Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-04-11

vi VI to the actions OF
| M the wooden rams
| of the contending
fleets. The south
ern flotilla consisted of river steamers fit
ted out with guns and rams. 1t lay In
double line of battle along the wharves Of
the city, and when the Union vessels, gun
boats In front, steamed down the river
opened fire. In rear of the Union gun
boats, some miles up the river, in fact
but fastening to the scene, were the rams
Queen of the West, Monarch and Switzer-
land. These terrible engines Of war had
been fitted out at short notice by Charles
Ellet, clever and inventive engineer.
They were ordinary river steamers like
the Confederate rams, but not so effective
ly remodeled for war. To afford some pro-
lection to the boilers bulwarks two feet
thick were placed around them, and solid
timber bulwarks 10 to 16 inches thick
fastened from side to side strengthened
somewhat, the hulls. An Ellet command
ed on the decks of the first two-Colonel
Charles, the Queen of the West and his
brother, Alfred W., the Monarch. Civil
ians by training, they had to win their
spurs fighting the terrible rams which long
ruled the Mississippi for the Confederacy.
Ellet's rams carried no guns. A dozen
sharpshooters were the sole fighting force
on board. Neither were they armed with
ramming beaks. Great weight, strong
motive and striking power, celebrity and
audacity in attack were what the designer
had aimed to secure. On approaching
Memphis that morning in all haste, just
as dawn broke cannon shot was heard
down the river Colonel Ellet called from
the deck of the Queen to his brother CD
the Monarch: Its gun from the enc
my. Round out and follow me. Now is
our time !"
The Union gunboats Unanswered in
front of the Confederate ships without
pushing the attack, until the rams hove in
sight. Then they opened line to make
room for the Queen and Monarch, which
held the lead in this order. Passing the
gunboats at full speed the Queen disap-
peared in the wall of smoke that lay be-
tween the opposing fleets and MAIDS
straight for the center ram of the CoIfed-
crate line, the General Lowell. The Lowell,
which was the flagship and under steam,
moved out beautifully to accept the bold
challenge. The antagonists rushed to-
gether, bows on. The people ON board the
other ships and the citizen spectators
crowding the bluffs held their breath, ex-
pecting head end collision that would
send both rams to the bottom instantly
But the Lowell suddenly turned her port
to shore. On went the veteran Ellet with
tho Queen, crashing into the southern ship
xuith full fnrna fNba IF No Int
ram cut tho timbers of the Lowell In two
SO that she instantly filled with water and
sank before she steamed dozen lengths.
At the moment Of collision a pistol ball
fired from the deck of the Lowell struck
Colonel Ellet in the knee, giving him
wound that Frustrated him and caused his
death two weeks later
Lying prone on deck, the wounded COM
mander ordered the Queen to be turned on
the nearest Jnemy, but she was immedi
ately rammed on both sides at once by two
of the enemy's ships, the Beauregard and
Sumter, losing one paddle wheel in the
encounter. Meanwhile the Monarch came
to the spot. Seeing new antagonist the
Beauregard turned and made for her,
while the Price rushed in to plant blow
VII unO OppOhiuo BLU. Dun tuo btCOllu Ellcu
was worthy his namesake and leader.
Skillfully steering the Monarch he let the
impetuous Confederates ram each other.
The Beauregard crashed into the Price,
taking off wheel and sending her to shore
in the wake Of the disabled Queen, and
with precisely the same injury. Before
the Beauregard could turn, the Monarch
rammed her and shell from the gunboat
Benton at the same moment pierced the
boiler Of the unlucky ship. Noting that
his enemy was in sinking condition, FL
let towed her to shoal water and took off
her Grew. Thus ended the fight of the
rams. The Switzerland got up at the close
of the action, but the gunboat fleet had
finished the work Of the day, at long
range, allowing only the Confederate ram
Van Dorm to escape. She stole away down
the river chased by the Monarch and Swift
zerland.
In the staff of the ram fleet at Memphis
was boy 10 years of age doing duty as a
medical cadet. He was Charles Rivers
Ellet, son of the commander When he
heard Of his fathers wound, he hurried to
his side, but the old hero was in no mood
for tender scenes. Handing the boy flag
he told him to row quickly to the Mem
Os5 hs