The New York herald., 1863-03-06

dor Thus the Quest Of the West with all her gums and
ammunition fell prize into the hands OF enemies
The De Soto was less than q mile below where the
accident 70 the Queen Of the West occurred
as near the point as prudence justified She picked up
the foaters, and sent her yawl for the survivors,
but before reached the Queen of the West all who
remained on board were in the enemys hands
river banks began to be lined with soldiers who de-
manded In voices plainly discernble by those on board
the surrender Of men swimming for their lives. Fear
Ing reenactment OF the White river tragedy Colonel
Ee thought proper to order the De Soto down
the river She turned aud slowly foated down with
The steamer had proceeded more than three miles
before she ran aground in sharp Of the river and
unshipped her rudder For Afteen miles ana for three
hours she was unmanageabe, and moved with tho
rent somstimes head ON and at other times stern
eleven O'Clock she reached the Era, and found the
and prisoners undisturbed The coal barge had sunk,
and COL Eet was forced to leave it.
DESTRUCTION OF THE
cond rudder to be unshpped. she was now totally IN
manageable and there alternative left but to
destroy her. man was sent on board who knocked out
her water pipes and then laid train TO keg OF powder
placed under the boilers and setting slow match re
the Era had barely time to move hundred rods be-
magnificent thirty FOUNDER Parrott the chief object
OF Colonel ets care lies forty feet below the surface OF
the river.
was nearly twelve O'Clock Saturday night before the
Era was we'll under weigh again. Colonel Ellet knew
above Notwithstanding, and he was certain she would
attempt TO pursue him. AL hands set TO work
throw overheard the corn with which she lad and
In the fog thunder lightning and rain she worried her
way out Of the Red river into the Mississippi They cursed
tho fog them they bic ssed II afterwards
Sunday morning the Era had reached the mouth Of
Old river AL day long, with no fuel but the corn with
which she was laden and few cords Of water soaked
cypress which she found the bank Of the Mississippi
and with which she FOUND IL impossible to make steam
enough to give headway the leeng steamer attempt
ed to the Forty miles in
10 poor sailing under the most unavorable
run aground This delayed her three hours How this
delay affected the fugitycs may easily be imagined They
that the webb at Alexandria, sixty miles above
Gordons Landing and they felt assured she would start
In pursuit when she heard oil their repuse a Fort lay
lor At the best, even IL she laid over for the foga
but short distance behind. Those on board, antici
patng their capture discussing the probabilities OF
escape by skiis and yaws TO Port Hudson.
THE IRON CLAD IyDANoLA.
The carpenter had managed TO construct spar from
the forest where the Era was aground and after
three hours hard work the steamer was afoat again.
Colonel ule first duty afterwards was 70 place the pilot
They had inst passed Ellis cliffs when, through the
fog the lookout discovered tho black chimney Of
passing Az that distance, and because the hull
Of the steamer was still cnveopsd in dense vapor
impossible TO make her out That she burned coal, az
was evident from the black smoke pouring from her
chmncys enough TO satisfy the crew Of her charac
ter lit WAS the federal steamer lndianoa" No more
fear Of the webb.
The Era was laid alongside the Indansla and coaled
The had eaten nothing ior thirty six hours and
were nearly famighed. rhe indianoa fed them. They
were coatess and boctess, Of them, and the In
dianoa clothed them rney had lost their and
munton in the Queen and these we're supplied by the
lndianola,
Scarcely the Era well settled in her new position
beside the lndianoa when steamer hove in sight The
fog just trg and she could eas ly be distinguished
1t the vortable Webb. IN two hours she would have
recapLured the Fra, The anchor was hoised and the
decks OF the ironclad cleared for action Two of her
eleyen.nch bow trained upon her, and when
within two miles of Ellis Gill; under the shadow Of
which the Webb was lying two shot each weighing $50
pounds were sent bowling over the waters after her
They unfortunately fell short, and the rebel steamer
turned upon her heel and started down the river like
greyhound slaekened he speed until two hours after
she entered the mouth OF Red river. Her consogtsthe
Douboon, Grand luke and Grand Era were but short
distance behind, and they too, disappeared up the Red
river with the Webb. H
The Indanola, with the Fra, lay TO during the night
for the Jog The Weub could run three miles TO their
one, and IL was madness 10 continue the chase.
The fog did clear o6 until next day, ust as they
reached The mouth Of Old river. Here they laid at
chor until Wedne sday noon, when the Era cast on and
started on her peroos journey up the river.
The Era stopped at the plantation OF the minor heirs
of the late Dr. jenkins, FIVE miles above the mouth Of
Red river ana Colonel rlet sen, detail to examine the
gnhousc for cotton Three hundred bales were found
and all the negroes this and the neghborng planta
tions we're impressed 70 roll u hundred rode TO the
bank Of the river. Three rows OF cettcn then
placed the guards Of the Era around her boilers and
machinery, Ard a brosstwork formed high enough TO
snarpSnOOttTS. lOOnel
het had no of rebel gunboats so long the Indano
Ia was below him but he did fear their rifles bat
teries and protected himself as wen as possible from
them.
The Era passed Natchez Thursday morning aud be
FORE the citizens out in crowds TO her. just
They doubtless belonged 10 the courier post stationed
there aud from thence the fact Of the Erss escape would
be widely known.
Az st. Joseph, ia early Friday morning, Colonel Eiet
soldiers 70 their friends at home and from these he
thagc AZ the latter place Is rebel army the soldiers
said thousand strong and they hoped to "gve the
Era hen' ~ shs passed mp the river.
GRAND GULF RArrERY.
The rebels bad placed masked battery Of two small
hed pieces 10 OF the ravines the face
bluns at Grand Gulf twenty ee above the waters edge,
With which they opened upon the Era as she came
abreast of them The shot whisted aarmngy near one
exploding at the wstcrs edge, another between the
smoke stacks, and stu another Just behind the pilot
house. Fortunately not OF the forty shots nred
proved effective and Just tho Era range and
tho last shot exploded the pilot most tauungy blew his
n,rrwRlys At WV CARTHAGE
TAT New Carthage Colonel Eet had been cd to EXPECT
an attack Just before no reached the tho euey
Opened upon him from the opposite side of
the river doubtless their intention 81 compel The
Era 10 take the shuie of the siand the batteries
This would taken her within hundred feet OF ia
runs Colonel Eiet anticipating this instead ~ taxing
the st shnte kent up the right all the tune aud wes for
several miles exposed 20 the hre OF their sharpshooters
The Era's cabin still bears the evidences Of this
nre. but the kent below, behind the cotton
buigark and 30 escaped unhurt.
Palmyra Island lies directly in front Of New Carthage
When the Fra passed the upper point " this ISLAND tie
batteries opened Ike rack ct hounds 10 fui chorus
These guns we're formidable than those NJ Grand
Cult There Nere .hsee y them ,we,so FOUNDER riacs
traper channel the Island they fe hlg
ssoit There were thirty 81, shots from tats battery
asfTrsiGs n WARvgyfuN
Witru ha mas a.