Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
THE RED RIVER FLEET.
Official Account Of Rebel Attacks upon u ana OF
he Uosoing up Of the Passport
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP CRICKET,
Off Alexandria, LA } Aprl %, 1864.

tion No LOG, of the sinking OF the Passport WINE oooea
ing down to Alexandria, caused by the explosion OF tor
pedo under her bottom and near her bow ,
On hearing this bad news proceeded at once TO the
vessel and found her sunk to the the water over
it on one side. that no time was 70 Do lost and
TO Alexandria in hopes OF finding one OF our steam
pump boats then due. Lieut. Com Phelps had already
sent tug down for the same purpose aud as passed
over the falls the pump boat hove sight and proceeded
on up An hour after the other boat came up ana sent
her up Also being confident that the Passport would now
BIO raised had ordered all her guns taken OUT ana all
her ammunition transferred to other vessels which was
done by the time reached her again, forty eight hours
after the pump boats went up.
was detained day in Alexandria, making different
disposition of the vessels in the Mississippi owing to the
report the capture of Fort Pillow by the rebels sent
of the heavy iron clads there with orders to
MAN, and also changed the destination OF various vessels
! in the different rivers.
| When returned to the Eastport found her in fair
way of being afoat though all the heavy steam-pumps
together did not do more than slightly decrease the water
The leak had to be stopped by bukheadlng Lieutenant
Commander Phelps went to work vigorously to endeavor
his vessel and he seconded by his officers and
crew don't think ever witnessed harder work than
was performed by the officers and OF the Eastpor
and it seemed to be the determination OF all on board that
she should not fall into the hands OF the enemy it could
be helped felt confident that the Passport would be
saved if time permitted but had faint idea that
army about to fall back Alexandria, when it
would become necessary to destroy the Eastpo or per-
haps lose some other vessels
On my arrival at Grand Ecore found that preparations
were making to the army the direction OF Aexan
dria and ordered the large vessels at once below the
bars with orders to proceed slowly to Aexandriakeep
ing with the lighter draft vessels to cover the land
| forces, and gre protection to the transports
| The day after my return to Grand Ecore orders were
issued for the army to move to Alexandria The Easpot
was not yet aoa and thought chance of saving her
very small unless certain of having no enemy to
annoy after the army left.
On the Goth of April went down to the Easport again,
and after Informing commander how matters stood,
concluded that it necessary to run some risks
we wished to the vessel. She now slightly rest
ing the bottom side and steam had been raised
OH otar in nf tha hnAf
Cham pion, No and with the pump OF Champion No
transferred to the Esstport, and connected with her
boilers This arrangement, with the addition OF one or
syphon pumps kept the water out OF the hreOom and
confined it to the bow.
waited at point eight miles below Grand Ecore, and
up gunboat convoy down all the transports that
left up-this vessel bringing up the rear, towing
/ fiat on which were all the Eastports guns.
On the first day the Eastport made twenty miles down
the river but at o'clock in the evening she grounded
from not being the channel and the rst OF our Difficult
commenced in getting her the bars and other OBJ
structons which abound in this river.
1t would be impossible to give adequate idea of the
difficulties of the navigation from the 2ls of April up to
the 26th the time when it was no longer considered posi-
BILE To get the Eastpor the sandbars and logs
increasing, unless time allowed to remove them and
the enemy kept FROM annoying US while we were at
work
The Lieutenant Commander commanding the Esstport,
s. L. Phelps had done all that could do to hls
vessel and felt it be matter of pride to get her to
Aexandra. She had grounded eight times badly, and
each time under circumstances where it was very doubt
full if she would off, but the commanders confidence
deserted him, and could not help but admire his
GOODNESS and faith in getting his vessel to xandra when
knew there places to pass below with much less
water them
fate long the commander felt hope of getting her
down He worked with almost superhuman efforts to
compIish the object in view, sleeping apparently neither
night day-every body worked aud went through pri-
yatons of all kinds, and must say that mentally never
went through so much anxiety In my life.
On the sixth day of this labor of hauling the Easport
lutar atnlut thafxn
had passed every impeachment orders given to fill up
with fence rails for fuel and started down stream with
the expectation of making at least thirty miles that day.
The vessel had already been brought sixty miles her
way, and sixty would bring her within our lines
The army though were sixty miles ahead OF u.s. and the
report that the rebels were following in their rear,
also opposing them in front, and might naturally
pect when the army arrived safely in Alexandria that the
whole power Of the enemy would be directed to cutting
off my small force Of three light drafts, and the Easport
without any guns indeed had already received notice
that such their Intentions
On April 2oth made signal to pass down stream, and
had scarcely started before the Easport hard sground
and this time in position where the commanders
hopes Of relieving her failed. The difficulty here
want Of water aud the bed Of the river filed with
logs which it would be impossible to get the vessels
unless had the time We tried to tighten her by
moving her iron plating but this found to be labor be
yond our power-the plates could not be removed in
short tme-aud that plan was abandoned at once.
had determined TO remain by the Eastport until she
was safe within lines, blown up TO prevent her
falling into the hands Of the enemy. On two
had gwen the commander preparatory instructions relative
10 her destruction thinking her time had come but still
hopeful and persistent he stuck to the work. and deserved
TO have met with greater success.
Every effort made to get the Eastpor off from what
proved TO be her fnsI resting place The gunboat Fort
Hindman (whose commander has worked the Ess
port with zeal surpassed succeeded with
her steam capstan In moving her bow but only enough
get into poston right the channel with a
bed Of logs under her. and from that place 1t seemed
no human power could move her
The commander having admitted there seemed no hope
OF getting her of unless bad time and pro-
tected gave the order to destroy her One of pow
der was placed in her in various positions she filed
with such combustibles could procure and at As
p NJ April 26th, the Esstport blown up Lieut. Com.
mander Phelps applying the match and being the ast one
to leave the vessel He had barely time reach the boat
when the Eastport blew up covering the boat with rag
meuts OF wood Seven different explosions followed and
then the flames burst forth every direction The vessel
was completely detroyed-as perfect wreck as ever was
made by powder She remains troublesome obstruction
10 block up the channel for 10 come ALI stores
&c were removed, and such parts Of the machinery
could be made available by the rebels There was nothing
but the iron plates left behind which finally fell inside the
hull Some fell out board the FIRE burnt away the
wood TO which they attached aud will soon disap.
pear under the sands saxd
would have brought away every piece Of iron had /
not been warned that had overstad my time Gangs Of
guerras began to hover the left bank river and
jus. previous to blowing the Eastport attacked
by heavy force on the right bank.
This vessel lying tied TO the bank and back
ing from the Passport the Hjndmsn to give the
former chance to blow up without injury to any
The rebels selected this moment to make their attack
and rising suddenly from the bank opened on our little
squadron with twelve hundred musket and then made
rush board the Cricket The epemy however wei