The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-04

was answered by every vessel as they we're
ready. At Q As all the vessels were under
way in the order assigned by the Admiral,
viz: the Hartford, with the gunboat Albatross
| on her port quarter with hawsers to help the
| propelling power of the flagship; the Rich
mond next. with the tennessee ON her port
side to help her speed; the Monongahela,
with the Kneo on her port quarter; and last
of all the Mississippi. As soon as the feet
started all hands were beat TO quarters, guns
cast loose on both sides, and every man stood
al his post At 10 80 tugboat reached the
Mississippi with dispatches to the Admiral
from Gen. Banks, and steaming rapidly up,
communicated with him before he got under
fire. At III Is man stationed at the rebel
outposts to give the signal of the approach of
the feet attempted to throw up three rockets
but failed none went up; on the contrary,
one exploded before it left the ground, and
one went horizontally across the river which
being seen from above, in five minutes after, a
signal rocket went up which was Immediately
followed by the batteries opening on the feet.
The first shot fell short of the Hartford above
fifty yards. The Admiral reserved his fire
about five minutes AFTER the batteries opened.
THE REBELS LIGHT UP THE RIVER.
At this time large fire blazed up back
from the river in direct range of the point op-
posite the batteries, the design of which was
undoubtedly to enable the rebel artilerists to
obtain a more accurate range of the ships as
they came up. At III 80 the Hartford opened
fire, sending the contents of her whole star
board batteries into the rebel works. The
mortar vessels opened at the same time,
throwing shells as fast as possible, aud terri
hc cannonading ensued. Four bombs were
frequently seen in the air at once, appar-
emily falling within the rebel works, exploding
exactly in time, aud without doubt doing ter
rible execution, although we have no means
Of knowing the extent Of injury inflicted on
the enemy. The Essex opened with three
guns on the lower rebe; battery, and as the
rest OF the vessels came up they commenced
firing. The Mississippi fred her first shot at
III 80 from her pivot gun, which was answered
by the rebels with light artillery from their
lower batteries, their heavy guns being plant
ed above and at the town.
RICHMOND AND MoNoNGAHELA DISABLED.
The Richmond being the second ship in line
of battle, had succeeded In passing the priuci-
pal batteries, and had just rounded the point
when a shot passed through her steam chest,
temporarily disabling her, and compelling her to
drop down stream through the fire of the bat
teries which she had once passed. Her exec
utive officer, Lieut.. Commander A. B. Cum
mings, was standing by the side of Capt. AL
den on the bridge over the deck encouraging
the men, who were working the guns like he
roes, as they are, when shot from the rebel
batteries struck his left leg below the knee,
severing it from his body and knocking him
from his post He was carried below and
while suffering from his wound, he cried out
| In language worthy OF Lawrence-"Get the
ship past boys, and they may have my other
| leg" The same shot which took off the leg of
Mr.. Cummings first struck hammock, which
in turn hit Copmander Alden, knocking him
| from the bridge, but not seriously injuring
| him. The loss on the Richmond was three
| killed and nine wounded very severely. No
other officer was wounded except Lieutenant
| Commander Cummings. The ship was hulled
several times by shot from the rebel batteries
The Gennesee, which came back with the
Richmond, had three men slightly wounded
The Monongahea and Kineo. next in line,
also tailed TO get past Capt. McKinstry was
knocked off the bridge early In the action, but
fortunately his injuries are not Of a dangerous
character. The command of the ship. how
ever, devolved upon Lieut.. N. winslow Thom-
as, young officer of much promise, who at
| tempted 10 run the gauntlet, but owing TO the
/ dense smoke which enveloped the ship, the pi-
lot was unable to keep the channel, and she
grounded directly under the fire of one of the
! heaviest batteries, and in position exposing
| her to the most terrific cannonading. Every
exertion was made to get her off, which was
finally accomplished by the Kineo, which was
handled in an admirable MANNER notwithstand-
| ing her rudder was disabled by a shot Having
| got off, the Monongahela made a third attempt
TO proceed, and steamed up until the crank
| pin Of her engine became so heated as to disa-
BILE the machinery. She dropped to the posi-
ton of the mortar fleet. The Monongahela
had seven men killed. and twenty-one wound
ed, including several officers. No casualties
have been reported from the Kineo. The
bomb fiotilla worked well, but inflicted little
or no damage on the enemy.
THE MISSISSIPPI ASHORE.
The Mississippi was obliged to run slow
In order TO keep clear of the Monongahela
After she had passed all the lower batteries
and was nearly up to the bend of the river
directly opposite the heavy batteries, the
Kineo and Monongahela were observed to
stop, which compelled the Mississippi to
slow down, in order to keep the position as
signed her. In the meantime her crew were
pouring an incessant fire into the rebel batter
les. the flashes from their guns being the only
object at which, in the darkness and smoke
which enveloped the river, they could aim.
While this was transpiring the ship drifted
with the current over toward the point.
Discovering this, Capt. Smith-who during
the entire action had manifested the utmost
GOODNESS and bravery-gave the order to 60
ahead at full speed. The ship had gained full
themselves upon having passed through all
danger, the vessel up TO this time not having
received single shot, when she brought up
hard and fast on mud bar, which caused her
TO careen two streaks on the port side. This
was partly owing to the fact that her star
board broadside was fired at the moment the
the ship struck. She Immediately after right
ed and came 10 an even keel. The order was
given to back the engine. Up to this time
only one shot had struck her. and no casu.
alties had occurred. The officers and men
were at their station and working the guns as
Il nothing had happened, although the rebels
discovering the position of the ship, obtain
ed her exact range, she being only five
hundred yards distant, and were enabled to
hull her with nearly every shot.
PREPARATIONS TO DESTROY THE SHIP
The pilot reported that 1t was impossible to
keep the ship afloat, and Commander Smith
considering 1t both humane and judicious 70
abandon her to prevent her from falling into
the hands OF the enemy, at once gave the or.