The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-12

IL s,elr Or VicKsrrRe, lfp 2. 1896.
Raining ne Bo'kn.'e-M i@por,ance-rge' ne
hayets- Preparations Ram Queen II M yndsp
Way-PaSs.n9 ~ Boaeries-slrklnga Ritei Boct--Ee-
sub Of tie Bo,c--iDect Of the Rebel 'ho'-ssachoriaa
out ef Eapse- Boner,es Belou~-Eg,ci II NJ Ea,loa
Ipoa CIR Mw-Noreaent Of 7Jooys-Appeayonee Of
riksJurg, de-
At last, after days II waiting, we have u i'm
portance. "A boat has succeeded passing the batteries
yicksburg-an achievement undertaken since The
descent Of Admiral farragnts feet IN the latter part OF
July Of last year. Whnt part OF plan this operation
was designed TO ard does not yet appear; but II Is
likely 20 afford much assistance the capture OF
ycksburg and especially in cutting Off supplies rom the
western portion Of the confodcracv. The reseis
some fifteen twenty boats that have for seve
raj months been flying from points the Red
river TO vicksburg, transporting supplies the
latter point. Even occupation Of tns
shore Of the Mississippi several boats succeeded gong
10 NicksburR aud returning below though at siderable
risk injury from PARROT guns Since succeeded
in cutting on their approach TO ycksburg the boats
have been running point few miles below Warren
ton xiv ing the beneni the
the rich region OF Western Louisiana and Texas.
The appearance among their transports Of armed
viii prove serious blow TO the rebels learn
officially that the boat which has blockade is 10
descend the river iar Port Hudson, destroy
everything that she hnds the way. II possible. she
Will communicate with General Banks. AZ e1st such is
the conjecture OF onlsdes am told by an officer o. the
feet s designed that two other cd
shall run the blockade 10 night possible AZ all events
they will pas down before this letter reach you
for several DAYS extensive preparations have been
made for sending the Queen o; the West below Ncks
burg. These preparations compleied two days ago
and night before last was appointed of the undertaking
-Four hundred and fifty bales Of cotton aud hay piled
around the guards Of the Queen Of the West AMI srort
spared TO make her projections as perfect as possible.
Her crew wa transferred the time o,her boat
aud volunteers called Tor take her below. Colonel
Elot, q the ram neet commanded In person. Captain
Sutherland captain VI the Queen Of the West together
with the pilots add engineers at once forward and
fortunately the night was oggy and tho expedition
postponed.
little before day break this morning the Queen Of the
West started from her noornSs, and steamed down the
river she rounded the bend above vcksbnrg the
upper batteries opened. and the md her
cut BY shower OF heavy shot aud shell.
Wonderful Ia reists she was struck dozen times
during the entire sscapade Moving so rapidly through
Had she halted for a mosont whom in range q these
heavy guns there Is little doubt that she would have
The steamer city Of vcksburg has been lying at the
landing 0 the town for several days, undorgeins certain
alterations ht hsr for gunhuat Tho
rebes been shcu nc her bow covering her
vuns able parts With plates and she s known to be
q the fastest and most powerful boats the river
she might be iaconvenent customer W have the
water. part Of the pan ing below 10
have her strike the City Of Vicssburg sud sink her
As nsared the CIV o. vicssburs the
above and below siackened through ear ~ Gu
dangerine their boat The Queen running rapid
ly and approached the rebel bt she turned sud
denly and struck ust forward Of The engnes Ths
piled high around the bow 4 the Queen 80
tt the result Of ihe blow could not be observed
M acew of the queen arc cgds, that thay dld the
boat much dsmage The optton the OF the Queen
encountered the guards Of the City o burg before the
pow reached the hull ot the later boat The
capslsn aud nearly everything the bow 81 the
queen were swept away, and her cotton
SET on aro Al the time the Queen threw tur.
peniiho balls on board the Nlcksburg setting her FIRE
"a several pisces. Those board succeeded In
tingu1hng the flames. and the the Queen Ike
"a A. u44fIl In NAT Tin. fho.r
The bow " the queen penetrated The c,okbcu-e Of the
Ncksburg and at COLONEL EIct that would
be unable 70 PACK OUT lie current however, was very
str and a lev minutes Afterwards ehe The
Queen y,Uug around aud liberated from the vcLs.
burg 'oonei HE, then steamed cut into aud
PREPARED = STRIKE Toe Ncxsburg second tfne. The fire
rebel Suns was renewed With oarneslsess and a.
several balls struck Tue Queen AZ thai time Coene Eei
gave the order 20 move down the stream lie swung
.nrey around and headed below. ssnunr hs boat near
the mouth u the proposed eana tho peninsula
one u the cneny's heavy shot sr.ck gun on board
the Queen making ndentation a. large az a saucer
st over trunnon and cracking The gun xy TO render
il useless Thence glanced upward sevsriug Que ~ lie
btnnev gtrs las ~ on IN the direction OF o fou,1 an.
shore pound perc sson shell catered the side OF the
cas tassing throarh sad defnoi,shnz one ~ the
boafl rooms Thence " crossed The obin sticking
Caniasl Suthorands Eateroou, directly ~ the hend 0I
the nd. after upprnug the matlresee- ard damaging
uaitert generally hid g0t IL tho bed without ey.
piodna one si entered the huh of tho boat above fhe
water line still another asfoi The erie length 0f the
ma in derk without DORIS scriopf damage. Not man~n
bard me Queen received single rcratch. celoncl
Icf vae N high feather Of he succ#fIul csuit bls
expedition. end vgs ready Aaf 20 hour % renew tho
a. ICON a. a. queen came 70 anchor tie mouth q
tho canal her crew Wa sent afcOss lnd W hM time
all board their beat One hrndred Nrd
shots were Gred at The beat les than i0Yy ninntee
Asefng Il the corlt KEPT BY ihcss standing o. this
shore opposite vcksbrs. II was three-q ~
hur from tho time the Queen within q tho
febt unt she emerged from The lro u t1e 0Ner
batteries Mo.l of TIE drlng short range and tia
fact that cniy twelve shots ~ nrBded nj seven.
teen airecs Der v probably due 10 ~ asilty Of Lcr
orr-s4e liza r,s,, "A ,.o,,.,,f. ,,,,,.t,. ~. 49,. =