Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15

Queen OF the West, no doubt the best
ram of the Union flock, ran down under
full steam, regardless of the fire OF our
upper Shore-batteries. and made the eX-
pected attack. We were at anchor and
with only enough men to fight two OF
our guns: but by the zeal OF our officers.
who mixed in with these men part OF
the guns crews, we were able to train
at the right moment and fire all the guns
which could be brought to bear upon our
cautiously coming assailants.
With a view perhaps to avoid our bow
guns, the Essex made the mistake, so far
as her success was concerned OF running
into us across the current instead Of COM
ing head-on with its force. At the mo-
ment of collision, when our guns were
muzzle to muzzle the Arkansas broad
side was exchanged for the bow guns OF
the assailant. A shot from one of the
latter struck the Arkansas plating a
foot forward of the forward broadside
port, breaking off the ends of the rail-
road bars and driving them in among
our people. The solid shot followed.
crossed diagonally our gun-deck. and
after broadside gun. This shot killed
eight and wounded six of our men. but
left US still half our crew.
What damage the Essex received I did
not ascertain, but that vessel drifted
clear of the Arkansas without again fir
ing, and after receiving the fire OF our
stern rifles steamed in the face and I'M
der the fire of the Vicksburg batteries
to the fleet below. Had Porter at the
moment of the collision thrown fifty men
fast to us with a hawSer, and with little
additional loss might have taken the
Arkansas and her twenty men and OFF,
GERS.
We were given time by the approaching
ram to reload our guns. and this second
9SSaila coming also pcto Of
with the current, ''butted' us SO gently
that We hardly felt the shock. The force
of his blow was tempered to US. no doubt.
by the effect Of our three broads.de guns.
which were fired into him when he was
less than fifty feet distant. Apparently
blinded by such blow in the face, he
drifted astern and ran ashore under the
muZZles of Lieut.. Reads rifles, the bolts
from which were PROBABLY lost in the m
mense quantity of hay in ba.es which
seemed slowed over and around him.
Getting clear of the bank, the ram
wore around without again attempting 10
strike the Arkansas, and steamed at
great speed up the river, receiving in
passing second broadside from our port
battery, and in the excitement of getting
away, neglecting the caution of his ad-
vance, he brought himself within range OF
our deadly bow guns, from which Grim
ball and Gift sent solid shot that seemed
AS he ran out Of range he was taken in
tow and was run up into the Davis fleet.
Thus closed the fourth and final bat
tie of the Arkansas, leaving the daring
Confederate vessel, though reduced in
crew to twenty men all told for duty
stu defiant in the presence of hostile
force perhaps exceeding in real strength
that which fought under Nelson at Ira
falgar
The conduct of our men and officer:
was on this occasion, as on every former
trial, worthy of the American name. Nov
ing quickly in a squad, from gun to gun
reloading, and running out each one sep
arately, and then dividing into partie
sufficient to train and fire, they were a
determined and cheerful as they coul'
have been with a full crew on board. Th'
closeness of this contest with the Esse,
NAV be inferred from the circumstance
that several of our surviving men had
their faces blackened and were painfully
hurt by the unburnt powder which came
through our portfolios from the assailants
guns.
1t was perhaps much matter OF
coal as Of cannon, of health as OF nos
tilitv that the Union commanders had
now to decide upon. If the Arkansas
couId not be destroyed the river siege
must be raised, for fifty SHIPS, more OF
less could not keep perpetual steam 10
confine one little ten-gun vessel within
her conceded control of six miles OF the
Mississippi river. 1t was indeed a diem
ma and doubtless the less dlfflcult norm
of it was chosen Soon after our contri-
hutton to the EsSeXS laurelS and De-
tween sunset and sunrise, the lower fleet
started for the recuperative atmosphere
of salt water, and about the same time