, 1864-11-06
FROM PADUCAH. 80
CAPTURE Of the Gunboat
Undine'
Authentic Details Of the
Affair,

+ From the Psducsh Federal Union-Extrs --Nov.a.]
Great anxiety prevails respecting tha cap
ture Of the geinooat IS, the Undne, Capt.
Bryant, who has permitted ns to make tho
extracts from bis official report.
On the nirht. Of. tho 4ots, tha -ua1s-se.%sa-
choted et TIC foot OF White Oak Island to
that poi3 RaFy yboa ff manght the
transport Anna came down and anchored IN
der tie guns Of the Undine. On the morning
Of the S0tn. the gunhoat conveyed the Anna
past the bridge and when At the fo9t & o. san. ~
river: The gunboat was Immediately cleared
for action, and proceeded in the direction OF
the firing, keeping sharp lookout for the
enemy, On coming abreast OF Paris Landing
ehe was hailed BY man ashore, "Gnnooat,
halt" The engines were stopped ana me
boats speed was stopped, When, at that mo-
ment she was opened on from neaVy IRE Of
ar111lery, Rounding to, the Undine engaged
the battery for IS minutes, her shells having
good effect. Finally, the tro became 50 raplo
aud destructive, TINT the boat t'as paeSea
Midway between Paris Landing, and Fort
Bieman, for the purpose Of warning trans
uo1ts Of danger, and to repair damages, two
shells having passed through the steam pipe.
Soon after anenorlng, ihe E; battery adsat u the
The shells falling short about 100 yards. As
night was approaching the boat Was moved
to the LEFT bsnk with the intsntfon Of run
nirg the gauntlet Of the lower battery under
coysr Of darkness, abe had scarcely taken
her new position, when lalge force Of anss mus,
heavily, keeping up the fl1e for three hours,
| and we're briskiy replied to BY the broadBfde
| gnrs, which moved them down IN great
| numbers. At 2 O'Clock P. n, the sharp
| shcoters ceased nring, and au renamed quiet
| rebels planted 3 battery Of three rihed guns,
backed By 5000 infantry, who opened ter
| rtic fire upon the doomed gUnboat. CRp.
tain Bryant determined to fight his ship III
| the last, aud rapidly returned the TIRE With
grape and capister, which was kept up for
SOME time, the enemy suffering severely. j,
F1nally, the steamplpe was again cut, au9
the eteam escaptng, the ship was rendered
helpless She was run to the right baok,
aud finding further resistance was IN vain,
the boat being in sinking condition, having
receive three shells in the hull, the Captain
ceased firing a1d ordered the colors to bt
struck in token Of surrender No attention
waa paid to this surrender, however, BY tn
enemy, who Kept up continual DISCHARGE Q
artillery and rausketry, sho wing no quarters
the surrender, It was resolved to fire tn
beat, which was done, after every gun va
discharged and as nlauY spiked as possible
: ard the order given for the officers and cre'
! | to save themselves IN the best manner poss
BILE. The UDaine was thus abandoned, aft:
!
be found in the annals Of history.
J During the early part Of the fight tt
transports ChtesDan and Venus c2use dow
the river, the Venus In advance. Tho Vent
: passed the upper battery in safety, and eau
tending to run tue fnwer battery togesa'
! during tie night. The CheesEan, less to
: innate, had her steam pipe cnt, and 1osir
a oil her stlam, surrendered ard vas takt
i possession OF By the enemy. Tha Venus.
j attempting to escape, .hscam7 the target
r the lower battery. and Was severely cut
l. and her Captain, John Alien, killed.
r The armament Of the Untine consisted
). eight "a pound no o~itzers. She lost s!x NJ
killed and eight wounded, three Of the
( Morta1iy.
3 The list Captain bryant heard Of bis boz
i. che lay with ber head on the bank snd
i. item sunk. Deserters report mat the feo'
i have plugged up her holes, and have /
= ready 1or 1erylce again. The rebel force
4 the tort is L, 600 mcn.