Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-02-19
About fifteen miles below the mouth

steamboat was seen comingup. Our pilot
was ordered to bear directly down upon
her. AS the ram neared her the greatest
excitement on board the confederate craft
was visible. People were rushing about
on deck, and number of confederate off,
GERS we're seen springiug overheard and
swimming for the shore. A volley ofmus-
kerry did not have the desired effect of
preventing others attempting to escape, so
Capt. Conner was instructed, if the rebels
persisted in further flight to fire his bow
gun into the steamboat. The captain CON-
piled, but happily the fuse failed, or rath-
er the gun did not 60 off. Had the gun
been fired and hit the steamboat at the
point designed it is probable that the shot
might have killed some of the ladies who
were afterwards ascertained to have been
in the cabin. The ram, however, was by
this time close enough for our men to board
her. Several jumped on deck and seized
her, and fired several lots at some who
were attempting to escape The steamboat
proved to be the A. w. Baker, who had
discharged her cargo of rebel stores at Port
Hudson, and was returning and bound up
the red River for another We captured
on her five rebel captains, two first Lieut.
several civilians and seven ladies. The
colonel had scarcely succeeded in restoring
order out of the confusion which had pre-
vailed, and convinced the ladies that he
would not injure any one on board, when
another steamer was announced coming
down the river Leaving guard on the
captured craft, and taking the rebel officers
on board the ram, Col. Ellet ran the Queen
out into the stream after the other steam
boat. A shot across her bow brought her
to Immediately. She proved to be the
Moro laden with 10000 pounds of pork,
500 live hogs, considerable quantity Of
salt and other stores for the rebel forces at
Port Hudson.
Having secured two prizes, Col. Ellet
finding his supply of coal getting rather
limited, concluded to return. According.
ly he sent the two prizes just ahead of him
and was soon homeward bound. He land.
ed on a plantation on the Louisiana side
short distance below the mouth Of Rec
river, where he put ashore the ladies with
their carriage, horses and all their private
property. He also put ashore most of the
civilians retaining of course, the rebel off
GERS. A red river pilot was among the CT
Williams captured on the Baker. He per
sistently refused to give any information
concerning the Red river, and to pertinac
ity added abuse and insolence. Col Ellie
at length told him he was going to star
up Red river at that very moment tina
it was matter of total indifference to hin
whether he would give him any informa
ton concerning the river or would not
but that he (the pilOtmus 60 into the pi
, lot house with him, the colonel and woulC
, be held instantly answerable with his lif
for any mishap that should befall tn
Queen which it was in the power of tn
, pilot to prevent. He grumbled, though
such course was very despotic indeed
, discoursed most fuently on the numerou
bars to be crossed, but of course succumb
ed, and subsequently steered the ram care
fully up Red river.
! Whilst the ladies and gentlemen wer
being put ashore another steamboat wa
, seen coming down the Red river. She 500
| rounded to at the firing of shot acros
: her bow. The third prize was the Bel
s wick Bay, a fine side-wheel steamboat
y She had on board about forty bales of col
/, ton, two hundred barrels of molasses, tie
c hogsheads of sugar, and among other al
Y ticles twenty-five thousand pounds of fou
:. Some was in barrels and some in sack
: Several passengers were found on boar
0 but no rebel soldiers. Just as she rour
y ded to, however, bundle of papers wei
8 flung overheard. Search was made 'ft
d them, but they could not be recover,
|. From similar looking documents found Q
i. board it was supposed that they were p;
a pers concerning the captured stores 81
{. was bound for Port Hudson with those SUI