The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-06

and 50 or more horses, had landed, and a line of infantry had formed toward the north toward the river bank. and other troops were still crossing the staging blanks when Kellys men opened fire. Carefully aimed shells from Walton's bat tery and deliberate firing of rifles by Kel- ly's troopers caused by their unexpected ness a panic in the federal ranks, and all hurried to the transport. In the excite ment the cables of the transport were cut, and the boat drifted away before tne staging was drawn. many of the federais were thrown into the water, probably 200 were drowned. Of the soldiers left on the banks about 50 surrendered, but the others sought safety in flight, and some four or five hundred made their escape on one of the steamers, which touched the bank to receive them a half mile down the stream. The Confederate cavalry, however, picked up some of these fugt- tives. The result of Colonel Kelly's bold attack was the capture of 70 officers and men, three pieces of artillery and GO horses; one gun, two eaissons sunk, and the wounding or killing of about 2J0 or the federals. The damaged and surprised fleet left that part of the river so the doughty little Colonel's exploit was en- trely successful
 Later on, that is the last of october, 1864, came the affair of the Mazeppa, Un- dine and Venus, at the mouth of the BIB Sandy. Ut will be remembered that Bu- fords division of Forests command went to that point to blockade the river with a section of 20-pound Parrott guns sent up from Mobile for that purpose, and Chalmers also arrived at Paris, Ky, about the same time with Morton's bat tery of three-inch rifles. The old Con federate fort, Heimen and Paris Land ing, were selected by Buford as points commanding the river for several miles up and down. They were only five miles apart. Bells brigade. with section of Morton's battery, was establislpd at Paris Landing, and Lyon, with the Par rott guns, at Fort IIeimen; Morton's guns being in charge of Lieut.. J. w. Brown, and the Parrotts of Lieut. w. o. Hunter.
 At a. m., October 29, 1s64 the trans port steamer Mazeppa, heavily jadened and with barge in tow passed the bat tery at Fort Heimen. all unconscious of the presence of the masked batteries. Both sections of guns were then dis charged upon her with such effect that her machinery became unmanageable, and drifting to the opposite bank she was destroyed by her crew. General Bu- ford was present in person, and Captain Gracey of the Third Kentucky swan, with the aid of a log, to the disabled boat, brought off a yawl, and conveyed General Buford and a party of men 10 her deck With the aid of a hawser the Mazeppa was drawn to the west bank. Then came the exciting scene of unload- ing the boat. The cargo contained hard bread, clothing, shoes, axes, blankets and other stores, badly needed and scarce fin these last days of the Confectionery. But these precious stores were not safe there About o'clock three federal gum boats arrived and keeping out of range of the remote Confederate batteries, be- gan to shell Buford's men at the work of removing the cargo. The Mazeppa was then burned, and when night fell the gunboats returned down the river and left the Confederates to consume the night in hauling the stores to safe ois- tance in wagons impressed from the neighborhood. While thus engaged on the morning of the 30th another trans port, the Anna, came between the bat teries and would have became the prey of the Confederates but for the bold con duct of the pilot, who made his escape by deception. The batteries were firing on her when Buford, hoping to capture her intact rode to the bank and demand ed her surrender. The pilot agreed, and Buford ordered the guns to cease firing. Then the pilot changing front, said he