The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-19
AarrOw Escape OF the Superior on Be
RiKer-nesnerafe Eneannter.

We congratulate Captain Dexter up
on his good luck, which, added TO good
sense and q fair amount Of courage,
prevented his fine boat from falling a
prize to the rebels.
The Superior arrived at Cairo on
Thursday, direct from New Orleans, and
is represented as the best ventilated,
airy summer craft that floats upon
the Southern rivers Her cabins and
state-roons are ali most beautifully or
namented with bullets holes, and her
chimneys present a splendid specimen
of network, having about forty shot
holes to the square foot
The Superior left New Orleans on
the 18th of April, having on board the
Sd Rhode Island cavalry, Colonel Par
ker. destined for Alexandria. At Tuni-
ca bayou, twelve miles belew the mouth
of Red river on the 9th, they were
fred upon from a rebel battery of p
FOUNDER rife guns. Eleven rounds
were fred, only two of which struck
the boat, one shell passing through the
ladies cabin, setting state room on
fire and exploding in the pantry, and
bursting into twenty fragments.
On entering Red River they were
conveyed by gunboat No. g. the st.
Clair, but experimenting no danger
the Superior kept four or FIVE miles in
advance. On the 2lst ult, while in a
bend of the river, a battery of two
guns suddenly opened upon them,
manned by the I'd Louisiana (rebeD
artillery supported by large force Of
cavalry and infantry. Instantly all
was confusion. The Rhode Island
cavalry commenced firing their car
bines in every direction save that of
the enemy, their officers skulked and
sought safe places, but for the GOODNESS
of Capt. Dexter, engineers and part of
the crew, the boat would have been
captured A shell exploded on the hur-
ricane deck, near the larboard chimney,
killing two men and wounoing seven.
These were all the casualties, except a
flesh wound received by the engineer.
A shell entered the pilot-house, pier
cling the heavy iron-casing as if it were
paper, and passing out without doing
any injury. The Red River pilot threw
himself upon the floor, and rang the
bell to stop her, crying out, Surrender
herl Let us surrender her !" But this
did not suit Fred. Mitchell, of Nash
vile, and George See, of Evansville,
the boats regular pilots, who sprang to
the wheel, and nobly carried their craft
through every danger The balls from
the enemy's rifles fell like hail upon
the classmates, over fifty shots striking
the pilot house. One spoke of the
wheel, while in the hands of Fred.
Mitchell, was shot into splinters, and
another bullet buried itself in the
wheel; but still Mitchell and See stood
to their posts unfinchingly.
Fortunately, large amount of pilot
bread was on board, piled upon the
boiler and hurricane decks, forming
barbados, from behind which the
men were enabled to return the fire of
the enemy. Captain Dexter was on the
lookout for the gunners, and dispatch
ed one of the gentry just as he was in
the act of firing his piece Finally, the
soldiers silenced the artillery, when the
enemy limbered up and struck across
the point, in order to head off the Su-
perior, few miles distant The firing
on the boat was continued up the river
a distance of two miles
When the enemy retreated, Colonel
Parker ordered his men to fire upon
every white man they saw, which order
was construed to include every dwell
ing house, and was acted upon accord
ingly. After the rebels had disappear
ed, two men appeared upon the levee,
waving their hats; the Colonel not
he was entreated not to
do so, commanded them to be fired
upon, which was at once obeyed, and
one of them fell severely wounded
When demonstrated with, Col. Parker
said he would take the responsibility,
as every man who was in the country
was rebel During the fight the Supe-
rior received over two hundred shots
from musketry On their return no
enemy was seen.-,St Louis Union.