The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-09-01
rERILs OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
CAIao, Monday, Aug, Is.

leans on the 9Th, reached here last night.
Lieutenant Mitchell. Ordnance Officer
of Gen. Meredith's staff who was on
board, returning from trip with rebel
prisoners South. learned the following
particulars Of the terrible disaster which
occurred on the route:
AT about half.psst 8 o'clock on the af.
tetnoou Of the 10Th inst, as the Empress
was near Gaines Lending, she was fred
into by a rebel battery. The FIRST 6iug
commenced with two rife guns, caliber
Founders, at only distance Of 45o yards
the missiles striking the hull Of the stea.
mer at angle of about thirty degrees. -
this was followed by two ! 2 pound how
ilzets and two O pound smooth bore
guns, and voley after volley of musket.
~, the boat still steering slowly up the
Iiger, She was struck while making a
distance Of 800 yards, about 80 times BY
cannon shot, disabling her machinery.
When directly opposite tho euemy's
guns, and distant only so yards from
them, the boat almost ceased moving
the pipes had been cut, stopping of the
water lrom-hcr boilers AT this june
ture, and while the Empress was in i'm
minent danger of being sunk aud every
soul on board lost, the tin,clad gunboat
No 8, came up, or was seen some three
miles away coming to her assistance
T6Sough the energy and courage of The
pi8iS and engineers, every pound Of
steam was put on and the Empress mo
we'd away slowly but surely from the
fierce fire of cannen and musketry which
was being hurled upon her devoted
decks Every shot told, they plowcd
through the buwarks as though they
had been but paper.
Just before the gunbost reached the
scene the Empress was beyond thsrange
Of the enemy's artillery, though their
mounted infantry continued to follow up
the river banks until the gunboat open
ed terrific cannonade upon them and
drove lhemtbetk. This was when the
steamer was about three quarters Of a
mile beyond tho battery. But for the
vigilance on the part OF this Tin clad
she would certainly have been captured
as al his point her water had entirely
& ven out, and none could possibly reach
the boilers until some repairs wore made
After firing three or four yolleys. tho tin
clad took the Empress in tow aud bro't
her beyond the canuonading. II lasted
thirty minutes. The musketry eontin.
ued some time longet The boat was
siruck With shot and shell at. least fifty
-iimxa. 1HeSeTwere ave persons killed.
including Captsin John Msloy, of the
Empress. There were eleven wounded.
On board the steamer there were abou,
500 passengers, among whom was Brig
adler General Mcneil, who deporled
mselfgallanlIy, Captain Barns, of the
ilth Illinois Infantry, should also be
mentioned. He was in the hotties, Of
the fire, aiding in keeping up steam and
covering for the ladies', many of whom
were scamperiug and running about in
confusion Some towards in The shape
Of men, shouted out surrender. One
secesh woman, whose husbund is a pris
oner at Johnson'S Island, wanted flag
10 hoist Captain John Msiloy, who
was shot at his post forward OF the tex.
as, wasinstantly killed By cannon
ball, which took his head off completely.
His last words were never surrender
the boat" Two pilots of the Empress,
Messrs. Gsrlec and King, we're ia expo
sed positions in the pilot house at the
time, end stood there like veterans, and
nnfincbingly handled the wheel. The
eagineer, George Bruce and his assist.
ants stood at their posts, amid escaping
steam, screaming shell and stlikiug OF
solid shot, Too much praise can not be
bestowed upon the Mate. who was oil
The time cool and deliberate in his com.
mands and movements, inspiring all
hands with like courage and calmness
The clerk, VIM. c. Fell, rendered the
bedding for the use Of the sick and
wounded soldiers.
The wounded we're examined by Geo.
II. Gleason, A. A. s., and Assistant Sur.
gcon w, R, Davidson, 22l Kentucky
4nfantry. Another account by the
clerk OF the Empress furnishes the 70 l..
loving: While one mile below Gaines
Landing, a; half,pastdve on the evening
of the 10th inst, we saw battery Of
eight guns-six TO twelve Founders
supported by an infantry force from
1000 to 1900 strong, supposed to be a
par. of Marmadaks's command. The
battery is said to have been Adams bat.
terry. We had on board at the time
about 500 persons, including officers,
crew, and passengers, there being about
400 passengers, consisting of 600 dis
charged soldiers, many Of whom were
sick, the balance being citizens, including
fGy nr aiStv ladinr md ob;lI.. n