Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-15
| SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
LOSS oE A euN.RoAr.
Tho Struggle Preceding tho Sinking of u
Cincinnati

Tho Struggle Preceding tho Sinking of the
Cincinnati.
In the last days of May, 1868, after
Pcmbcrton had been driven into Vicks-
burg and the Federal fleet on the river
had had more or less fighting with the
water and hillside batteries, the gun
boat Cincinnati, on which | had been
stationed since she was put in commits
sion, received orders to drop down and
demoiish n Confederate water battery
which was annoying the Federal in-
fantry as thoy sought to complete the
half circle around the doomed city. The
report among the crew was that we
were going on picnic. The battery
was supposed to contain not more than
three runs, and we anticipated no
trouble blowing the whole business into
the water or over the hill inside OF u
quarter of an hour.
We left our anchorage after break
fast and steamed rapidly down to y
point opposite the battery, which could
be easily made out, and then rounded
to with our bows up stream and opened
fire from every gun which would buT,
The range was short and the fire rapid,
for our commander meant TO make
short work of the enemy. We had not
been engaged five minutes when II
masked battery of heavy guns further
up on the hill and in our rear opened
fire upon us. Every shot was Il plung-
ing one, and our craft was II fair tar
rct. Two or three shots had struck the
deck when one went directly through
the magazine and the bottom OF the
vessel The wonder was that we We're
not blown sky-high, for the bolt i'll its
passage through the magazine knocked
several powder kegs into kindlings and
dashed some of the fixed ammunition
about.
1t did not take us two minutes TO
realize that we were in tight place, for
the battery which we had set out TO de-
molsh was also banging into us in n
spitcful manner, and with such good
aim that its round shot We're passing
through the hull every minute. Before
stcaming into the fight the weak spots
in the Cincinnati had been strengthen
cd by the bales of hay and cotton and
reshly cut logs. The heavy shots soon
fooscncd these and dashed them about
Ito our own peril. Att,mesit seemed to
rain cotton and hay, and this stuff,
added 10 our smoke, prevented us from
taking fair aims. Our steering gear
was soon disabled, dozen or morcmcn
killed or wounded, and, as it became
certain that we could not live long
under such fire, the gunboat started
ahead up the river, making water very
rapidly, and hcing, with the greatest
difficulty, prevented from running
ashore. As soon as both batteries were
left in the rear we could not return their
fire with single gun, while they con-
tnucd to pound the gun-boat in a terri
bic way. Our flag was shot away as
we got under way, but it was speedily
replaced. Every one expected il hauled
down when we became helpless, but ii
remained flying and the enemy continu-
ed to fire upon us.
At length, when it became certain
that we must 20 to the bottom or run
the Cincinnati ashore, her bows were
turned to the bank and the order was
passed for every man to look out fol
himself. In the rush more men were
drowned than were lost in the fight, and
rs soon as the engine ceased working
the boat slid down with the current and
finally sank in about twenty feet oi
water All the time we We're getting
ashore our flag was flying. and the en-
envy was of course maintaining his fire.
Our total loss was near forty men, anC
it was the general feeling among tho
men that most of them were useleSSll
slaughtered. There was nothing hcroi,
in holding position under the fire of {
battery Of ei ght and tcn-inch guns, tc
which no reply could be made. Ncthc
was it an act of bravery to keep a flag
flying over disabled and sinking YES
sci, Uttered with dead and wounded, ant
by that act insure the destruction of
score or more of valuable lives Their
was n demand for an Official investiga
tion, and ccrsurc was freely expressed
in army and naval circles; but the cX
element of what followed the aila
soon became stale and was mt lengtl
forgotten. Carringlon Smith, IN Dctrot
| Free Press