Year: 1862

o001o ana Wel8us VI metaI. ohiy wv fopo-
sunnoats were discovered they being ordinary Mssis
ssppi river boats.


On the evening Of The 80 Captain de Camp up the
river with the Iroquos, followed by the Kneo, Lieu
1enant Commanding Ransom and anchored not far below
1he point. On the morning OF the 4th an inqusitive
rebel gunboat, that had down regularly for week
learn what could be learned Of our strength
and intentions from behind the protecting chain
and steamed slowly down towards The Kneo, getting
up steam beors could do it, pushed out for the rebel
when the latter turned tail, followed by both the Union
boats The Kneo, being in advance fired fifteen shots
at the inquisitiVe " secesh," Of which certainly
captain Ransom thought three) struck him. Putting on
steam and hugging the river bank he disappeared
presently from sight around the point following on as
rapidly possible and sensby shortening the distance
between us, when there suddenly appeared eight rebel
steamers coming out from behind the protecting chain.
OF these two iron clad boats with sloping sides
built the pattern OF Commodore Foote feet;
the fboomsrang" Manassas, with which Rollins afore
time "peppered," punched and perpexed our little
feet and the balance ordinary Mississippi river steam
ers, armed and altered for their vocation One Of
these latter bore the flag Of the Commodore, who was
doubtless personally present. We had succeeded in
drawing the enemy out-which was Captain De Camps
obsc-and having thus performed little part for the
day. in opening the ball, withdrew The enemy did not
follow and quietly dropped down to our former
anchorage.


On Saturday. the 9th, Commodore Farragut came on
board the Iroquois, accompanied by Flag Captain
Bell and Signal Officer Osbon, and we steamed
up the river again on reconnaissance, follow
cd by the gunboats Scota, Kennebec, Wssahckon,
Kneo and Katahdin Following up the same steamer
had frequently seen before and driving above the
chain at about abreast the point have
frequently mentioned, and in sight OF the forts,
which could be through the glass to be thronged
nIal
came w ain range white puff Of smoke oated upward
from Fort Jackson, and hundred pound rife shell
screeched through the air, striking the water and
plodng only about hundred yards in advance Of
Flag Officer Farragut and Flag Captain Bell had mean
while gone aof where they sat in the taking
observations. There was another white puff Of smoke
and another monster shot screechng towards u.s.
This passed perhaps fifty feet the heads of the gen.
tlemen aoft and struck the water twothrds
river. Back her,, from aloft, and drift down the
river two three ships lengths and only just in time
third furious shell striking and bursting in the
water just at the point had moment before
left low murmur Of applause at this remarkably
excellent gunnery is drawn from our men steam
slowly again. Another shot falls short another bursts
prematurely this one from forty-two pound smooth
bore) when, " whz-z-zz," with fearful sound, hun
dred pound shell passes low down. between our smoke
stack and manmast the wind of its swift passage
ally rocking of the ships boats hanging at the side
Having escaped most admirable shots without
injury, we turn about and steam down again. The
traordnary accuracy OF these shots, at distance Of
and half miles, the preparation of the rebels for
reception and the undoubted efforts they have made
to be ready for Every tree and shrub the river
bank is range for of their guns, and they
use their battery Of hundred and seventyhve guns
without moving them from their fixed positions except
for the purpose of loading. Thus vessel ng up
the river is constantly placing itself in position be
shot at as accurately though the guns trained
upon 1t and immevaby fastened down.


The following three divisions have been created for
river use, to run up and down. relieving each other
occasion may require and for the purpose of watching
the enemy and holding him in check k-First DIVISION
Steam sloop Oneida, Captain s. Phillips Lee gunboats
Kaiahdin and Kineo. Second divsion-Steam sloop
Varuna Captain Charles s. Boggs gunboats and
Kennebec Third dvison-Steam soop Iroquois Captain
John De Camp gunboats Pinola and Wssahickon These
vessels are now doing picket duty on the river.


On Sunday evening, the 9Th, Captain De Camp went
aboard the Kinco and steamed the for the pur
Of general scouting expedition and to cut the cle
graph wire which up the western bank Of the
stream. Taking advantage of the thick fog to
within very few hundred yards of the chain so near
IN fact that could hear signals made along the line
approach and afterwards, turning back, the
telegraph wire, bringing away thirty feet with





and found house on the shore supposed to have been
used telegraph station. The river has risen very
rapidly within few days, and the poor fishermen living
from hand to mouth upon the banks mostly driven
from their houses by the overflow We found the house
we sought deserted In fact, obliged to wade
than knee high in water to reach it, cut tho
wire without opposition.


Backing slowly down, presently PASSED from under
the range of the forts and paused to meet two rebel
that appeared from behind the point each bear
ing Tag of truce. One ordinary boat par
tally plated with railroad iron under command OF Lieu
tenan. Kennedy. This boat Captain De Camp boarded
bringing of the Lieutenant with him his return. We
were met on way to the Winona by boat from the
other rebel steamer (supposed to be the Star Of the
West, containing Captain Jack Wilkinson, formerly Of
the United States Navy and old friend OF Captain
Camp, who invited him board the winona. Both Will
kinson and Kennedy went 10 the Winona, where they
spent something like an hour in the cabin with Captain
DO Camp, afterwards returning 10 their boats, when
dropped down the river. This bold and say the least
unusual the part of Captain De Camp, resulted
In acquisition Of important information First
mp 10 the date OF running up TO the fort
detailed above there fortlcation the
point below the forts second there three four
chains across the river instead OF one as previously
supposed, and these supported by vessels larger
than schooners, with very strong and heavy RATS be-
tween them, and large accumulation Of driftwood
above; these chains evidently detached pieces,
crossing each other somewhat the OF network
and these RATS, booms apparently anchored fast
30 that the destruction OF portion OF the formidable
barricade would by clear the river (indeed
this problem OF the chains is the most difficult to
solve in the attack. Our running up also gave
better idea Of Fort jackson than had before (as
CARDS its armament) and passage up was the (inno
cent party cause Of the burning of "sccesh"
steamer.


Captain De Camp ION the 9th) ordered down the
river to answer certain charges regarding his conduct,
among which was his compelling tho Captain OF the
wiuona to up TO tho fort against orders from he
BEATING TO uuarters undor tha gu,e M