Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-08
RUNNING THE BATTERIES AT yrCKs-
(, d r--f- frr--f1 BURG.


correspondent of the New York Times gives a long
account OF the in which the Yankee gunboats
and transports past the batteries at Vicksbrg
ton Of which we copy:
The night OF the IA first fixed upon az the one
in which to carry out the attempt The tranenorts
however bad not hnshed taking in their supplies and
the matter was necessarily adjourned until the next
night Wednesday night came, and just as everything
was supposed ready the of the Silver Wave grew
weak IN the knees and refused 60 with the SINGLE
exception of the Captain. This produced DELAY that
was not remedied until too late to proceed that night
curing Yesterday every necessary preliminary
was completed; soldiers placed upon the Silver
wave, and the absence of pet was supplied by Lieut.
George ONei, of the 30th Ohio, who volunteered for
the hazardous under aking | believe that in the case
OF the Henry Clay nearly the entire crew was made IN
OF soIders whe In the case of the Forest Queen Capt
Conway, and his clerk, Billy Blenker, together with
every man belonging 10 the boat volunteered TO remain
with her and share her fate.
Last night Thursday everything was in complete
readiness before dark The plan decided upou was that
tae iron ciads should pass down in single file, with inter-
walls between the boats of few hundred wards and that
when in front of the batteries they should ENGAGE them
with Their 6roadside guns, making as much smoke as
possoe under cover of which the transports should en-
deavor to pass unseen.
warm, cloudless day was succeeded by clear tgi-
S", e''0'" winch oodts rom all points up the river
began to assemble at the Lower Landinep-o Mace
about four miles in direct lire from Vcksburp and
which, in daylight, affords an extended and defsilad
view OF the city and It's Notifications
Lights twinkled busiy from the Vicksburg hillsides
un about 10 O'clock when they disappeared and about
the same moment song and laughter our side we're
hushed, as shapelesS mass Of what looked like great
fragment OF darkness discerned floating noiselessy
down the river. /! was the Benton- passed and dis
appeared in the night, and succeeded by another
bank OF darkness-he Lafayette with the Price dashed
10 her sarboard SIDE And thus they continued across
Tue narrow vista which opened itself to our eves as if
huge shadows detached themselves from the darkness
above foated across vision and disappeared IN the
darkness below Ten OF these noiseess sapes rysaled
themselves and disappeared and then we knew that all
first act.
Three-quarters OF an hour passed: people heard po.b
ing save their own suppressed breathing saw nothing
save long, low bank Of darkness, which. like black
og, walled the view below, and Joined Tho skv -rl rve-
In the direction Vi Ii~Ls.u4. 4 49,. ,.a..,,.. Z. ID,
gathering of darkness for in it we knew were founders
and lghtnings and volcanoes which al any instant
might light up the night with fierce Interruptions.
So long time passed without anything occurring
that people began TO believe that the rebels had deter
mined for some benevolent purpose to allow the feet
beo" to pass without obstruction some men offered bets
10 Dnch sucn opinions However, this supposition was
hardly preached ere it coRtradcted most emDhati
caly AZ just quarter beore eleven two BRIGHT sbarp
lines OF lmes flashed through the darkness At the er
treme right OF the Vcksburg batteries and in an in.
slant, the whole length of the bluffs was blaze with
fire. The fleet, which had rounded the poipt and now
lay squarey before the city at responded By open
ing their ports and pouring their full broadsdes Of crane
and shrapnel, directly against the city.
This introduced the second scene and most exciting
one was 1.-THE stars we're yelled with crimson the earth
rocked with heavy thunders.
great cloud of smoke rolled heavily over the GIN
boats ana IN this the three transports entered and
made their best time" down the river Tho Forest
Qleen which was in the advance, received a shot in
the hull aud another through the steam drum. which
disabled her instantly The Henry CLAY, that came
next stopped TO prevent her running into the other
and at the same moment struck by shell that set
her cotton on Ere. The crew, demorazed by the stop
page and terrified by the fire. ran amlessly around for
lew moments, then launched the yawl sprang into It.
and pulled for the shore. The pilot finding that no
engineers obeyed the bells stayed short tia till the
fire began to seethe round him. when he sczeS blank
jumped overheard, and was picked up by a gun 9at-
The Clay, in the meantime became a rroat i1szrr
mass that hoated down the river until it disappeared
oelo" Warrenton. Had she been manned by men of
nerve, the fire would have been extngushed and the
boat carried through safely the fact Of her floating so
far, shows thai her hull uniniured
The Forest Queen was taken in tow BY gunboat and
towed below without further damage The Silver Wave
did not receive scratch.
The Vicksburg batteries were passed in about IN
hour and quarter. Upon reaching Warrenton, our
gunboas took the initiative by pouring in their broad
sides the instant they reached position and 80 contin.
uous and terrific was their fire. that the enemy scarcely
ever attempted response
In fne the fleet ran the blockade, losing only the
transport Henry Clay, and man killed. and two
Others wounded the Benton This is ali our loss
which, considering the tremendous magnitude of the
dangers through which the e passed. Is next to none
., all.