The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-15

Colonel Eiet ordered 70 blow up our stea nooa, WIN
board, rather than have her fall into his way
seized a bundle OF loose cotton and was on IN ar
throw tho fatal famo into the powder magazn =, M
cordance with the arrangements and at that instA M
Iarboard wheel backed the boat instead, thu
retaining her In her perilous position when
The boa, and the lives Of all For the mistake was soon
perceived, and the Queen commenced moving out Col
Eet had just given orders to back out and into the
rebel againths time ino her stern, which
would have completely demolished herwhen the cry OF
"fre" was raised on board the ram. shell from
one Of the batteries had ignted Of the
cotton near The starboara wheel, " bile the dis.
charge OF the incendiary balls from the bow gun
had the cotton bales on Gre fire in 'front.' the smoke
rushing back into the engine rooms. We had partially
developed In flames not only the rebel steamboat but our
own 1t evident that II Colonel Eet waited to run
into the vicksburg second time he would have 10 lose
his Queen Accordingly he headed her down stream and
set all hands at work exnguishiDg ohe flames The cot
ton that was burning fastest thrown overheard aud
the hose played the remaining burning bales In TINS
way the fire was extngushed far as present SAFETY
was concerned but long afterwards II was ascer-
tanned that the fire still lurking in tho cotton ana
many bales tumbied overheard II was ut this
ne that the received most OF the dozen shots winch
hit her. that the board displayed such signal
courage exposing themselves u the concentrated fire
OF the rebel artillery and sharpshootes The queen hen
anchored below the mouth Of the proposed canal across
the neck of land she having received no material injury
II after the arrival this point that forwarded the
despatch containing some OF these particulars OF her
triumphant excursion past the vicksburg batteries.
Early on that Monday aferreon-as soon as Col. Elet
had officially informed the Admiral OF his successful pas
batteries gone hBtfOTo
and the remainder OF the Queens having come on
bOardthe started her adventurous cruise down
the Mississippi river She started about one O'Clock r
N. Passing Warrenton, a few miles below, tho enemy
opened re from eight guns upon her. Four0f the guns
were ried twenty FOUNDERS. More than fifty shots were
fred at her She was struck by only two OF them sus
tanning no injury whatever from either. Thence she
literally Queen OF the river till tho time OF her return
Col Eet stopped at fine Plantation on the Mississippi
shore the mouth Of the Big Black river The owner
sadibo was Union man, remakng that he had In his yard
shell thrown tusre by Admiral Farsaguts feet last sum
NJ hau-
Ing run the blockade Of tho vcksburg batteries had just
swept down the river by courier. Thus II was per-
tween vicksburg and Port Hudson. The Colonel en-
bnrkcd and proceeded again on his Journey was after
shutdown when the ram passed the mouth OF tho
Big Black river. she passed Natchez in the night
without creating any excitement whatever. Her
fame had not preceded her. Those who saw her
on the river OF concluded that she was o
Confedera steamboat the creduous OF persons
would have thought the presence OF Yankee gunboat In
that vicinity utter impossibiy On nearing Nachez,
fired upon from the rebel batteries said 10 be erected
there Natchez under the Iii' is handsome place No
batteries tho bluffs and tho Queen noated
past entirely unmolested.
Observing light, however, the opposite shore. Col
town on the Louisiana shore. lie threw out half dozen
pckets and went ashore himself accompanied by Lieut.
signs of life at Natchez but there considerable con-
stcrpaton Mt yadaia Twenty five thirty had APP
pareny just arrived from the interior Of the country
Vadaa was quite trading point. AS fast a. seven or
eight citizens collected by men they would be
placed In room, locked up and directed not TO leave
there, upon peril Of their lives. In this way seven or
eight persons took complete possession Of the place. In
common parlance. they "gobbled up' tho town. This
strange unanticpated proceeding cd the minds OF
the inhabitants with terror They we're completely over
whelmed with CONSERVATION. The over creduous might
have imagined that by hcbgobin process Lincoln had
swallowed Je Davis and that the whole confedcracy
gone At this time two horsemen we're seen riding past
Tho gray uniform Of and tho scabbard Of his sword
. rebel officer Colonel Elct ordered Lieutenant Tuth
70 halt him. As he did SO the rebel officer caught
cepsye manauyrs with his horse, suoesedsd in turning
him partially around. He was commanded 10 dis
mount, but instead Of doing so put spurs 10 his
fired two shots ~ him. but neither took eject,
and the rebel officer safely disappeared amid the
romantic moonlight His companion, who was captured,
said that tho officer who thus escaped Confederate
Colonel York. Az there tsle prospect Of surprising
any more Confederstes in that vicinity party
embarked on board heram and she once more resumed
her journey down the river. u.
