Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-05-02

safety against grounding. On the third day they
approached Grand Gull, and were surprised to
receive salute in the form round shot from q
twenty FOUNDER field piece. The rebels, il subse-
quently appeared, had some twelve or fifteen light
guns planted at the top Of the bluff, which they
fired at q considerable depression. Fourteen Of
these little pellets struck the Hartford alone, and
several tho Albatross On account ofthe current
making in shore at this point il was several min.
utes before the heavy guns Of the boats could be
brought to bear on the little mosquito battery. 10
the meantime, brass howtzer on the cross trees
was worked with commendable vgOr. No parti-
cular damage was done to the shipS, more than to
give them more pitted appeaance. Two men
were killed outright, and seven slightly wounded,
So soon as the advancing guns got range and
showored the shells upon tho enemy, they skulked
behind the parapet and were ts silent as the in.
habitants Of tho tomb. This is not considered
much Of an obstruction, though ii has been doubt
less intended to prevent any Of our transports
passing between the two besiegcd points That
Afternoon they passed about thirty miles above
Grand Gulf, and near the plantation ofJelf, Davis
the wheel house Of steamer half submerged 10
the water From the description given Of The
wreck, it leaves no doubt that it is the lndianola
at the place where she was first abandoned. 1t l.
some encouragement TO know that. at least, she Il
Of no use to the rebels, il she is nd longer in Ou
hands. Whether she was blown up ornot is mo-
known, but it is thought the story told by he
deserters, (rebe) to the effect that she was blow
up, was merely an invention to screen them from
the results Of what seemed to them to be rea
"tureted monitor" There is no doubt but tha
she was in a sinking condition when surrendered
and that the Webb aud Queen suffered from TIL
effects Of her shot.
TIE TERRIBLE PASSAGE OF THE SWITZERLAND AM
LANCASTER
1t is no secret that Farmgut urged upon Porte
the necessity for Immediately sending him dow
something with which he might defend himsel
aganst the Webb Or Queen, Il attacked 1h
reasons Tor this must be obvious 10 all minds
Accordingly, on Wednesday m6mng Just beror
daybreak the Switzerland and lancaster, two Q
Ellet's wooden rams, with boilers protected b
cotton bales, turned their rrows downwards, an
silently aoated downward, huggirg the shore.
boom ola gun from the upper batteries broke III
slumbers oil the camp, and presently the whole {
the earthly thunder Of the VicEsburgh batterie
were booming in succession. The cannonadIn
was grand and awful. For thirtt minutes theT
was nothing but noise at the end Of which "
could see the Albatrooss towing in one Of III
black craft What had become Of the other?
few hours brought the melancholy tale. I'll
Lancaster had had her forward hull and pro
shattered by a ball. so as TO make her Gil rapid
in fifteen minutes she had gone down head for
most with lew, il any, Of her crew escaping, so f
as yet heard from.
The Switzerland more fortunate was disable
by shot throug the steam drum while IN nj
passage, and aoated helpless hulk On the currel
until Capt. Hunt seeing her condition in the gro
of dawn, steamed out and towed her ashore, ii
batteries belching death more vigorously tina
ever at the cripple and her supporter. We hoI
to hear Of the caCualities on the Rams before Il
mail departs. The act drumming tic batteries
those Irail craft is very courageous, but Of la
either by the improvement of the rsbel gunnel
or by some lavorng luck, the steam pipes Of Il
Rams are their greatest foes. 1t is believed th
with moderate alacrity on the part d those col
cerned, a new drum can be fitted 10 tho SwitzC
land in day'or two, so that the rebds will N
find her uprepared for the mortal combat Of irl
beaks; Lieut. COL Eet, cousin Of the youl
ColOnels, commanded. ..N