The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-27
Admiral POrterss Narrative Of tho
Construction and Career of his
ssDummy MOnitOr.,,

Admiral Porter's Narrative Of the
Construction and Career of his
ssDummy MOnitor.,,
[From the Washington Cor, of the n Y Herald
A private letter has been received here
by naval officer from Acting Rear Adj
miral Porter, which has created much
amusement in Cabinet circles. It seems
that Porter was much surprised to learn,
on the 25th of February, that the ram
Queen of the West was at Warrenton,
seven miles below Vicksburg, with the
rebel flag flying and steam up. The ac-
count Porter had received from Ellet led
him to believe that the Queen was in such a
condition that she could not be repaired
for some time. 81 knew" says Admiral
Porter in his letter, "that Brown could
take care of the Webb himself; but have
no idea that he will be match for the
Queen and Webb both amusing him at the
same time. The Indianola is weak yes
sci, and the only good thing about her is
her battery" He proceeds to say that
"during the time of the running of the
blockade by the Queen and Indianola, five
rebel guns were burst and dismounted in
their forts. Therefore it was an object to
make them fire as much as possible. l got
a mortar IN easy range, and opened on
that part OF the town where there was
nothing but army supplies, and soon pro-
vOked fire OF four of their heavy batter
les. The shell at first fell over the NOR
tar and around it, bursting close to our
men; but the range began to grow shorter
and shorter, until they let US have it all
our own way. Finding that they could
not be provoked without an object, /
thought Of getting up an imitation Moni-
tor. An old coal barge, picked up in the
river, was the foundation to build on. 1t
was constructed in twelve hours, of old
barrels, with pork barrels piled on top of
each other for smoke-stack, and two old
canoes for quarter-boat. Her furnaces
were built Of mud, and only intended to
make black smoke, and not steam. On
the night of the Oath, we heard, at nine
O'Clock, heavy guns, about fifteen miles
below. We knew that the rebels had
nothing but light guns there, which could
not be heard at any distance. So we
thought it was the Indianola engaging
the batteries at Carthage, about fifteen
miles below Vicksburg. Not knowing
that Brown was in peril, we let loose
our Monitor. 1t was tOwed to within
couple Of miles of the first battery,
and let 60, when it was discovered
by the dim light of the moon that Vicks-
burg was in stew Never did her bat
teries open with such a vim. The earth
fairly trembled, and the shot flew thickly
around the devoted Monitor, which re-
turned no shot with her long wooden gun.
The Monitor ran safely past all the bate
ries, though under heavy fire for ma hour,
and drifted down safely to the lower mouth
Of the canal, where she was tucked into
an eddy. The rebels were completely de-
cieved by her. AS soon as they saw her
by daylight, they opened on her again
with all the guns they could bring
to bear, but without a shot hitting
her to do any harm for the shot went
through one side and came out at
the other, without causing the vessel
to sink, as she was full of water already.
Our soldiers shouted and laughed like mad
men; but the laugh was somewhat against
them when, at daylight, we discovered the
ram Queen of the west lying at Warren
ton; and the question at once arose what
had happened to the Indianola Had the
two rams sunk her or captured her in the
engagement we had heard the night be-
fore. One or two Of the soldiers got the
Monitor out in the stream, and let her 90
down on the ram Queen. All the forts
commenced firing and Signalling, and as
the Monitor approached her, the ram
turned tail and ran down the river as fast
as she could go, the Monitor after her,
making all the speed that was given her by
a five-knot current. The forts at Warren
ton fired bravely and rapidly. and it was
reported that they hit our Monitor in
very vulnerable spot"
Abolition Abuse Of Gen. Banks.
We clip the following from the Faribault
hepujHcan, as a specimen of current abO-
lition abuse of Gen. BANKS. After ex-
pressing his contempt for Secretary SEW
ARD, as "a willy demagogue and crafty
politician the editor says:
So, too, with Gen. Banks. He has
heretofore been regarded as wise, sagac-
ious man, possessing in an eminent degree
the qualities of a statesman. But his New
Orleans experiment has knocked all such
ideas into pi. 1t is the first opportunity he
has had to show the world the real metal
Of the man, and his first act is to enter
into conspiracy with the rebels, in the
hopes Of conciliating them, to aid them in
the more effectual subjugation and oppres-
sion of the only loyal people in his district.
1t is an act which will tiage with the blush
of shame the cheek of every admirer of N.
P. Banks, who ever appreciated, even ap-
proximately, the dignity of honest industry
and manly toll.
We know the good book cautions US
against speaking evil of dignities, but Gen.
Banks has proved himself dignity that
neither God or loyal men are bound to re-
spect. He has proved himself the dirtiest
Of all the officiating crew that have dis
graced the Northern States. His suppress
sion of newspaper for urging the planters
to accept of compensated emancipation,
and his detestable order establishing q Sc
questration commission and covenanting
to enforce the obedience of slaves to dis.
loyal masters, by force of the United
States armies stamps him forever as one
of the lowest of the dirt-eating fraternity