The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-09

instant preparations to destroy the
ship and save the crew. Orders were
also given to the Chief Engineer to
destroy the engines, and cut the out
ward connecting pipes. This being
done, the water flowed rapidly into the
ship. The sick and wounded were
conveyed on board of the iron clad
Essex, and the remainder of the crew
were conveyed to the right bank of
the river, which had been cleared by
the gunboats, of rebel sharpshootsrs.
Before the crew left the ship every
preparation was made to destroy her,
by collecting combustibles in the for
ward aud after parts of the ship. Un-
fortunately she was fred forward be-
fore the order was given. This be.
coming known to the crew, and there
being but three small boats which they
could use, many jumped overheard.
aud it is feared were drowned in at
tempting to escape. Some others, Z in
all, including marine captain Fontsne,
assistant engineer Brown, and mastsrs'
mate Francis, fell into the hands of the
enemy.
just before the order was given to
abandon the ship, a shot from the enc
my entered forward of the wheel, kill
ing acting master Kelly, commanding
I'd division, also killing and wounding
all but four men at one of his guns.
After seeing that the survivors Of
his crew were fairly clear of the ship,
and every preparation made to ensure
her destruction, commander Smith, &C.
companied by Lieut.. Dewey, his exec
utive officer, ensign Bachelor, and
first assistant engineer, Tower, left the
ship and abandoned her to the flames.
after having with his own hands spiked
most of the guns.
As an evidence of the GOODNESS which
Capt. Smith displayed on this occa-
sion, it is related that in the midst of
the death and destruction which SUR
rounded him, while coolly lighting his
cigar with steel and flint, he remarked
to Lieut. Dewey, I" 1t is not likely that
We shall escape, and we must make ev-
cry preparation to insure the destruc-
tion of the ship" a. ufftsr.I
AS soon as Capt. Caldwell of the
Essex discovered the flames bursting
from the Mississippi, Notwithstanding
she was within 500 yards of the prin-
cipal rebel batteries, be steamed up
the river and succeeded in taking off
from the shore many Of the men who
had escaped, and in saving many who
were still struggling with the current
for their lives. nol ~ a9issis f3fsii
The fire having full possession of the
ship, ragged through her for an hour,
greatly tightening her, while the water
flowing aft, settled her stern, and she
gradually slid off into the current. By
seeming act of Providence, the ship
was swung round by the force of the
current and beaded down stream. The
guns of her port battery, which had not
been fired, becoming heated, the ven.
cradle old frigate paid a parting sa.
lutte to the rebels at the same time that
she fired the minute guns over her own
grave. G f... ,,....-.,..E
Had the ship foated down stream
stern foremost, it is impossible to con-
lecture what would have been the 70.
suit, inasmuch as her guns would have
been discharged on her own crew, on
the neighboring bank. She fosled
down the stream, her guns disoharg.
ing, and shells on deck exploding in
every direction, until $50 O'Clock, when
having reached a point near where the
rebel ram Arkansas was destroyed, she
blew up, with a concussion which
shook the country for miles around.
Fragments of the ship drifted past
Baton Rouge. and one of the wheel
houses was taken ashore at that point.
IL is estimated that only IS officers
and men belonging TO the Mississippi,
were killed, wounded, and taken pris.
oners. The officers and crew lost ev-
erything except wbattbey stood in. b
They saved nothing, and left moth
ing in the hands of the rebels. fH
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