The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-10-15

passed through her boilers an1 completely d'Sssle1
her. She yyed past b. her coasort tae ,a1eaa
Thus far We had succeeded well. We passed out OF
range, and began clear away the marks OF the cen
fict. The Tennessee had withdrawn under the guns
of the fort for the purpose q resting her crew, but
soon steamed boldly out 30 meet Ard now allow
me a word two, bv way Of explanation, lest you
think that this Of single ship offering ta fight
whole deet one Of extreme fooishness. TIE TeHnes-
see i tie fo-uaifa5le vessel built She i
more than two hundred feet long her sides of four
feet solid oak covered with eight inches of iron Al
the water line her sides solid. eight feet in thick
ness. Thus built she was thought 10 he iuyulneraoe.
Added 10 ali these advantages, sharp - e prov,
intended for .'ramming" In comparison with her, the
Atlanta" IS trfing, and the -hlerrImac me-
ty. Her commander was Admiral Buchanan q
few years ago officer thought be unsurpass
ed for skill and bravery hv any IN Navy Tie
commander of the 'MerriuAe when she wrought such
havoc among shipping Hampton roads. IA the
spring II 1852. series Of such successes had male
him Admiral ani Commander in Chief Of the rebel
NAVY. He had promised T. sink ct destroy whole
feet should ever venture inside OF Mobile Bay
We we're now inside the Bay ard be the only
rebel LEFT floating. and although uninurei, escape
impossible, and he driven +" tie hard choice
between surrcn ering being pounded into suhuis-
sion IL chose the latter, and boldly up the
scratch. His avowed intention fight tie Hart
ford first. The other ships ordered by signal TO
close with him. which they dii with viii. But their
shots br. k to pieces against the vessels armer
glanced harmlessly fram her iron s,des while their
I "ramming' had effect. than had the effects
Of that other ram who with spuak than julg
uent chose to butt grud-stone' He came tearing
on. regardless of the petng Of the iron hail, and
the time bearing down upon him. / am
Quaker YOU know, and not given t. enthusiasm, but
| will confess that began be interested III the
affair. Like Richmond and Richard Al Bosworth field,
Farragut and Buchanan were hunting for each other,
decide by personal strife, the fate Of the dtv. We
out maunuvere our antagonist anl instead Of r-eejv
ing the thrust of his iron prov, struck him tire
mendous blow his port bow. The two vessels
swung side and side antagonists broad>i5e Of
$50 pound shells through Us, while At the
time gave him the full fierce Of port battery.
The creaking of the ships and the roaring Of guns,
/ and bursting shells, unlike the commotion
/ OF volcanoes and earthquakes and doubt not would
have upset the eguinimity Of nervous man. We
turned about and made at him again but when the
/ smoke cleared away, the Tennessee had hung cut
white flag. Our enemy completely disabled. He
received broadsles when not more than ten feet
distant His smoke stack shot away, StearnE gear
disabled, plates of iron ripped off by shots port
shutters famed, and commanders leg shattered he
battle three hours after the firing Of the first gun
our complete, and when the force opposed
to US is taken into the account may say, without
fear of contradiction that the history Of Naval
fare does show an equal
Pardon me for being tedious l began a tell YOU
my experience, but almost unconsciously have
given YOU lengthy of the fight. The Surgical
force of ship of the Fleet surgeon Sur
geon Lansiae and myself We prepared to
the wounded, in the main hold Of ship, below
the water line. and Of out Of reach Of
mys missiles But this place soon became more than
full leaving the other two there, l went on the
deck above and received the wounded there. They
thick and fast but taking two or three men from
the powder division assist me- managed de ali
that was possible under the circums tances. l saw
Gods image mangled AMI torn in every conceivable
form. When grapplel with the Tennessee, her
"Aole broaisir passed the port of the ship was in.
One she'll exploded and knocked down half dozen
men. stopped to apply touruquet 70 the stump
OF one poor fellows when another burst piece
sticking the in the breast killing him INSTANTLY
man by my side was torn to pieces, Of his
struck in the face and almost knocked me o
nv feet. Ny chest Of medicines and surgical aPpii-
ances shot away, and l directed the nurse.
faithful fellow. who had been with me through more
than one tempest, to g below and bring others Re
ceiving no reply, turned and saw him dead behin3
me. Hooked for others but none could do NV bidding
every il that part Of the ship, dead or severe
ly wounded, and some whose wounds had jast cared
for, were killed outright. l jumped below, procured
the means, and has.ened back t. nv v 1rk 1t was
little could do among many. And still thev came
The deck blood fragments ot human fesh-pieces
of legs and discovered hands and feet were
scattered around. Before me Law 4 headless BODY
willie little ways of was = head without a body
Amid dead and the dying and the shrieks aud groans
of the wounded COVERED with the blood Of nv COM
rades and besPatered with their brains deaecned
and stunned by the explosion Of shells worked on
regardless Of time. and thoughtless # self The fear
ful strife enied at last. The word was passed that
the enemy had surrendered and We were completely
victorious Wounded and dying men ia.ae5 in the
vic!oriou, shout. One who had lost toth arms forget
his misfortune, spr-ns bjs Ge-t AMI attempted to
clap his hands The effort reminded him of his wound
but be shook his mingled stuuPs anI declared that
j: he had forty arms. he would give them all fer the
glory of that moment. One diving hero turned 70 the
dead friend by his side and said what pity he
c, ud not live to s-e it For myself was unaiurei
save slight scratch on the right am ani few fine
PARTICLES q shell driven into my right 'ec. But
had endured three hours Of almost suyerHur1an toll
But now the cause of crca: ezcrtau ended
action followed and fell exhausted aa3 faintuE OF
the deck. My boy Daniel a taitatal African. who
than once has done lie good service. brought
basin Of water towel, cup of caee and crus
{ Of bread. VAS soon refreshed and At work again
nor did cease iabors until all wounded wers
rs comfortable as We could make them, and board
Steamer. enroute fer Hospital Of Pensacoia.
Fraternallv. WILL. COMMONS.
Keepit Before the People