The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-04-13
From the Augusta lGa.. } Chronicle & SEN.
B -8 yg fiael, April 5.)
& IS From Arkansas.

Il /.
more difficult just now than ever before.
'Confederates are Scattered all along the
river, and hardly a boat passes, up or
down, without being the recipient of,
those leaden favors which are never
gratefully received. The following from
a late ST. Louis paper will show the
troubles of steamboatmen:
On Monday morning the steamers
Chippewa, Annie Jacobs, Lotus and
Adj Hine left for Fort Smith, en- route
for Little Rock. Rock No accident occurred,
and ITO bushwhackers were visible un-
til Tuesday at half past one, when as
the Chippewa was making bend" in
the river, just above McLean's bottom,
some eighty miles below Fort Smith,
she was fred at by force of greybacks,
numbering about 1000, under the COM
mand of Col Brooks, acting Brigadier
General; they had four gun battery,
which was partially concealed by brush.
After the first volley, the Chippewa,
which was badly injured, swung around
and drifted upon a sand bar near the
bank; the boat was then boarded by
the rebels to whom she was surrendered.
A detachment of about fifty men, and
Lieutenant belonging to the 5Oth Indi
ana infantry, were also made prisoners
The steamer was then fired and burned
to the waters edge; she. will prove
total loss. The Chippewa was a small
stern wheeler, with q cargo aboard, hav.
ing on her up river trip, carried a load
OF Government stores to- Fort Smith
1t was told she belonged to the Govern.
meAt.
The Annie Jacobs being some nine or
ten miles in the rear of the Chippewa.
the firing was not heard, and not until
the sight of the burning boat came to
view, were any ideas entertained of the
close proximity Of the rebels. AS soon
as the Jacobs came within range, mur-
derous fire of artillery and musketry
was opened on her. Eleven shot
went completely through the boat and
exploded inside. The tiller ropes hav.
ing been cut she drifted down the river
some distance and went aground. If
the rebels could succeed in crossing the
river she will also become prey.
The Lotus and Ad Hine now had tho
privilege Of running the blockade. These
two boats were some distance behind the
Chippewa and Jacobs, and heard no
firing, and approached in blissful ignor.
ance the bend. The smoke of the Chin.
pewa was visible some time before the
scene of action was reached, but by the
time the wreck came in sight the battery
opened.
The fire, was principally directed at the
Lotus, she being the larger boat. One
solid shot passed through the wheel
house, about eight inches from the head
OF the pilot, who ne doubt, thinking
that discretion was the better part OF
vasor, abandoned his post, and for few
moments the boat was her own master.
At this critical state of affairs Capt
Jaqnitlh together with the engineers,
Martin and Burdge, went to the rear OF
the boat. and by main strength tarned
the rudder by hand, and passed out of
danger. But for this gallant act the
boat would have become prize, as the
bushwhackers crowded around the bank,
all ready to "dip in" the moment she
touched. But in this.they were disap.
pointed, and the Lotus glided down
stream amid the yells ofrage. How the
above named gentleman escaped injury
is a problem unsolved, nearly hundred
balls having struck the boat in their i'm.
mediate vicinity, Six persons were
killed and eleven wounded on the Lotus.
The lower deck was crowded with refu.
gees. mostly women and children. The
Ad Hine'was uninjrred am indebted
to the courteous and gentlemanly clerk
OF the Lotus, Mr.. William H. Muzzay
for the above.
The design of the rebels in this section
rs to stop navigation to Fort Smith, and
i they can prevent provisions and stores
from reaching that place, it must in time
be starved out. Fort Smith, if in tho
rebel hands, would make grand base