tow hours later the Queen passed Ellis Gins on the
Mississippi shore. There evidence that the cIs
fortified She passed the mouth Of BOD river about
six oclack Tuesday morning About fifteen milcs be-
Our pilot was ordered 70 bear directly
down upon her Perceving the curious manner
her S 1sw her
whistle for bbat to turn TO the starhoard sde Sho
received no answer This was Of course strange not
the Queen her formidable PROV pointed straight at his
steamboat the Captain changed his course and ran his
transport towards the louisiana shore Tho water had
the land at this point and he could not get her
further in than about ten eot from the bank As the
the Confederate craft was visible To say the
least II was comical though, tho same
time was serious People were rushing aoou. on deck
and number Of Confederate occrs were seen sprngng
overload and swimming for the shore volley Of
usketry did not have the desired effect OF preventing
e ss in u1sher tight ORE
his bow gun into the steamboat The Captain complied
but happily the fuse failed or rather the gun did not 60
of. Had the gun been fred and bit the steamboat
nj the point designed II is probable that the shot
might have killed some Of the Indies who
the cabin The ram, however, was by this time
close enough for TO board her. Several jumped
deck and seized her and fired several shots
who still attempting to escape. This steamboat
proved TO be the A. w. Baker, who had discharged her
cargo Of rebel stores at Port Hudson and was return
Ing and bound up the Red river for another. We cap
tu cd her I'VE rebel captains, two first euiennnts So
vera civilians and ladies'. The colonel had scarcely
which had prevailed, and convinced the ladies'
that no would not njure any one on board,
when another steamboat was announced coming down
The river Leaving guard on the captured craft, and
taking the rebel officers board the ram COL Eiet
the Queen out into tho stream after the other steamboat
shot her bow brought her ~ immediately She
proved be the Moro laden with one hundred and ten
thousand pounds Of pork, five hundred live hogs, con
Siderable quantity Of salt and other stores for the rebel
forces Al Port Hudson
Having secured two prizss, Colonel Eliot, finding his
supply Of coal getting rather limited, concluded 70
rvtrrn. Accordingly he sent the two prizes JUST
ahead OF him. and was soon homoward bound. Hs
andcd . plantation on tho Louisiana side short
pus ashore the ladies with thor carriage horses and
their private property He also put ashore mott Of
the civilians, retaining, Of course the rebel Officers
Red river pilot among the civilians captured on the
Baker Ito persstcntly refused 10 give any information
,heed river and TO pertnacty added abuse
and nsolencc Colonel Eet at length told him be was
going 10 up Red river Al that very moment that
was matter Of total Indifference u him whether be
would give him any Information concerning the
river or would not but that hs che pIot)
must 20 into the pilot house with him, the
Colonel and would be held Instantly answerabie with his
fe any mishap that should befa tho Queen which II
In the Of the piic. TO prevent He grumbed
thought such . very Gespotic indeed. dis
coursod uepty the numerous bars 70 be crossed
but OF succnmbed and subsequently steerei the
ram carefully up Red river.
Whilst the ladies' and gentlemen being Put ashore
another steamboat posng down the Red river
She soon rounded TO NJ the firing of sbo, across
her bow. This third prize the Bar~icx Bay,
a nue side wheel steamboat. She had on board about
forty bales Of cuou two hundred barrels OF molasses
te hgshcads of sugar, and amoR other articles twenty
Ave thousand pounds of -four Some barrels aud
souc sacks. Several passengers found board
but no rebel soldiers just as she rounded TO- however
a bundle q pagers flung overheard, sesrch was
made FOR them but they could not recovered From
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