Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13

history have very little TO say concerning
the battles in the West, and for that rea.
| SON the career Of the Arkansas Is a blank
page to many Virginians, but II Is worth
reading, nevertheless.
In the summer of 1861 the Confederates
began at Memphis the building OF two
ironclads the Arkansas and Tennessee
and after the evacuation of Fort Pillow
in June, 1852 the Arkansas was towed VI
the YaZoo river 90 be finished and tbs
Tennessee was set on fire on the stocks
ana burned. The Arkansas was com
pleted and ready for action on the 18th
Of July. She carried two S-inch cOlum.
biads forward, two 6-inch rlne-guns aft,
and one 9-inch Dahlgren one 6-inch rifle
and one 32-pounder on each side making
in all ten guns. Her crew was composed
Of volunteers from the army.
Coming down the Yazoo river Lieuten-
ant Brown found II blockaded by the
ronclad Carondelet Of thirteen guns, the
iron-protected Tyler, and the ram Queen
OF the West. Boldly attacking these
three vessels. he disabled the Carondelet.
ran her ashore, and forced her 20 haul
down her colors, and chased the two
others out of the river. Upon reaching
the Mississippi he found lying above
Vicksburg the combined fleets Of Farrs-
gut and Porter, consisting Of six iron
clads, seven rams. ten seagoing men-of-
war, and seventeen smaller vessels AMI
gunboats, amounting in all over 300 heavy
guns. The gallant Confederate was not
dismayed by the odds against him. but
steamed slowly down through this fleet
of forty ships. dealing death and destruc-
ton among them as he passed along. His
Al, t1. fFFfa fr.n
all four sides. One of the Federal ves-
sells was sunk. ram was blown up, and
forty-two of the enemy killed and sixty
nine wounded. Seventy-three OF his shells
struck the Federal vessels. His own loss
was ten killed and fifteen wounded, and.
without having received any material
damage, the gallant little craft came 20
anchor under the bluffs Of Vicksburg. on
the 18th she was again attacked by the
whole Federal feet, but in the engage
ment one OF her assaiants was sunk and
several others were badly crippled. few
DAYS afterwards the Federals raised ths
seige and withdrew from before tho city.
1t is not necessary to go beyond the hls-
tory of this vessel 10 discover the reason
why the South failed 10 establish its in
dependence, and why the victories OF the
southern soldiers awaited nothing. II may
not be considered orthodox TO public facts
which reflect upon the competency OF the
men who were controlling the Confede-
rate Government. but impartial history
will not endorse their competency, and
that history is bound TO be written soon
err or later The Arkansas and Tennes-
see were commenced i'm the summer OF
1861. The machinery and iron armor for
them were at hand ready 10 be put IN
place. and with a sufficient force Of car
penters to build their hulls they could
have been completed by the fall OF the
year, and by patrolling the Ohio and Up
per Mississippi rivers, could have de-
stroyed the ironclads which the Federals
were building there but which were nol
ready for service. Being the first In the
river, they could have held II. But there
were no carpenters 10 be had. They mao
enlisted as soldiers, and we're serving IN
the army under General Polk. at Colum-
bus. and that officer refused 10 permit tne
detail Of any of his men TO do the work
Application was made to the Confederate
Government at Richmond, but IL
was late I'm January. 1852. before
the application was attended TO-
and General Polk overruled. The re-
suit of this delay was that the Tennessee
was burned on the stocks on the 9Th OF
June. 1862. and the Arkansas was towed
I'D the Yazoo river in an unfinished con
dition. Had these two vessels been COM
pleted in the fall OF 1861, they could have
held the river and prevented the dlsas-
tiers at Donelson and New Orleans.
Another example OF this fatal incompe-
tency was manifested I'm the building OF
the ironclad Mississippi at New orleans
There was unnecessary delay In com
mencing work on her and further unne-
cessary delay in pushing portions or me
work after IL was commenced. Her smart
was made from the shaft OF the steamer
Glen Cove. which was sunk In James
river below Richmond 10 obstruct naVi-
cation. The shaft had 70 be altered 70
an the Mississippi, and instead or senoihs
il 10 the GospoTt navy-yard. where there
were already facilities 90 do the work
the Navy Department contracted Win
me Tredegar Iron Works az Richmond
md II required that establishment near
Y three months in perfecting facilities 10
begin Il. The result was the work was
rot commenced on II until the 5th OF Jan
Iary 1862, and IL was not shipped rom
Richmond until the 18th OF March. In less
han a month after that day Ne" VI
cans was captured by Farragut ana tns
unfinished Mississippi was burned py INC
10 prevent her from falling
nto his hands. Had she been ready 10.
,ervice she would have been capable o.,
DESTROYING Farraguts entire feet OF
wooden vessels. Thus second opportu'
,ity was lost which might have prevent
d the fall Of New orleans.
JOHN w. II. PORTER
Lees Superior Generaiship'