Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-11
OAPTUBE OF FzER laDEANonA.
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Special corespo spondenee Of the Memphis Appeal
PoRT HUDSON, La, February 26, 1868
The DT. Batey, sidewbesleT, which formed the
Port Hudson contingent Of our recently impro
vised mesquite feet returned hers at eleven
I O'Clock this morning, and I seize sbis opportu.
nifty Of giving you true aceount Of Of our re-
cent engagement with, and the capture of the
Iaiian0la, on Tuesday night the oath inst, at
eleven o'clock, at New Carthage, thirty miles
below VielsbQrg.
The Batsg carrying hgh. freight Of Gotten
and assorted hardware aud luil list Of pas
sengers, LEFT her landing as Port Hudson on the
20lh inst, and, after an easy run and long stay
at q way landing, on the morning Of the 29d
shout fifteen miles up Red river, mat the eHesR
Of .is Vest Re55, and the Grand Era, when the
Batey turned round and he mesquite feet, =
now complete, started on lis adventurous trip.
An incident occurred to amuss the msn On the
Bqiey when Ten miles below Natehsz. At ssme
distance could be seen the dim Outlines Of
group standing on the bank waving white hand.
kerchisfs, and supposing It 20 be s party Of sym
psshizing Southern ladies, s5me Of the boys re-
spondsd with cheers. But, on nearing the spot,
#. wss discovered that they were conTsbands,
who took fhe boat Tor a Yankee craft The boys
stopped their cheering, and, as may be sup
posed, looked at each other rather eAapfallen at
their wastefui expenditure Of gallantry and en-
tausiasz. LieUtensut-GoL Brsnd, command
iag lie Batsy, had to Iun her into the shore to
ssoommodate tie party, when Eve st5aPping
darhies walked sboard in al the conscious dig
niiy of bsing received IS "a man sDd 8 brother g
Tkeir leader went straight up 10 Col. Brand,
and holding cut his hand TO shake hands With
him, said. white his companions assented, by
their gri9s, Ho9w dye DO Been run away
since the last of June, snd mighty glad to get
away from the d--d rebels" Taey did not az.
Bss7 ta be rebufed when the colonel fsi,e5 to
shake hands with tham nor did they csass t.
grin and grilmRce when Re called up the mat5,
but when be told the mste. il au uDrnistaksble
tone Of voice, to give those nggers q whaling
snd pat then 10 work sha change that came
over their features was ludicrous to see. In q
moment they lost the swsggsriag gait they
thought due to their acqu red freedom and be- /
came submissive, With great pTotestatoas Of
psniieucs.
III was known that lie EadiaQole was msking |
her way upto Yicksburg. aad The only fear islt /
by any one Of the expedition was that she 1
might escape them. The plan Of attack was 70 1
overtake her M the daTkness of The night. en- 4
gage her with the Quesn Of the Hssi and We5b, 1
aad sfisr damaging her OK = least causing soBe /
confusion aboard, the Batcy was torsuFe along I
side and carry her by boarding. The Grand 4
Era was 70 set as a tender, and be ready tore
del any assistance in her power 20 our boats i
they shauld get disabled. The commander Of
lbe Bqteg Fred B Band, is Northumberland
of Miles Louisians legion formerly midship-
ves7s citizen Of New Orleans. he is known
as gallant and ssillful officer, who hsd Yolun-
tered when The QueeH Of the Hest frst passed
tie Yicksburg batteries, 10 carry ber BY board
ng wi b an ordinary steamboat The Quesa Of
.he HeSf was commanded BY MsjOg Brett, and
.he Wt6J, by CsPtain Pierce
At6vs o'clock Tuesday evening. at Grand
gulf the faa5gH0ta could be seen around the
point AID her commander was no doubt ap-
Drised of our position and number Of Gratis, IS
be e5ud havs seen the smoke Of ell cur boats
except the Era Indeed the enemy stated, alier
heir capture, that they had been informed Of our
projected expedition before they left Red river,
bar never for a moment bad doubted that The re-
suit Of such an attack, if made, would be tie
,ourlete discontinue or destruction Of The boats.
a few minutes after 10 o'clock the same nighs
the -fadian0ia towing Goa barge On either side
Of her, was discovered rounding 3 bend The
WeBb much the fastest boat Of the expedition,
was so0n ahead the QUeeg Of the H6St next,
and the Bafeg about tgo miles behind, accord
lng 70 the programme, The IadiaH0ia dropped
her coal baTges s5fe,n and hueged the right
bark. 81 prepared for action. The Webb kept
on NJ the river, on the ether side, until she got
above the enemy, and the Queen Of The Vest
opposite The bali then opened by an eleven
inch sheIl. which narrowly interfe-ea with ths
safety of the Wesb. Instantly she replied. and
.hon The QssoeH Of The Hesi ope7F with her Parrot
guns and twelve-poundeYs. -Fbe discharges Of
9ur guns, though much more ftequsnt sounded
almost like p0p-guns against tie Thunder Of tie
fafianola's nine and eleven inch Paixhsns. But
Il vas not the policy or intent OF our olcsss 10
trust TO their guns paraeularly es The shy vas
SO overcl0ade5 it was difficult % distinguish
the banks O1r heats bad red baale-anearns
hung out. and tho Yankee monster could be dis
tnenished by the volume Of smoke which rose
from her chimueys- ss sic Was burning coal.
Both our Leading boats now started, head on.
far he Tnaianoia, with al the force theiF engines
c-uld give them, while fhe Bateg opened With
her Parrot gans es she came up The Queen Of +
The IFsst struck her 6rst amidships, and backed
If The foTce Of the collision was tremendous,
hut the iron-clad was too topgh 10 suecualb
sr one blow. Meautims the .ysb6 was rushing {
al trembling with her own speed and headwsy
Ter eourss was well steered, and she struck the
ron craft Just absfs the whee-house, driving her
naseing and timbsrs into her hu1. Quick as
though the He5b drew book taice, repeating The 4
blows. &c a man strikes his adversary in ths 1
priza Ting. Tie prov Of ths He55 makes biieen !
feet Of sold wood. and aboat four feet Of i was
left IN tie Iadiaaolas side
have been unable % describe the gr9adeEr I
and excitement Of lie Sight, ard few who have
only been n land battes, fought auriIiE t1a
open daylight can ioTm q csrect ides q H.
The men Who lined the sides Of our steamers
kept up q ceaseless rattle Of Tifed. maskss,y
which was aiterwsTd seen to hRva pApDsTed
every part Of tae IadiaR0la, from whose
deck was retured tolaEa0is steady rsiura
Of mimic balls Bus il wss The yels oi eug
enthusiastic boys, sharp, fierce sni uucsasiug,
miDeing strangely with the roE Of 5attis, rs
doubling each tms the Yaphes PaiEagns tEBu-
dere6, that gave q singulary wild interest," to
tie thrilling scene. And 10 these vosai rQilea
the enemy mado no reply. Not SQUAD came
from heg 6imly-mafked bull, only piainlY sen