Daily national Republican., 1863-03-24
ANOTHER EREATNAFAL VIC
TORY AT VICKSBURG
AnlhRAl PORTER CONSTRUCTS MS
N OWN NAVEL
THE ENEMY LOSES SEVEN MONSTER
GU u LARGE AMOUNT OF
.-- AMMUNITION
LARGE HUGBER or RBBELS KILLED
AND WOUNDED
NOT GUN OR MAN LOST ON oUR SIDE,

NOT GUN OR MAN LOST ON our SIDEI
tr .a.fH l---r af.. .....
War, with all its horrors, produces many
amusing chapters. No man, during this re-
belliOn, has produced 50 much real material for
the lover Of fun az Admiral David Porter,
commanding tho Federal feet now operating
against vicksburg.
Almost everybody, by this time, has heard o
the shrewd trick OF Porter In sending down
the Mississippi river an imitation "Monitor,"
constructed out Of an old mud scow, and that
the rebels, supposlng she was one of the Yam
kee iron-clad monsters, sent down 10 re-capture
the IndlanolA, then still aground, set fire to the
latter and blew her 10 atoms Everybody who
read tho account doubted 1t, but IL proved true.
This single mud scow, floating quietly down
the stream, vithout firing gUni and SitAO'a
gun to drsL destroyed a splendid iron-clad gun
boat, fully equipped, and frightened the whole
rebel feet This was truly splendid victory.
But who in tho world Supposc the Joke
would be repeated Certainly tho rebels did
not, as subsequent events proved. They did
not believe that Porter would attempt TO re-
worse the old adage and make lightning strike
lr0iee In the same place.
Finding thatthe "QuAker Monltor'' operated
so well, and proved SO inViGlRsrdbls TO tho rebel
shots, Porter Immediately proceeded to rig
another mud scow. When completed, she re-
Sembled one of the river iron monsters, with
an immense gun, (made Of rood y pointing
down river, from her bows. Sho had two
Smoke-stacks, connected with a furnace below,
made Of clay, which could not be damaged by
a shot. Her helm was so constructed and ad-
Iusted as to keep her head down stream. 1t
was so attached that shot could not strike II.
She carried tho Union flag. Just before start
ing her upon her mission Of DEATH fire was
made, in the furnace, out Of a material that
would last and produce smoke similar to that
usually seen to Issue from the smoke-pipcs Of
steamers. Everything being in order, Porter
gave the word, and of she went. She moved
steadily, as II impelled by steam and guided by
a pilot with compass. As she rounded the flrst
point of land and came within view of the
sentinels on the outer ramparts Of the defenccs
of VickSburg, the alarm was given. The
"long roll =" was beat, the guns were manned,
and, as soon as the "monster" came within
reach of the long range guns, they opened
upon her. She needed IL not, but moved grace
fully on us undisturbed as II she had been
struck by snow fakes. Nearer and nearer did
she approach tho rebel batteries 0iliom firing a
gun! Tho audacity of the "monster" evil
IDENTIFY amazed and alarmed the rebels, for, by
this time, every gun was brought TO bear upon
her, and were In full play. The shot seemed TO
have no effect whatever upon her sides, (we
supposed It was because they went straight
through her y She passed all the main bat
| toIlobS anu poioIo Hulto Oub VI IoACu VI tuo
enomy'S long range guns, she grounded.
The rebels did not oven then discover that
they had been humbugged, for they brought to
bear upon her all their long-range guns, and
kept up an incessant fire all day. Tho mud.
scow must have been perfectly rTddlSd. Admi.
raj Porter dispatches to the Navy Department
that the amount Of ammunition wasted upon
this unarmed, unnamed mud-scow must have
been enormous. Officers who observed the &C.
tlon with powerful glasses report that Sepcl o.
the large guns burst, Destroying many lives and
pounding a large number Of officers and men,
This has since been confirmed by deserterS from
the rebel army at Vlcksburg.
Admiral Porter says, in note to the secre,
tary of the Navy, that If the Government will
not soon supply him with gunboats, hO will
/ build his own navy and open the river!