Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-12
HOW THE QUEEN PASSED VICKS-
BURG.
Capt. Ellets Official Report.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l.-Acting rear admi-
raj Porter, in terms of commentator, COM
municates to the navy department the report
of Col Ellet, commanding the u. ). steam
ram Queen of the West, giving an account of
her passage of the batteries at Vicksburg.
The following is the report;
u. S. STEAM RAM QUEEN OF THE WEST,
BELOW VIcKsBURG, Feb. 2.-AdmigaI In
compliance with your instructions, started
in the Queen of the West at half past four
o'clock this morning, to pass the batteries at
Vicksburg and sink the rebel steamer lying
before that city. l 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 accuracy. An
hour or more was spent in arranging the APP
paratus, and when we finally rounded the
point, the sun had risen, and any advantage
which would have resulted from the darkness
was lost to us.
The rebels opened heavy fire upon us as
we neared the city, but we were only struck
three times before reaching the steamer She
was lying in nearly the same position that the
Arkansas occupied when Gen. Ellet ran the
Queen into her on a former occasion. The
same causes which prevented the destruction
of the Arkansas saved the steamer City of
Vicksburg this morning. Her position was
such that if we had run obliquely into her as
we came down, the bow of the Queen would
inevitably have glanced. We were compelled
to partially round in order to strike. The
consequence was that at the very moment of
collision, the current being very strong at this
point, caught the stern of my boat and, act
ing on her bow as a pivot, swung her round so
rapidly that nearly all her momentum was
lost.
had anticipated this and therefore caused
the starboard bow gun to be shotted with three
of the incendiary proiectiles recommended
in your orders. As we swung around, Ser
geant j. II. Campbell, detailed for the pur-
pose fired this gun. A siXty-four pound
shell crushed through his barricade Just be-
fore he reached the spot; but he did not
hesitate. The discharge took place at exact
ly the right moment, and set the rebel
steamer in flames, which they subsequently
succeeded in extinguishing. At this moment
one of the enemy's shells set the cotton
near our starboard wheel, on fire, while the
discharge of our own guns ignited that por-
ton which was on the bow The flames
spread rapidly, and the dense smoke rolling
into the engine room, suffocated the engi-
neerS.
saw that if l attempted to run into the
city of Vicksburg again my boat would GER
tainly be burned l ordered her to be head.
ed down stream, and l ordered every man to
the extinguishing of the flames. After much
exertion we finally put the fire out by cutting
the burning flames loose. The enemy OF
course were not idle. We were struck twelve
times, and, though the cabin doorwas knocked
to pieces, no material injury to the boat nor
to any of those on board was inflicted. About
two regiments of rebel sharpshooters in rifle
pits kept up continual fire, but did no
damage.
The Queen of the West was struck twice in
the hull, but above the water line. One OF
our guns was dsmounted and ruined. L can
only speak in the highest terms of the con-
duct of every man on board. All behaved
with cool, determined courage. [ remain
very respectfully, CHAs. RIVERS ELLET.