The National tribune., 1888-05-31

river IN the following order: The Hartford,
with guHbOat Albatross on her port side
in case of accident to the machinery; next
came the Richmond, with the gunboat GEN
nesee on her side; the Mississippi. with the
New London, ald the Monongahela, with the
Kineo. The ironclad Essex remained close to
the river bank, and the five mortarbOat
schOoners kept their position between Prophet
Island and the mainland. just as the fleet had
got fairly under way itkept pretty close to the
port side Of the river, which made it very dis
cernible to the rebel piclets who were watch
ing from among the woods, and who fired two
rockets across the river as q signal to the rebel
batteries that the fleet was on a move.
The rebels at once opened fire from the whole
line of fertilization. The whole feet might
have passed by, but for the Mississippi. When
she grounded she became the target for the
rebels for about half an hour, during which
time she had her rudder shot away, aud seven
wounded and four killed on board. She finally
floated OF into the middle Of the river, when
the pilot discovered that be could not steer the
vessel, as the rudder was gone. Capt. Smith
finally gave the order for all hands to leave
ship" Boats were lowered and many got into
them and were saved; others jumped over
board and swan ashore, and some were picked
up by the Essex crew. Still many found a
watcry grave.
The Captain ordered the ship to be set on
AAAG ~ pAtNCub ISE 4IOll ldlllLg lIlLD tlG AduuS
OF the enemy. She burned and drfted down
the river until she reached within four miles
Q! Baton Rouge, at o'clock in the morning,
when she blew up.
As to the army blunders of that night, we
were told that Gen. Banks had his whole army
Of $4,000 men massed on his front without any
right or left protection, which was the cause of
one Of the Massachusetts, regiments being COM
pletely cut up BY our own bombshells, as the
rnhpAs discovered that Panlye'c ~ ONT md laft
were unprotected. They pressed him on both
sides and forced him right under our own
shells. For the four years and half which !
served, never before nor after, did l at any
time hear so much cursing among the men for
official blunders.
viii also correct Comrade Weber in rela-
ton TO the rebels rife cannon, which they tried
one Sunday evening first at supper time. 1t
was well known to them that Admiral Farra-
gut did not like TO 90 into battle on Sunday.
The Admiral had just returned from the Hart
ford above the Red River, and came across the
point and joined the feet below He made
the sloOp-of-war MonOngahela his flagship.
The rebels SAW our supper pennant up, and
with a company Of ladies On the river bank
a marine otiicer-a deserter from the Union
navy, wanted to show 10 his Southern ladies'
how he could throw piece Of railroad iron at
the Yankee fleet, and from his new mounted
3J-p0under rifle he sent a couple Of missiles
dancing down upon the bow Of the MoBon-
gahela. Farragut at once gave signal to the
gunbOat Gennesee, which was lying on the
farther side Of the river to open fire on the
water batteries, which was done from the 200
FOUNDER Parrot rife pivot gun. The first shot
fired by Gunner Swanson, OF the Genuesee,
struck the bank right under the new mounted
gun.
The second shot fred from the Genncsee
struck the rebels gun-carriage and knocked the
gun down and scattered the whole company, and
destroyed all their fun.-WILLIAM T. DEN
MURE, " Blue Jacket Battery" Aurora. Ind.