Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-11

West naturally tn the lead, tbe " coo HFaiin bsNe'
and another whuse name could NOS he obtained,
fOiiosing clo-e IN her wake
The a ebh was fufmef, lower river tovboai.
and !. motel f,r her speesi aud greet po~err Of
endurance She carriss q number et guls of
heavy csliber, i OF wooden material. bot has her
machinery and boilers guarded Oy hefss iron
plates We believe she can be used a. ram.
having an IRON prov. but Ia this instance DE
pended upon her batteries. leaving the others to
come 20 close quaftefs. Y =
The Indianola's heaviest and best guns are on
her bow OF this fact the advancing rams ~eFe
evidently aware, for they sheered OF 10 right aud
left as often she changed position to get them
IN range and managed, By the greater ease with
which they could be handled. TO give her no op
portunty 10 them With effect
OF course the Indauols MS clumsy; iron can
not be ~ easily moved a. wood, aud one large
man il seldom able o. gain material advantage
ia a rough aud tumble hight over three or
four small ones Who act ia concert aud deter.
miDedly.
The BALL opened. A shot from the Webb ca me
wbstling in the air. lt passed over the Indian
ola and went down with splash Tea hundred
feet beyond. Another came. with similar effect.
The rams darted here and there. advancing add
retreatng. endeavor'Dg TO get near enough To try
their iron prows against the gunboat's sides, but
OF Der heavy guns
Had she been able to get fair range. she would
doubtless have crippled either OF her ASSISTANTS by
one well-directed shot, but this she obtained no
opportunity oi deing.
The firiny proceeded rapidly. The available
guns on the lndnnola were run out aud fired ~
rapidly NJ circumstances would admit. while the
Webb aud Queen of the West kept up lively
cannonading iron their bull dogs.
This did not seem To produce material results
But the fight, started, speedily waxed
warmer, aud became very hot and heavy on botl
sides
Those who witnessed the gunboat and ram
fight opposite Memphis have some idea of the
manner in which the latter DO their work The
Webb. although gradually advancing, kept at
respectful distance. but so engaged the indiana
las attention that the latter had little time to lie
vote To the rams, which fairly danced in the Wa
tiers on all sides watching an opportunity to give
her a poke with their iron noses With nothing
but the Webb before her. the lndianoa would
have had little work on her hands She would
doubtless have made short work OF her in a littl,
time, and proceeded on her way comparatiyel,
unframed.
The experience of this war on the Mississippi
has shown that. notwithstanding the labor ant
treasure expended III bringing gunboats 10 tina
point known as inyulnerable. common steam
boats. With iron prows, and vital portions wei
protected. have been able. in the hands of fear
less commanders, to perform exploits which th'
iron clads dare not attempt The experience
held good In this Instance While the Webb wa'
pouring in the shots. the rams managed to nearly
surround the gunboat. aud one of them sOOI
found an opportunity To Use her PROV with force
on one of the lndianoas sides Another closeC
with equal success. They ran back. then for
ward. meeting squsrely and glaDcng of, sinking
two coal barges which the gunboats had in tow
and. incredible as il may appear. succeeded II
elu,iing all her shots.
Every engagement must have n termination
and this one The Webb and In
diaDola briskly kept up their firing the rams thei
butting and presently the contestants were il
close quarters The Iudianoa had made gal
liant fight. but was literally overpowered Sh,
had sustained MANY hard blows from the rams
and her commander received information tina
the water was coming into her hold He arrive,
at the conclusion that she WAS in sinking condi
ton. and that further resistance useless.
He accordingly vent deck ami waved
white handkerchief in token OF surrender Thi
was evidently regarded at once IN the light il
which 10 was intended, aud the firing ceased OF
the Webb.
As soon communication had been established
Capt Brown was ordered TO run the boat Il
crate fleet over. aud the boats officers an'
crew. with the exception OF one man, becap
prisoners of war.
One man. the boat neared the bank, jumps
overheard. and SWAN ashore and escaped. HI
name we did not learn. He made his way throse
the woods, wandering about. but did not reac
Gen Grant headquarters until Friday morning
IL was from him the first intelligence reached tn
General commanding of the disaster to the I;di
i.sl III. IL. H.,
was thought TO be the batteries firing on her a
she was passing the batteries at Carthage Sh
had been expected at headquarters for two O
three DAYS
Our informant was at headquarters when tn
first intelligence arrived During the morning
Lieut.. Colonel. in command OF the pickets adj
vanced nearest To Warrenton. sent in dispatc
announcin. the indianoss capture, and advise
discredIting any reports that the boat had bee
As severely injured AS rumored, believing til
statement incorrect.
About noon on Friday the little steamer Frolic
with white dag hying. neared the Lousian
shore below Vck-burg. and netr Zen Grant
headquarters. Alto ri wa Major Waits. Conied
crate Commissioner for the exchange of prison
per the Dix Hill cartel. He sent ashore
communication requesting permission to PASS th
batteries and go To VtckSburg having in ch ,rge
tor exchange. number OF prisoners. In his dis
patch he adie'i: 1--WE have captured the Indian
ola. bnr she has sunk" 1t ascertained tina
some c0mmissary stores were also IN the Frolic
and permission 10 pass was not granted.
The reports OF the sinking of the lndianola ar
received ut Gen Grants headquarters with larg
grains Of aosance. and when the Anders n ei
in the evening. measures had been taken to Oh
tain the truth OF the matter.
Our informant estimates the entire number o
persons captured on the indianola at from fort
to fifty.
a List OF Bills introduced i'm the Sen