Daily national Republican., 1863-02-12
brilliant EXPLOIT OF THE QUEEN
OF THE WEST.

Acting Rear Admiral Porter, In terms of
great commentator, communicates to the
Navy Department the report of Col. Ellet, com
manding the United States steam ram Queen
of the West, giving an account Of her passage
of the batteries at Vicksburg. The following
Is the report:
T U. s. STEAM RAM QUEEN or THE WEST, Feb.
., 1868. admiral: In compliance with your
instructions started on the Queen Of the West
nj half-past one O'Clock this morning, to pass
che batteries at ViCksburg and sink the rebel
steamer lying before that city. discovered
Immediately on starting that the change Of the
wheel from It's former position to the narrow
space behind the Qucen's bulwarks did not'per-
init the boat to be handled with sufficient accu-
racy. An hour or more was spent in rear
ranging the apparatus, aud when we finally
rounded the point the sun had risen, and any
advantage which would have resulted from the
darkness was lost TO use. The rebels opened a
heavy ere upon us We nearcd the city, but we
were only struck three times before reaching
the steamer. She was lying in the same posi-
tion that the Arkansas occupied when General
| Ellet ran the Queen into her on a former occa-
sion.
The same causes which prevented the de
struction of the ATkansaR then, saved the City
| of ViCksburg this morning. Her position was
such that II we had run obliquely into her as
I'VE came down, the bow of the Queen would in
evitAbly have glanced, we were compelled to
partially round In order to strike. The conse.
quence was that at the very moment Of COLI
sion the current, very rapid and strong at this
point, caught the stern Of my boat, aud acting
on her bow as a pivot, swung her round SC
rapidly that nearly all her momentum was lost
l had anticipated this result, and therefore
caused the starboard bow gun 10 be shotted
with three Of the incondlary projectiles recon.
mCnded In your orders. As VIC swung around
Sergeant j. II. Campbell, detailed for the pur
pose, fired this gun. sixty-four pound shel
crushed the barricado Just before he reached
the spot, but he did not hesitate.
The discharge took place at exactly the rlgh
moment, and set the rebel steamer in flames
which they subsequently, succeeded In extin
gushing.
At this moment one of the enemy's shells Sc
the cotton near the staTboard wheel on fire
while the discharge of our own gun ignitet
that portion which was on the bow. The flame
spread rapidly, and the dense smoke rolling int,
the engine room sutiOcated the engineers.
saw that II l attempted TO run into the City o
Vicksburg again that my boat would ceTtainl
be burnt. ordered her TO be headed dow
stream, and ordered every man TO extinguish
ing the flames.
After much cxertion we finally put the fir
out by cutting the burning bales loose. Til
enemy Of course was not idle. We were struc
twelve times; but though the cabin door wa
knocked to pieces, no material injury TO tn
boat nor any Of those on board was inflicted
About two regiments of rebel BharpshOotUrs, |
rihe-plts, kept uI continual fire, but did n
damage.
The Queen was struck twice in the hull br
above the wateT-line. One of our guns wa
dismountod and ruined. | can only speak
the highest terms Of every man on board. A
behaved with cool and determined courage.
remain, very respectfully,
CHARLEs RIVERS ELLET,
Commanding Ram Fleet.
DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear AdmiTa
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.