The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-06
THE QUEEN OF THE WEST.


While the army under Major General Grant was invest
ing vcksburg the upper gunboat hset under Rear Ad
mira Porter doing all that could be done to discon
cert che operations Of the enemy On Monday morning
February q 1883 the United States steam Queen
the West. Col Charles Z. EIs commanding, astonished
ths garrison Of vicksburg by running the gaunt.
lot Of all its blazing batteries. She subse luently
captured three steamboats, laden with provisions for the
enemy at Port Hudson aud them floating down the
Mississippi without captain, engineer or pilot, esc h
steamboat transformed into moving conaag On
Tuesday February TO- Queen started her secoud
adventurous voyage down the Mississippi river BY
much the nrst successful the second dsas.
srous for, while the fruits OF the former the cap
Sure OF several steamboats, from the enemy the ret OF
che latter the loss OF the Queen herself The night
was wonderfully beautiful Millions Of stars gtte In
the deep blue sky and their reflection made millions
moro 10 sparkle the water. We expected that
he batteries at warreuton would open us; but
were disappointed. Probably the enemy could not
In the darkness 50 passed the batteries at War
rsnton In silence. Early Wednesday morning we paid
passing visit TO the plantation formerly owned by old
President Zachary Taylor. II is son or that departed
patriot aud hero who is major general in the rebel
army, and now commanding the rebel forces In
Lower Louisiana The property Ia question belongs
70 jon Davis aud his uncle Joe. Az Natchez
hundreds Of the ctzsus assembled the hill. They
hmALencnt anCnor0d
0outh OF Red river for the night.
ADVENTURES.
On the following morning, as approached plsnta.
Sion TO mako inquiries concerning the whereabouts of
steamboats, number OF negroes, mostly old women and
young children came crowding 10 the shore They must
have imagined that coming 70 take them TO their
4ancied earthly paradise, 10 accordance with Mr. Lin
coins emancipation proclamation for they danced and
shouted fell down their knees and capped their hands
lab surely ee; bress de Lord, aha' when we
asked why their masters had not taken them away one
81 the women answered, 'Nassa tot was ht flowers
Tor de grave, and be left here TO die" We went
short distance down the Atcbaaaya river, where de-
sfroyed number OF rebel government wagons and
seventy barrels OF salt beef Our saingmaster, James
d. Thompson shot In the leg ana mortaly wounded
by suerias Next morning Colonel Eet burned several
houses on the Achafasya in retaliation At noon turn
hss out the Atchafaays entered the mouth Of
hod rver, which We assembled without further incident,
INC mouth Of Black river where we anchored till the
norrow.
1r"s tr'aay night an Indian us In his canoe
and We took him board the vessel Fairly on Sunday
morning we continued up Red river The oourse Of This
stream exceedingly serpcutine. Its water. are OF
reddish color, from which circumstance Il der,ves "a
mama In some seasons OF the year the river at par,cu
ias points. nearly dry. while at other .ea.sn, a r,sos
suddenly and inu ndaes the country near
mouth Two hours after starting the lockout saw
pfcsmboat coming. We bad heard that the rebel eun
boats Webb and Grand Duke the river, aud were
ready 70 attack No. SO decks cleared Tor action
me moment hove IN sight OF the steam boat which was
COMING round bend, her attempting turn and
Escape from no but shell from the PARROT gun the
terrtboat he Soto, Alongside o. fred at The
eheiI weut crashing through the kitchen, smashing
dishes ana slightly woundng the negro COOK. Then
tbs waving Of white hsndkerchlss board announced
cst The steamboat had surrendered She proved 10 be
hs IRA No Q, laden with for tho rebel army 10 Ar
tmneas she was bound for Little Rock. There we're
ssvsrsl soldiers and citizens board Among the m
90 psrsos who had large amount a