Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-07
The Capture Of TIE Queen OF the West.

correspondent OF the jackson Appeal furnishes The
subOued graphic narration of the circumstances attend
ing the capture Of the Yankee steamer "Queen of The
West:
Saturday morning, the 18th, at daylight, the Era
steamed up and powed her way down to her destination
supposing she could reach the mouth of Black river
with safety, nothing had then been heard of the
Queen of the West coming up. Gliding down her wa
terry path she bounding onward with full steam,
when some ten miles above the mouth Of Black river
her turning point she met at bend in the river
fred into one shot hitting her pOthOuse and was cap
tured BY the Queen of the West, whicfWas steaming
upward on forbidden water. The crew and passengers
Of the Era taken prisoners, and all we're
guarded on board the Era by band OF Abolition
soldiers, save Mr.. George Wood, the pilot, who
was ordered aboard the Queen of the West, aud,
with heavy threats, directed to her pilot wheel
our fort On they ghded but not dstrustful
and much ested at Their success till they in reach
of our battery at Z. NJ. when she commenced firing
still advancing. Our batteries challenged her. by open.
ing most fWiousy from their hidden Sill she
advanced TILL as told b. Of our lcutenants
who was there, she came within quarter OF mile (
our battery and the opposite shore in full range for
our guns when the gallant Wood, who directed her
vi EEL lad her rounded her aground breaking her
rUGdO and thus Gripping her aud turning her broad
side 20 give our guns fair chance. This gallant man.
in the confusion made good his escape as it was lie
by the hand that drove her her destiny she lay
like wounded slcOn, at the mercy of her adversaries
The night was dark and stormy, the heavens over
hung with clouds, which now aud then peied forth
their mutterng thunder and drenched the earth with rain
thus in the rain this crippled Queen lay beaten by the
tempest. Our batteries made some four i've shots
in her guard around the upper deck, and two holes
hs1 5n RsShiWRfE sk and one hADnE ShotthouGh
c1tfing of her steam pi e bat no her damage doue
he Z, thus grounded and crippled il was then contem-
n, to blow up her micaz and thus destroy her by
src hut the SURGEON pro sed against it. fortunately
ler ',,D,.in Law ON board MORALLY wounded bya rifle
sbo, received near Simmsp)r aud it was Impossible to
ovs him 40 Col Elicit consented to let her lay, for
tho Ike of humanity TO her dying commander She
vas well barricaded with cotton bales. On seeing
an hope Of success gone, the commanding OIL
6csr Col Elicit, made his escape with nearly
an his crew. by getting on cotton bales AMI floating
down the river She raised the white signal, as the
sorp, absted asst was seen by the light oil burning
srhorse but il was not answered till next morning.
Thirteen OF the crew remained IN silence tl dAy ISu',
then her white banner was still anoat and then and not
nm then our Southern sons of thunder crossed the river
and formally took of this proud and naughty
triumph as she lay victim of the single hand the gal
liant Wood of such men, if the Yankees did but know
!, the land of Dixie boasts her thousands and II they
dare with other crafts to float forbidden waters, they
too will share she fate Of their naughty Queen which
went before TO open the way, VIC will say Tor hNe
destiny.
The results of the capture Que S2pound rife Par
rot un one "a pound rife Parrot gum three l2pound
Portsred brass pieces aud one l3-pound brass piece
,maged-a fine supply OF ordnance stores good deal
of ounipe three fue cases surgical instruments and
provisions in abundance.