New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-16
7NE REBEL BLOCKADE At VICkSBuNG
rvrloits Of the Ram Queen Of the Vest
r..,,,o r,;r;nc By the Vicksburg
Batteries.
NO ROD H u r L .
I'll, wrysRu3G STRUCK AND SET IN FLAMES.
1uf wcKsDvaG STRUCK AND SET IN FLAMES
TIE RAM SET ON FIRE,

batteries of Vicksburg that have so long breathed
on. tbrestenings and slaughter" to our armies may
be defed by wooden guuboats. A hundred canon
have Numbered in vain against one of the feeoies'
vessels of the Mississippi aotilla.
II has been known TO the initiated for the ias' WV
days that the attempt would be made 70 run 'ne
blockade with one OF the rams Night before last
~, were all 90 the qui vive, expecting at any mo-
mept that the silence would be broken by the dla-
mason of Southern canon, either signing pean or
reouiem 70 orr naval "forlorn no - But we lis.-
eped in vain. the night passed without incident OF
importance. The moon went down. the morning
came bu. no gunboat; what could have detained
her? Perhaps the fog. Perhaps the project had
been abandoned rs desperate. thousand conlec-
lures were bezerded, but the public were kept IN
the dark. As the night drew on yesterday, dark
md foc.y not outstanding the moon, the omens ap-
rea,ed 10 be propious. Yet We retired pretty
much expecting that the darkness would again wear
away without interruption.
Early this rnorine, however orr slunbers were
broken by the heavy sound of artillery evidently IN
the direction Of the point, a. frat dull and distant,
then Increasing in volune and rapidly, till the mir
vas flirly alive with the dlcOraut din. The mean
inc Of the racket was 10 longer doubtful. Haetiy
Domino The essentials of tbs toilet started on Il
full run to the river, a quarter Of q mile distant
There. sure enough large life carrying crest of
foam before her bows, under full press Of steam was
the black, unw.eGy monster, Queen of the West,
bearing down upon rs. Her boiler deck VAS piled
viii cotton bales, black and smoking. the hose
was playing up,n them, and had evidently nearly
ex,nau.s0ed tn flames.
The iog had nearly rolled away, and by the light
Of tho rel dawn the hi!l-sides OF the Mississippi
shore were hurting shot and shell from every direc-
son now Passing beyond her, now making The water
around her boil again. She seemed TO bear charmed
life. a ;ime ner wheels appeared to stop and
her speed 70 sacken. For moment we held our
breath. Bat presobdy she came on again unier fall
headSay while the air rang with tbe cheers Of the
thousands Of oidiers who were watching her pro-
gress. AT length the gauntlet was ruu. The she'll
tegan 10 .al sbcgt, ard the gallant Graf was out Of
danger.
have jus, returned from visit Of inspection, and
transmit The particulars,
The Qaeou Of TIE West is a wooden RAM Of the
largest suc. Her lawarks, unprotected by mail
and perpendicular, afford protection against eau
non o. heavy caber. Her oG,nsive arn.or IS feeble,
Consisting of four l2-qound brass pieces AID 90
Iound bow gnn. Il was therefore determined To
protect Ter with co'tonb'es, whicA coYe.ing proved
30 snccessfnl at leland -. 10. ooe hnndred aud
fifty bales Of that in,.e,il we.s !-aen f.om Gift
f'ls farn aud placed about A-r Jo.crs Two deep.
picked ere ", consisting Of CoL { aries Rivers
Ellet Of Peunsy ivanin, her youthful comraDder;
SEQ Long. her li'o'; au a'sl' .a't Ii d. inc CHttn
of fne Iarc1s.cr. Who volunteered his lv..cs and
the nece-say b'N crew. bosidc nan a oo1eo he-
grOos who offered their aervicc- . all about tW cL-