The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-03

attack OF May 10 at Fort Pillow.
On our side the ram idea had also obtained
Judgment Years before Charles Ellet-an
eminent Pennsylvania civil engineer, who
had constructed the suspension bridge at
Niagara and written several able works
became interested in the science OF naval
warfare, and evolved the theory of ramming,
which he laid before the Navy Department
as early as 1855, where it attracted as little
attention from the bureaucrats as new ideas
usually do. At the beginning of bostilities
he called renewed attention TO his plan, but
again without effect.
The destruction OF the frigates Minnesota
and Congress by the ramming OF the Merrl-
mac was 50 powerful an advocate IN his be-
half that attention was turned toward him.
At the same time the construction OF rams
on the Mississippi by the rebels alarmed our
naval commanders there, and at last Mr.
Ellet was commissioned as Colonel and
sent to the West with instructions TO pro-
vide means for resisting and overcoming
the rebel armament.
The Western rivers have a peculiar class of
vessels denominated tow-boats. These
are of considerable size, and carry engines of
enormous power. They go down stream in
the center of great fleets of huge coal or iron
laden barges, to which they give direction in
the current. From ID TO 20 of these barges
are commonly assigned 10 one boat, and after
being unloaded at Cincinnati, Louisville or
New Orleans are towed back TO Pittsburg or
Wheeling for reloading Though so im-
mensely powerful, they are constructed so as
to be handled with great ease, as is very
necessary in the sharp turns and shifting
channels of the rivers All have double
xyhaaiS ipdar.apI..pt
enable them to be turned around as if ON a
pivot
Col Ellet bought a number of these al
Pittsburg and elsewhere, and speedily con-
verted them TO his purpose by reinforcing
their bows with filling of solid timber
covering their boilers with two feet of strong
oak, and ron-plating their pilot-hOuses. lie
began the work in March; the last part OF
May he arrived with his fleet and joined the
9unboats at Fort Pillow.
There WIS much incredulity as to the
utility Of the newfangled con.rivances -
especially among the older naval officers,
who were educated into religious belief in
the virtue OF big-bored cannon firing slow
balls at short range az the sovereign way to
win victories. They had no doubt that he
might sink the rebel vessels by butting them,
but they were equally sure that he would
sink his own at the same time, and sacrifice
their crews. Above ALL they were skeptical
of an unarmed ram being able to reach a gun
boat without being blown out of water by its
guns.
Consequently it seemed so risky that Col.
Ellet had great difficulty in securing crews
from the Regular Navy TO man his rams He
finally obtained volunteers from the engineers
serving in the army, and negroes were
secured TO act as fremen. His brother, who
commanded a company in the 59th Ill, in
duced 1T TO volunteer as a body, and marched
II aboard the rams at Cairo; another com.
pany from the 63d Ill. did the same, and
other volunteers gave him all the men that
he wanted.
He took command of his feet himself
making the swift sidewheeier Queen of the
West " his flagship. His son, Charlet
Rivers Eilet, boy Of 20, and as great an
enthusiast as his father on the subject o.
rams, was his Lieutenant in command
Bronson and Karl decided to accept the
opportunity offered them to 90 aboard the
Queen of the West, for duty during the com.
ing operations.
The fleet, which now consisted of the five
gunboats, Benton, Cairo, Carondelet. Louis
vile, and st. Louis, and the two rams, Queen
of the West and Monarch, anchored ON the
night o. June at Paddy's Hen-and-C Chick
ems Islands, five miles above Memphis.
There was little doubt that the decisive