The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06


to bottom, that only two or three
persons OH board were wounded, and
they but slightly. The boat was
burned by order Of the commanding
General.
Meanwhile, Orderly Sergeant Reid
reported that practicable road for
artillery could he had to the bend of
the river, where the Undine and We
nus were sheltered. Col. Rucker,
gallant and dashing officer, had also
made a personal reconnaissance, yer.
flying Sergt. Reds report. In ODE
dience to order, | then directed
Crozier's section to accompany Col.
Rucker, supported by Col. d. G.
Kelley's and Col. T. H. Logwood's
Tennessee regiments, and make
speedy attack. Briggs section of
James rifles, Rice's battery, which
had been captured at Eastport from
the enemy by Col. d. G. Kelley, at
tended by Capt. Walton, were placed
at the mouth of Sandy, Earring
holding his old position at Paris
Landing. Col. Kelley, our fighting
preacher, hastily dismounting his men,
took position under cover of the bush,
es below the gunboat, and opening a
rapid fire, both upon the Venus and
PORTFOLIOS of the Undine, attracted
attention of the enemy, while Crozier
moved his guns by hand into favor
able position, from which 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
bark.
The Venus, meantime, had surren-
dered to Col. Kelley, who boarded
her with two picked companies, and
raised steam, moved upon the Undine,
when he found that the officers and
men not killed or wounded had es.
capped to the woods. He carried both
gunboat and steamer to Paris Land,
ing, 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 section,
and opened brisk Smelling. Briggs
pieces being too far from the gunboat
for execution, were moved, by order
af Gen. Chalmers, to shorter range,
supported by Chalmers escort and
company of Alabama cadets as sharp
shooters. Selecting a suitable posi>
ton. Briggs and the supports. after a
spirited engagement, forced the gun
boat to weigh anchor and withdraw
up the river. The Undine, one of the
largest of its class of gunboats, was
a good deal shattered-a shot having
passed through from stem to stern
but was not seriously injured in hull,
machinery or armamcnt-one gun
had been spiked and another had
shell lodged in its bore from one of our
guns which broke a trunion plate,
partially dismounting her. There
were fifteen of her crew killed and
wounded, the Captain 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 arriving
upon the ground, on the morning of
the LIST, energetically pushed the
preparations for the contemplated
attack on the depot at Jacksonville.
Gen. Forrest, sending for me, ordered
that l should have the gunboat over
hauled, armament repaired and take
charge of the fleet. readily assented
to putting the armament in condition,
but begged to be excused from COM
manding the fleet. told the Gen
eral that could trust to handling my
guns OH land, but was not familiar to
naval affairs. After some consulta-
ton, remembering having seen Capt.
F. p. Gracey daring aquatic feat at
old Fort Holman few days before,
and knowing the Captain to be gal
liant and skilled artillery officer and an
experienced steamboat man, | sugges.
ted that he be placed in command of
the fleet. Gen. Lyon, who was pres
ent, endorsed my statements, and
Capt. Gracey was Immediately sent
for and appointed naval commander
and placed in personal charge of the
gunboat Undine Capt. w. A. Daw-
son, an old steamboat captain and