at this point-caught the ster
Of my boat, and, acting on her bow as
pivot, swung her round so rapidly tbS
nearly all her momentum was lost.
y had anticipated this, and therefore cau'
E ed the starboard bow gun to be- shotte
with three of the incendiary projectilt
= recommended in your orders, As v
, swung around Sergeant j. H CamE
' bell, detailed for the purpose, fred III
gun. A sixty.four pound shell crusbt
Y through the barricade just before
Q reached the spot, but he did not hesitat
Y The discharge took place at exactly Il
: right moment, and set the rebel steam,
]. in flames, which they subsequently su
| ceeded in extinguiShing.
F.: At this moment one of the enemy
r shells set the cotton near the starboar
# wheel on fire, while the discharge Of o
own gun ignited that portion which WI
|. on the bow. The flames spread rapid
o and the dense smoke rolling into Il
"a engine room sutfocated the engineers.
70 saw that il attempted TO run into t
,r City of Vicksburg again that my bo
I would certainly be burned. / order
Of her to be headed down stream, and {
dered every man to extinguishing t
I flames. After much exertion we fna
put the FIRE out by cutting the burnt
7. bales loose.