The National tribune., 1902-07-17

contraband who was near him espied an
empty flour barrel and crawled into it
head first, thinking, like the ostrich, that
so long as his head was under cover his
body was safe. He was driven from his
position by a seaman named LYDIA, and
ordered to keep out of the barrel.
The steamer was struck in all 73 times,
and was almost torn to pieces, and it was
| most remarkable that none were killed
and but two wounded.
We managed by superhuman efforts to
regain the Essex, a few miles up the riYer
| at Bayou Sara and by dint of hard work
and a liberal use of shot plugs managed
TO keep afloat and to repair our machin-
cry after a fashion, but the holes in her
| upper works we 2ever touched, and she
was consequently for the balance of the
voyage the best ventilated vessel in the
| navy.
After Capt. Porter had taken on board
of the Essex the provisions and ordnance
stores the Anglo-American had brought
him, he started up the stream with the
avowed intention of passing by Vicksburg
and rejoining Flag Officer Davis, who was
| still at Helena. This passage was q re-
markable one. We were constantly fol-
lowed by a force on both banks of the
river, and it was impossible to make a
landing without having fight, and those
| who died were buried overheard lashed in
their hammocks with 9-inch shot at
| their feet. Vicksburg was reached after
time, as the Essex would scarcely be
called fast steamer, making only about
| five miles an hour against the current.
| Upon engaging the lower batteries and
| finding the enemy's guns much more for
| midable than they were two months be-
! fore, and that it would be impossible to
pass them, he reluctantly turned his head
down stream, and after again being es-
corted by cavalry force, arrived at Port
Hudson, which by this time had become
a very strongy-fortified position, and
again passed by it.
! Porter, in his report, says:
| THE Essex was struck with heavy shot
IA times. AS nearly as l can judge the
enemy had in position from 35 to 40 guns
| of 10-inch, 9-inch and Sinch caliber in
three batteries commanding the river to
the extent Of five miles. A 63-pound, 81
pound and also a 1O-inch shot lodged in
the Essex, without material damage. We
were under fire an hour and three-quar-
ters, during which time our guns were
worked well and necessarily, and have
| reason to believe the enemy was consider
| ably damaged. In the various encounters
/ have had since / left St. Louis on my
last cruise, July 8, the Essex has been
| struck by heavy shot perceptibly 12S
times, glancing shots have left no record,
three have broken the iron, and but one
through, and that at u distance of a few
feet from the battery delivering it."
After the Anglo American had rejOined
the Essex, Capt. Riley made the following
report:
Sir: In pursuance of your order, l
procec Led down stream on tho 24th inst
for New Orleans, arriving there on the
morning of the 25th. We loaded up with
coal and left that city at 3:15 p. m. on
Thursday, the 26th inst. Nothing Of i'm
portance occurred until l reached Port
Hudson. l noticed earthworks had been
thrown up on the bluffs as well as the
water line, but no guns being in sight,
kept on for about mile, when another
line of earthworks was discovered, as well
as indications of rifle pits. l Immediately
ordered my rifle 50-pounder to be fred
At this moment the enemy opened on the
boat. My rifle gun, unfortunately, could
not be used, as the cartridges had been
made wet by just passed heavy rain
Our howitzer was useless, as no ammuni
ton could be obtained for it at New Or
leans. We are now just abreast of the
aforementioned earthworth, the enemy's
guns playing on us with great rapidity.
could see two 32-pounder cannons and Is
fieldpieces, g. and 12-pounders The fire
that, had it not been matter of urgent
necessity to reach you, l should have
dropped back. as l had no protection FOL
the machinery, and the fire was SO heavy
that the firemen were driven out from
their post. | determined, from the i'm
portance OF the case, to push on and re-
join you, if possible. l am happy to re-
port We succeeded. The following casual,
ties occurred: Mr.. Parker, pilot, severely
wounded in the back from q bursting
shell, and James Banes, seaman, slightly
wounded BY splinter over the eye. We re-
ceiyed q shoes-15 heavy shots, the bal
| ance l2-pounder and heavy grape. One