Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1863-02-14

CHICAGO, Feb, II, 1884 special dispair b
frog Cairo to-day says that news has been re-
-=-yed from vicksburg tJ75sturday. Tue s..n
Qnden has returned fgom below. Her trip
down the river was most successful. She met
three steamers with provisions for the Rebels
ut Vicksburg and succeeded in sinking them.
She took b6 prisoners, one OF whom was Colo
mel. The Queen went near enough to Port
Hudson to draw the lire from the upper bait
terry. l lad
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE TRIP DOWN.
WARD.
WAsENaTos, Feb. IL, la6s.-Acting Rear
Admiral Porter, in terms OF commentator,
communicates to the Navy department the re-
port of Colonel Elicit, commanding the o. 5.
steam ram Queen of the West, giving an ac-
count of her passage of the batteries NJ Vicks-
burg. The following is the report:
UNITED STATES STEAH RAN QUEEN OF
THr VAST, BELOW VIcEsnuRo,
Monday, February 2, 1868.
90 ADMIRAL: In compliance with your instruc-
tions started on the Queen OF the West at 81
O'Clock this morning to pass the batteries Mt
Yicksburg, and sink the Rebel Steamer lying
before that city. discovered Immediately on
starting, that the change of the wheel from lis
former position to the narrow space behind the
Queens hulwarks did not permit the boat TO
be hauled with sufficient accuracy. An hour
or more was spent in re arranging the APP
paratus, and when we finally rounded the
point, the sun had risen, aud any advantage
which would have resulted from the darkness
was lost to US.
The Rebels opened heavy FIRE upon us as
we neared the city, but we were only struck
three times before reaching the steamer She
was lying in nearly the same position that the
Arkansas occupied when Gen. Ellet ran the
Int. has form atR 1f.a
same causes which prevented the destruction
of the Arkansas then. saved the city of Vicbs-
burg this morning. Her position was such
that II we had run obliqely into her as we came
down. the bow Of the Queen would inevitably
have glanced. Wewere compelled TO partially
round in order to strike. The consequence
was that at the very moment of collision, the
current, very rapid and strong at this point,
caught the stem OF my boat, and, acting on
her bow as pivot, swung her round SO rapid
" that nearly all her momentum was lost. I
had anticipated this, and therefore caused the
starboard bow gun TO be shotted with three Of
the incendiary projecties recommended ia
your orders. As we swung around, Sergeant
J. H. Campbell, detailed for that purpose fred
this gun. 64-pound shell crushed through
the barricade Just before he reached the spot,
odt hS' did not hesitate. Toe discharge tool !
place at exactly the right moment, aud set the
Rebel steamer in flames switch they subssquent-
ly succeeded in extingushing. At this mo
ment one OF the enemy's set the cotton near
the stsrboard wheel on Ere, while the discharge
of our own gun ignited that portion which was
on tho bow. The flames spread rapidly, aud
the dense smoke rolled into the engine-room
safocated the engineers.
| saw that II ! attempted TO run Into the
City of Yicksburg again my boat would GER
tainly be burned. ordered her to be headed |
down stream, and ordered every man to sx-
tinguish the flames. After much exsrtions |
we finally put the fire out by cutting the burn |
Ing bales loose. The enemy of course were |
not idle. We were struck twelve times, and |
though the cabin door was knocked TO pieces |
no material injury TO the boat or to those on |
board was inflicted. About two regiments Of |
Rebel sharpihooters Ia ride pits kept ap |
continual Are, but did no damage. The Queen |
was struck twice in the hull but above ths |
water line, ons of our guns wss dismounted |
and ruined. ! can only speak in the highest |
terms of the conduct Of every man on board.
All behaved with cool, determined courage.
= | rsmain, very respectfully,
CHARLES RIVERS Elicit
Commanding Ram Fleet.
DAVID D. FoRrri, Acting Rear Admiral, Conn
handing Mississippi Squadron. a /
CAIno, Feb. II, 1865. -vicksburg letters say
the brilliant achievement of the Queen running |
the gauntlet Of the Rebel Batteries has had .
most beneficial eiisctsn the spirits Of our troops
before vieksburg. A correspondent of Thu
ysekssa Appeal says that Il Ia possible General
Grant will make the canal success, and sug-
gssts that Grand Gulf, Port Gibson and other
points between Vicksburg asd Port Hudson be
fortified. Gen. Hurlburt at Memphis has is
sued an order prohibiting the eirculation Of
1ks Okss4es Hsuss in bis dirtict