The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-06-17

CDfsS.
Comm:ttee-B +. Abel Troy +; C. l.. 1aJ lor,
C!aridon Delos Williams, Burton.
The Board adopt the following rule In reference
to competing animals No animal shall be en-
tered in two classes, except sweepstakes
r. A HITCHCOCK, Secretary.
From the Philadelphia North American.
The Red River Expedition and Destruc.
tion Of the U. s. Gunboat Eastport.
II is both a sad and instructive lesson
to trace the cost at which nation en-.
trusts the commands of its armies in the
field to incompetent hands. Disaster to
the immediate command entails losses
and humiliations to other forces and 9th i.
er commands, which no skill can avert or
foresee. A sketch OF the loss in Red riv-
er Of one Of the finest iron.clads possessed
cry the government, will afford direct
illustration Of this .recoil, il it may be so
termed, upon others, Of a disgraceful de.
feat. or rather in this instance, retreat.
Relying upon the force and admirable
appointment Of the army encamped about
Alexandria, La, which was to march up.
on Shreveport, and further justified by
the rise which almost unfailingly occurs
in Red river in the spring months, Admi.
raj Porter forced bis iron clad feet over
the falls above Alexandra, the moment
there was sufficient water for the purpose
OF CO operation with the army. Among
those iron. .clsds was the Eastport, pow
erIul ram and gunboat, commanded by
Lieut.. Commander s. L. Phelps.
There being too little water above
Grand Ecore for the heavier vessels, the
Admiral left them there, and, taking FIVE
OF the lightest draught vessels, with nine.
teen transports in convoy, pushed fur
ther mp when the army moved from
Natchitoches. 1t is not the purpose of
this article 10 describe the experience Of
This force, and its near destruction as O
consequence of.he remarkable battle near
Mans6eld-a fight by criblets. as il has
been called--and the still more remark.
able retreat after the victory at Pleasant
Hill. Patience, toll. skill, fighting. with
little swearing. saved it, and every yes.
sci returned to Grand Ecore. 1t was ev-
ident that defeat frst. and then retreat az.
ter victory, had effectually demoralized
the army-Sherman's men, under the
brave A. J. Smith, being always excepted
and that retreat or worse result would
follow the first attack by the rebels 10
force. Admiral Porter had, therefore,
70 look TO the safety OF bis fleet. Red
river was falling steadily, and is there a
narrow and crooked stream. with very
high banks and loggy bottom. Could
the vessels in such stream sustain them
selves against the attacks of the enemy?
Supplies would soon be wanting, and starv-
alton would then do its work. The low
stage and falling water so late in the sea-
son, left little hope OF rise. The heavy
draugh.s at once started for the falls at
Alexandria, and all save the Eastpor.
reached there eventually, but with hard
labor. Happily, the lack Of enterprise on
the part Of the enemy, who found him
self strangely reaping the fruits of vic
tory not won, enabled the men Of the yes
sells to work at pulling them of bars ant
log heaps unmolested.
The Eastport had reached point eigh
or ten miles below Grand Ecore, when she
received. while slowly drifting with the
current over shoal water, a severe shock
from torpedo under her bow, and began
at once to fill with water in the compart'
ments in that portion OF her.
She quickly settled by the head, but was
five hours sinking by the stern, owing to
the numerous bulkheads dividing the
hold into some fifty compartments
Steam syphon and other pumps, of which
there were seven to ten at work, made no
impression upon the leaks, and she went
down, csreeripg till half the gun deck was
under. The torpedo had shattered her
bottom badly. This was the afternoon o
the 18th Of April. The next morning
the work Of dismounting and removing
Inc battery began-no light undertaking
when the small port holes would only lei
out the lO0-pounder and 0 inch guns
through the most skillful corkscrew like
movement! Of the piece. Two pump boats
were in the employ Of the feet, but fate
would have it that these should be in any
place but where the anxious and impatient
crew Of the Eastport would have them
Tugs and tow boats were dispatched in
haste for them. Two thousand tons
could not quietly rest upon the slippery
sands Of the Red River. Soon the ship
began to strain and labor with the wash.
ing out from one spot or another under
her bottom; but her people worked with
will 10 clear her OF the vast weight OF
her port blinds, gratings, and other iron,
as well as wet stores, that she might rest
easily in her bed, though every heart was
sad and well nign hopeless. On the l7th
the Champion No. ) came to assist with
her 2O.inch stssm pumps. Hopes then
ran high, and new vigor was given to ev-
cry arm. These pumps. assisted by the
skill of Acting Master Rodgers, OF the
Louisville, who had come to give the aid
Of his long experience. and by the csrpen-
ters, had gained slowly upon the leak,
when the new Champion arrived. with
pumps similar to those on No. s. and al
SO began 10 pump out the water. till ii
seemed as il all Red River passed through