The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-27


not have taken place. In view of such an
accident, and suffering from the shock, l
left the pilot house. / feel satisfied that
the pilot house is strong as any part of
the vessel, but the bolts will have to De
protected from flying inwards, which Can
be done in few hours.
INvULNERABILITY OF THE IRON-OLADs.
The enemy were hitting US every two
or three minutes, but in no wise doing the
vessel any harm.
The remainder of my experience of the
engagement is written from notes taken
below decks.
THE WOODEN VESSELS.
The gunboats threw in shells in fine
style, while the mortar schooner OCCASION
ally burst shell in their immediate vicin-
ity. The enemy returned their fire with
a large sea-coast mortar only, while they
paid their greater attention to the annihi-
lation of our little tower of iron. They
performed their part of the duty well !;
but we were put together in too substantial
a manner to be so easily used up, even by
accurate firing and heavy blows.
Our duel waged with great warmth and
without much variance in character for
some time. Finally, to me, it was quick
ly and materially changed.
AN UNKIND BLOW.
1t was just six minutes past II O'Clock,
I was standing in the wardroom, and in
conversation with DR.. Brayton, when a
most terrific blow was struck upon our
deck plating directly over my head. Twas
driven with much force into chair, and
my whole muscular system seemed for
about two minutes perfectly paralyzed. I
was faint, and could scarcely obtain my
breath. I never experienced such an I'M
pleasant sensation in the whole course of
my life. 1t was heavy shock to my whole
system. In fact it exceeded my expert
ence in the pilot-house, and I thought I
did wrong in quitting it. And while alb
sorbed in such thoughts, slam! came an
other such shot, but fortunately for me
at least, about six feet away from where
the first one struck. Weak as was, this
again gave me shock; and was forced
to say "That was the unkindest cut of all. :"
l soon recovered from the intense pain /
suffered, and resumed my notes, but I was
in some fear of having the dose repeated.
THE RECALL.
Captain WOrden recalled our little fleet,
and ordered them to steam down the river
out Of range of the enemy's guns and an
Choir. At few minutes before one
O'Clock We were at our old anchorage.
THE SHOT MARKS.
All hands were ON deck looking at the
effects of the enemys shot upon US, and
it was not long before they were joined by
others from the gunboats, who had seen
the shot strike US, and came on board to
see the marks We bear some marks of
a heavy hammering, and yet We are as
good as new-better we think-as we
show proof marks of our invulnerability.
We were struck by the enemy's projec-
tiles as follows: Turret, Is times; Pilot
house, 3 times; Smokestack, 7 times !;
Side armor, times; Deck armor, s times;
Gig, /; Cutter, l; Mooring spars for boats,
q; spare anchor, /; FlagstatfS shot away,
2; Total, 4S.
WONDERFUL RESISTANCE OF OUR PLATING.
The enemy put two Of his shots quite
near our port holes, both being between
the inner line of them.
The pilot house was struck with one
ritled and two round shot.
The smOkestack is we'll ventilated,
and looks something like pepper box
for a giant The holes do not injure it's
draught.
The side armor is well marked; bu
the indentations in 40 wise injure the
vessel.
The deck armor is badly SCARED; but
no i'll effects accrue from them, and it is
believed that the deck will not leak at the
point of intact.
The boats can be easily repaired and
the spars replaced. One of our spar an
chors, which was dashed at the base of the
q shot
The flag staff at the stern was shot
away, the flag falling over the stump,
where it remained through the action, and
till taken down by our quartermasters.
The staff on the pilot house, which bore
the pennant, was also cut away, while the
forward staff, withan ensign flying, escaped
unframed The flag received nine holes
through it in our first fight.
IL Is HUI CApOSiie, Jul "eCUNo Of/o' UNC&i
when say that at eight O'Clock gun every
night all our battle matches are secured as
if we were going into action; our guns are
loaded for men or vessels; our crew armed
to repeal boarders, and everything ready
to slip our cable and go ahead fast. We
do not know the moment the enemy may
attempt to annoy us, but [ think we car
give them more than they bargain for.
On the 1st instant, the Montauk and
other vessels in the fleet, again repaired te
the vicinity of Fort McAllister, but this
time to capture or destroy the rebel steamer
Nashville:
OUR ANCHORAGE.
At five minutes past seven O'Clock W.
let 90 our anchor about twelve hundred
yards below the fort, and veered out fit
teen fathoms of cable, and in two minutes
thereafter we let ship an eleven-inch shell
at the object of our aims and desires
There she lay, hard and fast at abou
twelve hundred yards distant, good mari
as the sequal will show.
THE FIRST SHOT.
The instant we fired our first shot tn
battery fired three guns at us, and in thirt.
seconds thereafter another one. But w
did not pay any attention to them, and LET