Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-11-11
rFrom The Cinoinn.ti Commorcial.l

s tFrom the Cincinnati Commercial
From Tennessee River-ArrivaIs
of Officers and Crews Of Stenm-
ers Burned at .BOhnsOnville-
Generals Forrest, Buford and
Chalmers. ts.rat
Captain Thad. Wirthlin, commander OF
the steamer J.W. Cheesman, arrived here
yesterday. The destination of his steamer
having been changed from Nashville, on the
Cumberland. toJohnsonville, on the Tennes-
see river, by the military authorities, he pro-
cecded up the latter stream with a large and
valuable cargo of Government stores.---
While on the upward trip, the Cheesman
was attacked by the enemy, near Paris
Landing, and badly riddled by rebel in
fantry, who were on the river banks in
force. At one point he says he counted
three rebel battle flags, and estimates the
force at about five hundred. Several of
the crew were wounded, but he succeeded
in getting through to Johnsonville safely,
with his boat, where he was detained seven
days before the authorities permitted him
to discharge the cargo. On Sunday last he
left Johnsonville for Cincinnati, with fifty
tuns of freight. Anticipating aonther at
tack from the rebels, Captain Worthlin had
arranged quarters for his wife and two
small children in the after part of the hold
molestatiOn, where they had been attacked
going up all hands partook of dinner, and
the Captain had gone down into the hold to
look after his family. just as he was in the
act of stepping down the after hatchway, a
concealed rebel battery opened furious
and rapid fire on the boat-the first shot pass
ing through the engine room, completely
severing the steam pipe. In few seconds
all the steam escaped from the boilers. AS
soon as Captain w. found the boat without
steam, in helpless condition, and fast drift
ing to the shore where the battery was To-
Gated, he hastened to the forward part OF
the boat and waved white handkerchief.
Notwithstanding this signal of surrender,
the rebel batteries and infantry kept up an
incessant fire for over ten minutes, or until
the boat had drifted to the Shore riddling
her from stem to stern. As soon as the boat
touched the shore the rebels rushed aboard,
TO use the Captains remark ''like pack of
wolves" They ransacked the Office and all
the state-rooms, appropriating every article
of value In sight, including the clothing of
officers and crew, and some three hundred
dollars of the boats money. the Captain
and balance of the crew were taken before
General Buford. The Captain was permit
ted to remain with his family, and sought
shelter in the negro quarters on planta-
tion, where they remained two days, Sleep
ing on pile OF corn shucks, and subsisting
on hard-tack and water. The General plac-
ed guard around their quarters to protect
the family from insult. The wife Of Cap
tain Allen. of the Venus, who was killed
the day previous, occupied the same quar-
ters. General Forrest was not present when
the boat was captured, but arrived on the
following day. from Paris, Tennessee, when
Captain Wirthlin was paroled for thirty
days, to report to General Washburn at
Memphis, to he returned within the rebel
lines, or procure the release Of rebel citi-
zen from our prisons In his stead. y Dra .gad
Several of the officers of the Cheesmanl
were paced on one of the captured steam