Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-05-06

6elu reported that q practical r0a(
for artillery could be had to tn,
bend Ofthe river, where the Undin'
and Venus were sheltered. Col
Rucker, gallant and dashing Off
Ger, had also made a personal recon
noissance, verifying Sergt. Reid's
report. In obedience to orders,
then directed Crozier's section tC
accompany Col. Rucker, supported
by Col. d.. G. Kelley's and Col. It.
III. LOgwOod's Tennessee regiments,
and make a speedy attack. Briggs
section of James, rifles, Rice's bat
terry, which had been captured at
Eastport from the enemy by Col. ID.
G. Kelley, attended by Capt. Wal
ton, were placed at the mouth OF
Sandy, Earring holding his old posi-
tion at Paris Landing. Col. Kelley,
our fighting preacher, hastily dis
mounting his men, took position
under cover of the bushes below the
gunboat, and opening rapid fire,
both upon the Venus and the port
holes of the Undine, attracted the
attention of the enemy, while Cro-
zier moved his guns by hand into a
favorable position, from which a
vigorous fire was promptly opened
and kept up with such effect that
the enemy was unable to use his
heavy guns eight twenty-four
FOUNDER howitZers-and was driven
to the opposite bank.
The Venus, meantime, had sur
rendered to Col. Kelley, who board
ed her with two picked companies,
and raising steam, moved upon the
Undine, when he found that the
officers and men not killed or
wounded had escaped to the woods.
He carried safely both gunboat and
steamer to Paris Landing, where
they were greeted with rounds of
applause by Forests troopers.
During this time another
GUNBoAT,
coming down stream at the sound
of the conflict, cast anchor about one
mile and a half above Briggs sec
tion, and opened brisk shelling.
Briggs pieces being too far from
the gunboat for execution, were
moved, by order OF Gen. Chalmers,
to shorter range, supported by Chal-
merS' escort and a company of Ala,
cadets as sharpshooters. Selecting
a suitable position, Briggs and the
after a spirited engage
ment, forced the gunboat to weigh
anchor and withdrawn up the river.
The Undine, one of the largest of
its class of gunboats, was good
deal shattered-a shot having pas
sed through from stem to stern
but was not seriously injured in
hull, machinery or armament-oneI
gun had been spiked and another
had shell lodged in its bore from
one of our guns which broke a trun-
ion plate, partially dismounting
her. There were fifteen of her
crew killed and wounded the Cap
tain among the killed. The Venus
was intact as to machinery and hull,
although out of a detachment of
infantry she had on board, ten had
been killed and wounded and ten
were made prisoners. The barges
were emptied of their stores and
destroyed.
GEN. FORREST
upon the ground, on the
morning of the 1st, energetically
pushed the preparations for the
Contemplated attack ON the depot
at Johnsonville. Gen. Forrest,
for me, ordered that
should have the gunbOat overhauled,
repaired and take charge
of
THE FLEET.
| readily assented to putting the
in condition, but begged
to be excused from commanding
the feet. l told the General that l
could trust to handling my guns on
land but was not familiar with ma
val affairs. After some cOnsulta-
ton, remembering having seen
Capt. f. Z. Gracey's daring aquatic
feet at old Fort Herman a few days
before, and knowing the Captain to
be gallant and skilled artillery
officer and an experienced steam
boat man, l suggested that he be
placed in command of the fleet.
Gen. Lyon, who was present, en-
dorsed my statements, and Captain |
Gracey was immediately sent for
and appointed naval commander |
and placed in personal charge of the |
gunbOat Undine. Capt. w. A. )aw-
son, an old steamboat captain and |
gallant cavalry leader, was placed
In charge of the transport Venus,
upon which the two twenty FOUNDER |
''Parrott" Walton's Battery
had been placed as armament.
/ accompanied Gen. Forrest, with
other members of his staff, on board |
the Undine, when he made trial |
trip" to Fort Heiman, the Venus
following. AS we moved out into
the stream, the troops that had col
Iected on the shore made the air
ring with cheers for Commodore"
Forrest and for Forests cavalry
afiOat.
Stopping at Fort Heiman long
to take on board some blan-
kets and hard bread which had
been secured from the MaZeppa, we
returned to Paris Landing, all fully
that both boats were ''sea-
and in first-class condition
for service. We now felt prepared
% move upon JOhnsonville both by
and and water.
Happily, no one in the artillery
Up to this time had been seriously |
lurt Yours, very respectfully.
JOHN w. MORTON,
Captain and Chief of Artillery of
Forests Cavalry Corps.
This history is to be concluded at
he May meeting of the Society,
when Capt. Gracey's exploits will
)e read, accompanied by full ac-
.ount of the tack on and destruc-
ion of JohnsOnville.
Warehouse Regulations.