The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-02-18
Official Report of Colonel Ellet, Com.
mandor of the Queen OF the West.

WAsmINGTuN, Feb. ll.-Admiral Porter.
in terms of commcndation, communicates to
the Navy Department the report of Colonel
Ellct, commanding the ram Queen of the
West, giving an account of her passage of
the batteries at Nicksburg. The following
is the report:
L. ;. STEAM RAM QUEEN or THE WEST,
BELOW NICHsBURG, Fcbruary2, 1868.
ApMlRAL:-ln compliance with your instructions
! started on the Queen of the West at half nast
four this morning TO pass the batteries at Vicks-
burg, and sunk the rebel steamer living before that
city,
discovered immediately ON starting that the
change of the wheel from its former position to the
narrow space behind the Queens bulwarks, did not
permit the boat to be handled with sufficient accu-
racy.
An hour or more was spent in arranging the ap-
paraus, and when we finally rounded the point the
sun had risen, and any advantage which would
have resulted from the darkness was lost tous.
The rebels orened heavy fire ON us us we ncarcd
the city, but we were only stuck three tiIcs
before reaching the steamer She was lying in
nearly the same position that the Arkansas uccu-
pied when General Ellet ran the Queen into her ON
q former occasion.
The same causes which prevented the destruc-
ton of the Arkansas thru saved the City of Nicks-
burg this morning Her position was such, that
II We had run 0bliquely into her as we came down
the bow Of the Queen would have inevitably
glanced. We were compelled to partially round
in, in order To strike; the consequence was that at
She very uiontcnt of collision, the current, very
rapid and strong at this point, caught the stern Of
my boat, and acting on her bow rs u pivot, swung
her around so rapidly that nearly all her momcn-
tum was lost. had anticipated this and there
fore caused the stUrhoarl gun 10 be shotted with
three Of the incendiary proectiles recommended
IN YOUR order. As we swung round, Sergt. j. Ii
Campbell detailed for the purpose, fired this gun
\ sixty -four pound shell crushed through the
harncid,, Just before he reached the spot, but he
did not hesitate. The discharge took place at the
right mnmant, and set the rebel steamer in flames
which they subsequently succeeded in cxtingush
ing. At this moment one Of the cncmv's shell set
the cotton near the stNrbOard wheel ON fire while
the discharge of our own gun iguitcd that portion
which was ON the bow. The flames spread rpidly
aud tlr dense smoke, rolling into the engine ronms,
Ia run into the City OF Nicksburg again, my boat
headed down the stream, and ordered every man To
GNtingulSh the flames, and after much eHCI.inn
they hnally put the fire out, by eating tho burnt
bales loose. The enemy, OF course, were not idle;
We were struck twelve times, aul the cabin door
was knocked 10 pieces, No material injury To the
boat or any one on board was inflicted. About
two regiments of rcbel sharpShooterS in rifle pits
kept mp continual fire, but did no damage The
Queou WAS struck twice in the hull, but above the
water line. One OF our guns was diSmounted and
ruined, can only speak in the highest terms of
conduct Of every man aboard All behaved with
cool determination,
Signed ID. ELLET.