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

but in every direction, except astern.
our eyes rested on enemies. mao ions
known the most of these as valued
friends, and if I now had any doubts OF
the success of the Arkansas they were
inspired by this general knowledge rather
than from any awe of particular name
1t seemed at glance as If whole navy
had come to keep me away from the
heroic city-six or seven rams. four or
five ironclads without including one &C
counted for an hour ago, and the fleet
of Fafragut generally. behind or inside
of this fleet.
The rams seemed to have been held in
reserve, to come out between the inter
walls. Seeing this, as we neared the head
of the line 1 said to our pilot, BRADY,
shave that line of men-of-war as close
as you can, so that the rams will not
have room to gather Roadway in coming
out to strike u.s." In this way we ran
so near to the wooden ships that each
may have expected the blow which, II L
could avoid it, / did not intend to deliver
to any, and probably the rams running
out at slow speed. across the line of our
advance received in the smoke and fury
of the fight more damage from the guns
of their own men-of-war than from those
of the Arkansas.
AS we neared the head of the line our
bow guns, trained on the Hartford (Ad-
miral Farraguts flagship, began this
second fight Of the morning 1--WE We're yet
to have a third one before the day closed),
and within few minutes, as the enemy
was brought in range, every gun OF the
Arkansas was at its work. 1t was calm,
and the smoke settling over he COM
batants, our men at times directed their
guns at the flashes of those of their OPP
opponents.
AS We advanced the line Of fire seemed
to grow into a circle constantly closing.
The shock of missiles striking our sides
was literally continuous, and were
now surrounded, without room for any
thing but pushing ahead, and shrapnel
shot were coming on our shield deck,
twelve pounds at a time, I went below
to see how our Missouri backwoodsmen
were handling their 1OO-pounder Column
bads. At this moment l had the most
lively realization of having steamed into
a real volcano, the Arkansas from its
center firing rapidly to every point Of the
circumference, without the fear of hit
ting friend or missing an enemy.
l got below in time to see Lieuts Read
and Scales with their rifled guns blow off
the feeble attack of a. ram on our stern.
Another ram was across our way ahead
AS l gave the order. Go through him.
Brady!" his steam went into the air, and
his crew into the river. A shot from one
of our bow guns had gone through his
boiler and saved the collision We passed
by and through the brave fellows strug-
Cling in the water under a shower Of mis-
siles intended for u.s.
It was a little hot this morning all
around; the enemy's shot frequently
found weak places in our armor, and
their shrapnel and minie-balls also came
through our portfolios. Still, under a
temperature of 100 degrees. our people
kept to their work. and as each one, act
ing under the steady eye of Lieut.. Stew
ems, the executive officer, seemed to think
the result depended on himself, / sought
a cooler atmosphere on the shield. to
find, close ahead and across our way. a
large iron-Clad displaying the square flag
of an admiral. Though we had but little
Roadway his beam was exposed, and I
ordered the pilot to strike him amidShipS
He avoided this by steaming ahead. and,
passing under his stern. nearly touching,
we gave him our starboard broadsde,
which probably went through him from
rudder to prov. This was our last shot
and we received none in return.
We were now at the end of what had
seemed the interminable line. and also
past the outer rim of the volcano. We
were not yet in sight of vicksburg. but
if any of the fleet followed US farther
on our way 1 did not perceive it.
The Arkansas continued toward Vicks-
burg without further trouble. When
within sight of the city, we saw another
fleet preparing to receive us or recede
from us below. With our firemen eX-
hausted, our smokestack cut to pieces,
and section of plating torn from
the side, we were not in condition just
then to begin a third battle: moreover
humanity required the landing of our
wounded-terribly torn by cannon shot
and of our dead. We were received at
Vicksburg with enthusiastic cheers. I'm
mediate measures were taken to repair
damages and to recruit our crew, dimin-
ished to one-half their original number
by casualties. and by the expiration of
only for the trip to Vicksburg.
We had left the Yazoo river with a
short supply of fuel. and after our first
landing opposite the city hall we soon
dropped down to the coal depot. where
we began coaling and repairing, under
the fire of the lower feet, to which,
under the circumstances, we could make
no reply. Most of the enemy's shot
fell short but Renshaw. in the Westfield,
made very fine practice. with his 100
FOUNDER rife gun, occasionally throwing
the spray from his shot over our working
party, but with the benefit of sprinklng
down the coal dust.
Getting in our coal, we moved out of
range of such sharp practice, where, I'M
der less excitement, we fastened such
temporary repairs as would enable us to
continue the offensive. We had intended
trying the lower fleet that evening. but
before our repairs could be completed
aud our crew reinforced by suitable Sc
lections from the army. the hours of
night were approaching, under the shad-