Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-21
Capture Of tEe Queen of the Wesr-Fnrther
Particulars.


EurticuIarss
From the Mississippianl
From q gentleman direct from Natchez, we
have some further particulars of the capture of
The Queen Of the West.
On Wednesday of last week the Queen ran
past Nstchez and anchored two miles below.
The DeS0to followed her. stopping Just above
The landing, where she destroyed several fat
boats and skiffs. From one OF the fats she took
shree boys prisoners. who were Tsised in Natchez.
The Qleen of tie West remained at suchor, in
protecting distance, while these deDTedations
we're carried out by the DeS3to. They both
then steamed away together. the bows having
been Plecsd on the Queen of the West
The two vessels proceeded down the river. en-
tered Red river, and at or near the mouth of the
Atchafalaya bayou. the Era No. 8, with q load
Of corn for Port Hudson, was captured. They
were fred upon a. the mouth of the Atehefalaya
by a light battery, when the captain of the Queen.
Of the West was killed. Ia revenge they steamed
down the bayou aud utterly destroyed six plan
tations by Smelling them
They pressed the pilot Of She Era No. 3. who
deceived them IS 70 the location and strength Of
0ur batteries. One of The boys captured at
Natchsz heard Colonel Elicit repeatedly assert
that beio,s lie would surrender he would blow
the boat up, ont when he vas 6Tsd upon By our
batteries, bis festher Immediately wilted and his
tA4J AuAtrtf vas tH5 hhtttF OF fa3 precious
person. He was afborWlrd seen floating down
the river on a bsle Of cotton The Courier has
the following report Of the affair:
Tho engagement las ed about one hour. when
twenty five Of the crew were talen prisoners, ten
or Twelve dro Fasd, and Colonel Z lets, who was
in command of the Queen, eowagdlY f0rsook his
boat and 1Jated dewn the stream on a cotton
bale His own crew shot at him for his COW
ardice.
Tae Queen hsd on board six heavy guns
Tho Deooto was scustled and sunk by her crew,
as well IS the coal boat in tow.
The Era No. 5, being in possession of the
Federal guard below tie scene of action, she
soon put ont to the Mississippi river, bringing
withher cur informant, ThOmss O'Bfan, who
was eh0st in the TiYerOn ae3tion bale. and who
brings us this intelligence, About ten miles
below Natahez, the Era No. 3 me- the Federal
gunboat Indisnola, carrying four Ii-inch guns,
and about two hundred men. Here both boats
cams 70 anchor, and our informant made his
escape.
Young O'Brian and two Others, were kept on
board tbe.Q leen Of tie West as prisoners, during
the attack # our batteries. He says that every
shell from tee Confederate batteries carried des-
truction to the boat and crew. The first shell
conlpletely cleared the gun deck Of her men,
and the second came crashing through her en-
gines, cutting her steam pipe ia twain, and COM
plesely disabling the gunboat. Size would soon
be got off for repairs.
o. the Era. when taken, were two Confeder-
ate officers aud twenty-five privates. The pi-
VASES were paroled
The victory On Red river was complies. The
amount of stores taken is large
The prisoners taken from the Queen, threaten
to shoot Col. Elicit, for his dssertion of them
and cowaedice, whenever they ovsrtake him.
TIE lpdisnola gUnbost and prize, (the Era
D. were as sls f00I of fs4zLra leland whau
Informant left last evening. The officers of
the ladanola were discussing the proprity Of
visiting Red river.