The National tribune., 1905-11-23

scendants Of Benjamin Franklin and
J meritOrious officer. 1t was hoped
that she would reach position where
she would enfilade the enemy's rifle
pits and drive out their defenders. The
cincinnati started from up the river at
o'clock in the morning OF May q
with the Price, Benton, Mound City
and Carondelet steaming up from be-
low at the same time to engage the
water batteries which might take a
hand in the fight. The Cincinnati had
been given additional protection by
logs and bales of hay and at 9 O'Clock
came within range of Fort Hill and the
other batteries, all of which began fir
ing upon her. Gen. Sherman, with his
staff, occupied commanding position
where he could witness the engage
ment and had his troops under arms to
take advantage of any decentralization
which the gunboat's fire might cause
The fire which the enemy's batteries
opened upon her showed that none Of
their guns had been shifted, but all
were In place and fully manned. The
Cincinnati suffered from the disadyan-
tage or moving down stream with the
strong current forcing her along, and
when she came to the position assigned
her for enfilading the rifie-pits she
rounded to, to bring her head up
stream. AS she did so a shot pierced
her side and tore up the shell room
below the water line and a third, still
more disastrous, pierced her vulnera-
Die stern and entered the magazine be-
low the water line, causing 1t to flood
and the vessel to begin to sink. Almost
at the same time a heavy shot tore
through the pilot-house and carried
away the starboard tiller. The enemy
turned all their guns upon her and
tore her light deck to pieces in few
seconds, disabling five of her guns. All
three flags staffs were shot away, carry
ing their colors down with them,
but a gallant Quartermaster, named
Frank Bois. ran out from the case
mate and nailed a flag to the stump
OF the forward staff. Finding his yes-
sci sinking. Lieut.. Bache kept on run
ming up stream, hugging as closely as
possible the east bank to avoid the fire.
He got In close enough to land a haw-
ser and plank on which to send the
wounded ashore. The hawser slipped
and the boat drifted again out into
the stream, so that the officers and crew
had to spring overheard and swim for
their lives. She drifted down within
range or the enemy's guns before she
sank.
Gen. Sherman's Ompliments.
The loss on her was five killed, IA
wounded and Is missing, supposed to
be drowned. The excited infantry on
shore cheered wildly the gallant Quar-
remaining portion of the staff and a
rescuing party rushed down to the aid
or the crew. Gen. Sherman sent a COM
pany of the 18th Ohio to give what help
1t could. He wrote a letter to Commo-
dore Porter describing the affair and
saying:
"Inasmuch as you must know ALL I
have nc occasion to report more than
that the style i'm which the Cincinnati
engaged the batteries elected universal
praise. and l deplore the sad result as
much as any man could. In Importance
of the object aimed to be accomplished
In my Judgment. fully warranted the
attempt. 1t has been unsuccessful. and
Will stimulate us to further efforts to
break the line which terminates on the
Mississippi In such formidable batter
les" ...
/ This success cheered the enemy very
much. and Lieut.-Gen. Pemberton sent
a letter to Col. Edward Higgins, who
commanded the !. river batteries.
strongly praising his gallant artilierists
| and iauding their achievement which
.e said added to the garland Of Vicks-
burg victories another bright chapIet. !"
| A few nights afterward the enemy
sent party up the river to burn up the
wreck, but they only succeeded In burn
ing the upper wood works above the
water. when they Were driven of by a
ed the guns from the wreck and want
ed them very much. The river was
falling, and as soon as the water had
lowered sufficiently Gen. Sherman sent
PARTIES to. remove the guns. The bat
tcries or Fort Hill had been antici-
iYeting this. and firing q shell at the
wreek every Is minutes during the night.