The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
THE LOSS OF THE INDIANoLA.
Official Report Of Com. Brown.

Official Report Of Com. Brown.
The official report of Lieutenant Com
mander George Brown, who commanded
the Indianola at the time of her loss below
Vicksburg, has sent his official report t.
the Navy Office. After detailing his move
ments below the rebel batteries, he says:
On learning that the Queen of the West had
been repaired by the rebels and was nearly
ready for service, also that the VIM. H. Webb,
and four cotton clad boats with boarding par
ties on board were fitting out to attack the
Indianola, I left the Red river for .he purpose
of getting cotton to fill up the space between
the casemate and Warehouses; so as to be bet
ter able to repel the boarding parties.
By the afternoon of the 22d of same month,
I had procured Us much cotton as required,
and concluded to keep on up the river, think
ing that would certainly meet another boat
the morning following, but was disappointed
l then concluded to communicate with the
squadron as soon as possible, thinking that
Col: Ellet had not reached the squadron, or
that Admiral Porter would expect me to return
when found that no other boat was sent be-
low.
1 kept the bunkers of the Indianola filed
with coal, and would have sunk what remained
in the barges, but knowing that if another boat
was sent below Vicksburg, would be expected
to supply her with coal, l concluded to hold on
to the barges as long as possible. In cOnse-
quence of having the barges alongside we could
make but slow progress against the current,
the result of which was that l did not reach
Grand Gulf until the morning of the oath of
the same month, at which point, and at others
above, we were fired on by parties on shore.
As l knew that it would be as much as could
do to get by the Warrenton batteries before
daylight the next morning, returned the fire
OF but one party.
:, At about half past nine p. NJ, en- the oath of
the same month, the night being very dark,
four boats were discovered in chase of us.
Immediately cleared for action, and as soon as
all preparations were completed l turned and
stood down the river to meet them. At this
time the leading vessel was about three miles
below the others following in close order. As
we neared them I made them out to be the
rams Queen of the West and William H. Webb,
and two other steamers, cOttOn-clad and filled
with men.
The Queen of the West was the first to strike
us, which she did after passing through the
coal-barge dashed to our portsidc, doing no Sc
rious damage. Next came the Webb 1 stood
gether bows on, with a tremendous crash,
which knocked nearly every one down on
board OF both vessels, doing no damage to us,
while the Webb's bow was cut in at least eight
feet, extending from about two feet above the
water line to the keelson. At this time the
engagement became genaral, and at very close
quarters. devoted but little attention to the
cotton-clad steamers, although they kept up q
heavy fire with field pieces and small arms as
knew that everything depended on my dis
abling the rams The third blow crushed the
starboard barge, leaving parts hanging by the
lathlngs, which were speedily cut. The crew
OF the Indianola not numbering enough men to
man both batteries, l kept the forward guns
manned all the time, and fired them whenever
! could get shot at the rams. The night be-
ing very dark, our aim was very uncertain. and
our fire prove less effective than thought it
at the time. The peep hole of the pilot house
was so small that it would have been q difficult
matter to have worked the vessel from that
place in daylight, so that during the whole
engagement the pilots were unable to aid me
by their knowledge Of the river, as they were
unable to see anything; consequently, they
could do no more than to obey such orders az
they received from me in regard to working
the engines and helm. No misunderstanding
occurred in the performance of that duty, and
! was enabled to receive the first five blows
from the rams forward from the wheels. and
at such angles as to do no more damage than
to start the plating where they struck.
The sixth blow we received was from the
Webb, which crushed in the starboard wheel.
disabled the starboard rudder, and started a
number OF leaks abaft the shaft. Being unable
to work the starbOard engine placed us in an
almost poWerless condition, but l continued
the fight until after we received the seventh
blow, which was given us by the Webb. She
struck us fairly in the stern, and started the
timbers and starbOard rudder box so that the
water poured in in large volumes At this time
knew that the IndianOla could be of no more
service to us, and my desire was to render her
useless to the enemy, which l did by keeping
her IN deep water until there was two and a
half feet OF water over the floor, and the leaks
were increasing rapidly as she settled, so as to
bring the opening made by the Webb under
water.
Knowing that if either of the rams struck us
again in the stern, which they then had excel
lent opportunities of doing. ON account of our
disabled condition, we would sink so suddenly
that few II any. lives would be saved. sue
ceeded In running her bow on shore by start
ing the screw engines. AS further resistance
could only result in great loss of life on our
part, without a corresponding result on the part
OF the enemy, / surrendered the Indianola,
partially sunken vessel, fast filling with water,
to force of four vessels, mounting ten guns,
and manned by over one thousand men.
liz CuSdSCulcuI ldSLcu one nOuf ana tWen-
ty minutes. lost but one killed, one wound
ed, and seven missing, while the enemy lost
two officers and thirty-three men, and many
wounded. Before the enemy could make any
preparations for endeavoring to save the Indi-
anOla her stern was under water. Both rams
were so badly injured that doubt whether
they would have tried to ram again had not
their last blow proved SO fatal to US. Both sig
nal books were thrown in the river by me few
minutes before the surrender,
In conclusion, would state that the nine
inch guns of the Indianola were thrown over.
board, and the eleven-inch guns damaged by
being loaded with heavy charges and solid shot,
placed muzzle to muzzle, and fired by slow
match, SO that they were rendered useless.
This was done in consequence of the sham
monitor sent from above having grounded
about two miles above the wreck of the India.
nOla.
have the honor to remain, very respectful
ly, your obedent servant,
= =, j-4t rsa GEORGE BROWN, ar,
Lieutenant Commander, U. s. Navy. "a