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

stead OF penetrating her, would DO Inclined 10
lest. Wishing make the shsck effective az posi-
ble when The ram had reached the proper poson Inc
Colonel turned her partly around so a. to face the cy
and then made across the river straight Tor the ed
steamboat The rebels, who had crowded on the Dsnks
scampcred OF in the most affghted manner from the
steadily he execution OF her destructive Grand
She struck the rebel steamboat forward OF the wheel
house, hut al the OF collision the current caught
the stern q the and swung her round SO rapidly that
nearly all the momentum OF the blow was lost 10 SET
the rebel steamboat on o was part Of the
H. Campbell He directed to IRE the forward guns
loaded with conhustibe balls saturated with turpentne
Az the swung round he was ordered 70 fire them
that moment sixty -four pound shot from one Of
the rebel batteries crashing into the barieae Of
cotun him. but the brave Sergeant did not hesitate
q moment in the execution Of the order The guns
Gred tremendous blaze was vcmited forth from Them
and the rebel steamboat was in flames.
About the same time the found to be on 0re.
shell from shore had set her on fire near the sarboard
wheel while tho discharge OF the guns with the combns
tble balls had fired tho cotton her bow. Both steam
boats were thus ablazc at the same time The flames
spread rapidly both vessels. The smoke from the
front Of the rushed into her engine and threa
tened 10 suocae the engineers Those board the rebel
steamboat did ali they could do to extnguish the flames
et had intended 10 strike the rebel steamboat IN the
stern and thus finish the work Of demolition: but the
spreading flames the Queen Of the West made ii nece
sary for him to attend to the safety Of his vessel!
He therefore down and set all hands board
at work extinguishng the mes Though the cotton bad
been wet before starting, the fire extending RAPIDLY,
and several burning bales we're thrown overheard in
order to save the ram she then anchored below the
mouth Of the canal where, according TO the Admas in
structions, she awaited further orders.
All this time, both when approaching the city aud
leaving IT, the rebel batteries blazing away AZ the
Queen Of the West with light and heavy gDs some OF
our guns shore replied to them, When the ram WAS
the Mississippi shore several regiments OF rebels
opened on her with muskery from rife pits the bank,
and opportunity offered the planted in the
Of Vcksbnrgso aa to rake the river fired on her also. II
very exciting About hundred and
twenty shots fired from the batteries but the ram
was struck only twelve tines and sustained injury
from the muske.ry. She struck twice in the hull
above tho water line. the cabin considerably
smashed and one cascmatcd gun disnoupted and de
strcyed
Thus the Qceen OF the West the blockade vicks
burg by daylight damaged the rebel steamboat opposite
the city and she herself sustained material injury
Afterwards the rebels endea vored TO get up
board the City Of Vcksburg but although she not
sunk appearances indicate that she has been damaged
seriously. When she struck some Of her uppsr
works tnmbling on the bow OF the Queen 81 tho
West
The explo, well ordered and admirably escGrcd
Colonel filet is dashiDr officer and dapntlcss
Great credit due TO all the officers concerned IN The
serrrise
During the morning the took board the
mainder OF her having received further orders
from the Admiral, preceded down the river II y preba
BILE that she ~ destroy any rebel steamboats, TIA,
be below. and that she will keep until she reaches
Port Hudson
The rebels busily engaged In strcpghening their
Notifications ri Nicksburg long tram arrived
at The depot yesterday ternoon, amid tremendous cheer
ing The rebels evidently receiving renlorcemens