Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-03
FATE OF THE rRroATE MISSISSIPPI

FA ~ OF lttE 4 hl0Al " MlNOlSOlIIl.
We subjoin the following very interesting
particulars Of the self-destruction of the
steam friea,e Mississippi in the recent attack
upon Port Hudson, consequent upon her
grounding in the centre of the range Of the
rebel batteries. Lieut.. Dewey Of this town,
bore conspicuous part in this engagement,
and the fact that these officers have been
placed in immediate command of the Monon-
gahela, and reported as having already steam
ed up the river shows that they are not easily
cowed by rebel shells:
That the Mississippi should have grounded is sub
jec FOR astonshmen IL is strange It Is ptovidcn-
al that all the vessels did run ashore in the dense
smoke that prevailed. told that the Richmond
ualy touched at one time right under the most formn
uaoe OF inc batteries but that she soon got OIL can
not vouch for the fact, however But s true that just
as we we're turning arouLd torpedo exploded under our
sen throwing the water up nearly as high As our miz
Eenmast head The gallant ship quivered in every tim
Der from the conclusion but am happy to say she did
In the dense smoke that prevailed excluding every OBJ
cc from view the glorious old Mississippi went ashore
right opposite the centre aud worst battery She was
soon discovered by the enemy. Up TO this time she had
not sustained any serious injury. She became
standing target for the whole range Of rebel batteries
The position Of the Mississippi was immnenty perlous.
The rebels began to pour into her perfect shower Of
shot and she'll which promptly returned by the Mis-
sssippi his mutdcrOus work continued for half an
hour during which time several men on board the steam
cr must have been killed. though this cannot be asserted
as certainty. Finding It impossible TO escape Captain
smith Judicousy but reluctantly, gave orders 70 set the
ship on fire TO prevent her falling into the hands OF the
rebels Accordingly her after part fred the rebels
all the time continuing pour In their shot and shell as
fast as they could bring their guns TO bear During this
part of the fewer than hundred and hy
rounds were fired from the Mississippi The artillery
practice Of the rebels would have been worthy u better
cause The Mississippi rddcd through and through.
-Four men were known 10 have been killed ere the ship
All mod hon Actin Mnafar krllV
the whole Of whose ahodmeu was shot away. Three
were ascertaiued to have been wounded. There may
have been casualties but r Is impossible to
tell TO what extent At present though great many eH-
aggcraed stories aoat the subject Several
known 90 have jumped overheard after the ship was
set ON he and there can be no doubt that some OF them
drowned
Soon after the vessel had been fred two shells came
crashing through her exploding and setting fire to
tufpentne and oil which they upset This caused the
flames to spread whereupon masters mate hurried
the gundeck and reported that the flames had reach
ed the entrance 10 the magazine The ship was then at
once abandoned, and all hands board. including the
wounded men, were put shore on the hank Of the 'er
opposite to Port Hudson This accompanied by
deaienng yell Of cxultaon from the rebels percev-
ing the blazing up VI the ii'e The Mississippi burned
ul she become ghtened to which the removal Of nearly
hee hundred men contributed, when she swung on mo
deep water She had grounded With her head up srtami
but on swinging of she turned completely round pre-
senung her head down the ryer which position she re-
tanned ill she blew up.
AT length it was reported on board the Richmond that
the Mississippi coming down aud we all turned
]
hcenl spectacle From the midshps to the stern the
noble vessel was enyeloped In sheet Of flame, while
hre-wteAths run up the shrouds playing around the
mainmast twisted aud wrcaihed like fiery scrpents -
onward She came, keeping near 70 the rgut bank sun
uow foremost. regularly II she steeed by pr
lot II was, indeed wonderful sight. Captain smith,
her recent commander, and several Of her officers who
had by this time arrived board the Richmond,
bed on the poop deck their emotion almost too great
! for words Next TO his wife, children or sweetheart,
there Is nothing that sailor loves than his ship
nothing that he regret the loss Of 80 much, and in the
absence Of the above mentioned domestic ties his ship
is TO him, wife children and sweetheart The feeling Of
regret at the loss q his ship is enhanced when as IN the
case Of The Mississippi, the gallant craft has obtained
historical renOwn. No wonder then. that the officers Of
the Mississippi should feel sinking the heart wit
messing the desructen Of their floating home while they
were pow eflcss to save her.
As she arrived opposite the port side Of the Richmond
some apprehension entertained that her port broad
SIDE might give us parting salute Of not " - agteea-
bic nature Captain Smith assured Captain Alden how
ever that her port guns had been all discharged just
as she had cleared her sarboard guns began 20 OIL
MS was accompanied by the explosion of the shells she
had on deck ready for use These exploded al short in
ter'als The flames now began to increase in volume
from amidshps TO the stern, aud the howiizer the
maibop discharged with the heat Msesiicsly the
gallant cTa--gaant even IN its last MON ents-moved
down the stream Till turning the bend at the lower part
OF Prophet Island. she hidden from view, and
nothing more but bright glare, shooting up
sklward. Shell after shell still exploded at intervals,
aud thus couple 81 hours passed away, till the Misss
sippi eight ten miles below the Richmpnd.
he shells now began to explode more rapidly, indioat
ing that the FIRE had reached The shellroom apd cannot
/ he TAR from the powder magazine This proves 10 be
the fact for presently sudden glare of bright hame
shoots upwards towards the zenith, spreading skywafd,
in the form OF inverted cone an interval OF few sec
onds elapse. then comes stunning roar causing the
Richmond 30 tremble from tuck 10 kcelson, and the
gallant Mississippi, that so long had brayed the battle
and the breeze, is more; all that remains of her is
sunk in the bosom Of the mighty river nom whence she
derived her name
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