Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
s ana a ths ssttsTy vas very hsavy oIs dstsriasa
to pass H. which done under the heaviest IRE ever

practicable, lot her drift down around the point and
sheed the enemys batteries in the This disturbed
them for moment and enabled the lght-drafs Juliet AND
pump boat Champion dashed together TO escape from
der The bank where they had drted The Juliet had the
steam pipe and became disabled having drted cea
from under the guns of the enemy and close into the bank
where the guns could not be depressed to reach them and
from whence the Champion towed her in safety when the
Hindman opened her batteries aud this vessel firing
into the Of the enemys batteries.
Seeing that the Hndman did not pass the batteries the
Juliet disabled and that of the pump boats had her
boiler exploded by shot, down to point three
four miles below where had ordered two to be
ready to meet in of necessity Unfortunately
shore short time after passing the batteries aud
remained there three hours took fire 10 the mean time
from the poon of cartridges the box containing
which had been struck by the enemys shot 1t after
dark when reached the appointed place. where found
the Usage lying opposite field battery OF the enemy,
which they had been Smelling throughout the day The
Lexington had been hard at work at them, and had
been hued fifteen times, without one man killed The
firing above had ceased and the channel very ntr
cate could not send her up to the assistance of the
sells without danger of her getting aground knew that
they all above the batteries and in hopes that
the HndmaD had slenced them
Lieut. Com Phelps had two vessels in charge-the Ju-
et and Championwhch he wished to get through safely
He kept them out OF range until ne could partially repair
the Juliet and then starting under heavy fire he made
push by. Unfortunately the pump boat disabled and
set fire to aud burnt up. The Hindman had her wheel
ropes cut away and ded past turning round and round
and getting well cut up in going BY The juliet was cut
to pieces in hull and machinery, had fifteen killed and
wounded -Four miles below they met the Masho going
up too late to cover them Had she arrived in time she
could likely have cleaned out the batteries, at least d.
verified the fire of them until the passage OF the boats
enclose the report Of Lieut.. Comdg Phelps from the
time Of his first misfortune until his arrival at this place.
where with all the fleet having lost of tho
gunboats but very much surprised that have any lei
considering the difficulties encountered
When the rebels had followed our army to the point
where they could effect no more all their attention was
turned to the little squadron had escorng the Eastport
Every and gun brought to the river and we had
to contend against such odds that it seemed impossible to
escape destruction or very severe handling NO vessels
were ever better fought and of this class (mere
thread paper vessels) under hot fire. In
FIVE MINUTES the Cricket struck thrtyeght times with
solid shot and SHE'LL with loss of twenty three killed and
wounded-ha her The Juliet about the same with
fifteen killed and wounded. The Hndmsn lost three killed
and four or five wounded.
may have lacked Judgment in not blowing the East
port up sooner, when found that secondary
consideration to the army but as had stad behind my
self the last transport through safely could not do
less with one of my own vessels was unable to keep
up communication with the army; as the means OF com
muncation with them, and as they marched along
faster than calculated, (fory miles in one day. when
supposed they would only go twenty) was further in
their than should have been. This arose from my
desire the EastpOr and hoping that some signal
success the part of the army (Which felt confident
able whip all the rebels in that part of the country
would dispose of the enemy altogether
From the beginning of this expedition up to the present
time the officers and of this squadron have worked
with superhuman zeal and overcome difficulties which
seemed nsurmounabe. The of the expedition
L
transports safely to appointed place, Springfield Land
ing, which would have put in communication with the
army and then in possession of all their materials of war
This accomplished and when the army returned UNI
expectedy fought way back again without loss of
any kind, excepting men, nfcng loss Of five hundred
On the enemy killed their best General, (Green) and
q number of his officers.
On our way down to Alexandria obstacles were over
enough appa the soutest heart Guns had to be
taken of vessels and then jumped and
logs and the squadron arrived here in time to prevent any
attack on our reserve stores.
The difficulty about water is most unusual one, and
must certainly have of the few feet want before
the end of the All the rivers booming at this
time, and it should be 30 here am no more responsible
for the failure of water here than would be the Mssis
pp went dry at this thing that happened
yet up here with the the rise, and water
enough for largest vessels aud my way up
Shreveport from Grand Ecore the water while
menced falling where left the largest gunboats Falling
ports and the material which army OF thirty thou
sand depended. Nothing would justify in doing
80. have still confidence in good Providence which
will not desert and confidence that the nation
will not permit this feet to be sacrificed when it has
well performed its part 10 what should have been COM
pete success.
In conclusion beg leave to mention the brave COOL
and jealous in which Lieutenant Commander
Phelps worked to get his vessel out Of her difficulties,
losing his faith for single moment Also the hand
in which he brought the two fragile gunboats
past those batteries cheating the enemy Of the prize they
had promised themselves. To Acting Volunteer Lieut.
john Pearce commanding the Fort Hndman great praise
due for the efforts he made night and day to get the
PASSPORT off, working his officers and until they could
hardly stand. Acting Master Geo. w. Rogers, of the
Pttsburg deserves great credit for the in which
be worked at the bukheads Of the Eastpor up to his
middle in water for eight days to him entrusted the
duty of stopping the leak, which he fsy accomplished
under the most trying circumstances Acting Master
s. Watson defended his vessel in the most tan manner,
and never a vessel more cut up
Where all do their duty it hard 10 discriminate; but
when the record of this expedition oyerhauled the
of Commander r. Townsend, commanding ESSEX Lieu.
tenant Commander j. L. Phelps, EastpOrt; Lieutenant
Commander Watson Smith, Chillcotbe Temporarily y
Lieutenant Commander X k. Breese Black Hawk; Lieu
tenant Commander Z. Foster, Lafayette; Lieutenant
Commander j. s. Greer, Benton Lieutenant Commander
L. X. Owen, Louisvlle Lieutenant Commander j. O..
Mitchell, Caondeet Lieutenant Commander +. M Ram
sey, Choctsw Lieutenant Commander T. o. Sefridge,
Usage Lieutenant Commander Byron Wilson, Ouchita;
Lieutenant Commander George NJ. Bach, Lexington
Lieutenant Commander, \. w Terry, Benefit, naval
transport } Acting Volunteer Lieutenant w. X. Hoe
Pittsburg Assistant Volunteer Lieutenant Samuel How
ard, Neosho; Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George w.
thorne Mound Cty Assistant Volunteer Lieutenant John
Pearce, Fort Hindmsn Acting Master III. H. Garrlnge
Crcket Assistant Master j. 5. Watson juliet; Acting
Master Charles Thatcher, Gazsle should stand promi
nent having zesousy performed every thing required OF
them with an ability deserving Of the highest praise
deem it necessary 10 send you bearer OF dispatches
who will explain to you fully the condition Of the feet
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
| DAVID PORTER Rear Admiral.