The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-04-03

While the yawl's party was picking
up the wounded the Confederates ap
peared on board the uckless ship. Ell
let's men would have fired her to pre-
vent her use by the enemy, but the
wounded We're still aboard. One of the
officers who attempted to remove the
wounded captain of the ship was taken
prisoner, but the others escaped with
the yaw to the De Soto.
Ellet and the officers of the De Soto
picked up the sailors in the river and
were about to start back for the Queen
Of the West, when Il dense fog came on
suddenly and the boat lost her rudders
by running into a bank. The next hope
lay in the little captive Era, which had
been left fifteen miles below. The De
Soto drifted down to the Era, and after
putting all hands aboard Of the ex-Con
federate she was lightened of her car
go, the De Soto scuttled and the pilot
ordered to make the Mississippi as soon
as possible AS the De Soto had drifted
away from the scene of disaster Ellet
noticed the Confederate ships sending
up black smoke, showing they were
preparing to take hand against the
daring Federal raiders.
On the trip down Red river the act
ing pilot betrayed his Confederate SYM
pathies in speech but Ellet was COM
PEELED to leave him at the wheel of the
Era. as no one else on board knew the
channel. Upon reaching the Missis
CD h< hn al
she drew but two feet of water. Luck
lily the Era fell in with the Federal
ironclad Indianola, which had run the
Vicksburg batteries and was patrolling
near the mouth of Red river to guard
Ellet against attack from the rear.
Soon after the meeting of the Era
and Indanola the Confederate ship
Webb hove in sight making for Red
river to entrap Ellet. AT sight of the
lronclad the Webb turned about and
being the fleeter vessel. got away. AS
Ellet wished to return and report the
fate of his expedition to the fleet above
Vicksburg, Captain Brown of the In
dianola took the Era under convoy I'M
til she had passed the mouth of the Red
river and then prepared his vessel to
fight the Webb. Meanwhile the Webb
had made a landing and telegraphed
news of the Indianola to the captors Of
the Queen of the West The disabled
ship was quickly put in order and
manned with a picked crew.
Meanwhile another dispatch had
brought up from Port Hudson the Con
federate cotton clad Beatty, carrying
POO riflemen from the army camps, so
that the Indianola had three ships to
contend with instead of one. The Con-
federates rated their foe at true value
and made their attack in the night,
hoping to surprise and board her.
Waiting for nightfall, the Queen of
the West, Webb and Beatty moved
stealthily up stream with their lights
out. The Indanola was discovered
hugging the bank, her black figure
shrouded in darkness.
In order to protect his ship from the
Vicksburg guns Brown had dashed
loaded coal barges to her sides, and
these were still in position, making the
ironclad a clumsy ship in battle. The
Queen of the West opened fire at $50
yards and at the same time dashed her
massive ram against coal barge,
crushing it and striking the Indianola
amidships. The Queen of the West
stuck fast to the lronclad, and the two
drifted down the river, meeting the
Webb, which struck the Indianola
head on in the bow. This collision dis
abled one of the engines of the Indiana
Ia, but it also shook her loose from the
embrace of the Queen Of the West.
The gunners Of both sides made the
most of their chance when the vessels