OPERATIONS ON THE RIVER. 567 should take hereafter, that I felt it neces-opening of the river throughout its sary to punish Mumford according to the course, in coöperation with the fleet of just laws of war, after the confession of Commodore Davis, advancing toward guilt. Whether rightly or wrongly, the him from above Memphis. At Baton act still commends itself to my judg- Rouge, one hundred and forty miles ment. Feeling the utter worthlessness above New Orleans, the national flag of the man that treason had attempted was raised, and the Arsenal and other to exalt into a patriot, I was inclined to public property taken possession of by spare him. But that was not permitted. Commodore Palmer of the Iroquois on The Thugs, rowdies and gamblers as- the 8th of May. On the 12th he visited sembled before the execution and re- Natchez and received the virtual sursolved that he should not be hung. It render of the city, it not being thought became a question whether they ruled necessary to occupy the place as it had New Orleans or the Commanding Gen- not been a military position. A week eral of the United States, and from that later, on the 18th, Commander S. P. day there was never any question upon Lee, with the advance of the squadron, that subject." arrived near Vicksburg, and under orders from flag-officer Farragut and General Butler, demanded the surrender of the place and its defences, promising the same protection to private property and personal rights under the laws of the United States which had been accorded in similar circumstances elsewhere. The authorities peremptorily declined to surrender the city, whereupon Commander Lee asked the removal of the women and children out of the reach of danger, in view of a probable bombardment. Commodore Farragut arrived shortly after with a column of troops under General Williams, and was followed by an additional naval and military force including Porter's mortar flotilla, which had been withdrawn from its proposed The chief military events during Gen- theatre of operations on the Gulf. The eral Butler's administration of his de- fortifications at Vicksburg, consisting of partment outside of the city of New an extensive range of batteries on the Orleans, were the occupation of Baton heights, the town being built on a bluff Rouge, on the Mississippi; the subse- rising to a considerable elevation above quent attack upon and defence of that the river, were not very readily to be place, and an Expedition some months assailed by the guns of the squadron. later to the Lafourche district to the west In fact, the reduction of the place, which of the city. Immediately after the cap- was capable of easy reinforcement from ture of New Orleans and the abandon- its railway connections with the interior, ment by the enemy of the fortifications was speedily ascertained to be an underin its vicinity, flag-officer Farragut sent taking of no slight difficulty. An imdetachments of his squadron up the Mis-portant movement, however, was made sissippi to take possession of the prin- by Commodore Farragut on the 28th of cipal places and clear the way for the June, in boldly passing the forts, with By a Proclamation of President Lincoln, of the 12th of May, it was announced that on the 1st of June the hitherto blockaded ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans would be open to commercial intercourse, subject to limitations prescribed by the Treasury Department, regarding articles contraband of war, and other military necessities of the situation. In the month of June various Union meetings were held in the city, followed by large returns of the inhabitants, according to the provisions of the registry order, to their old allegiance. Two representatives, Union men, Messrs. Benjamin F. Flanders and Michael Hahn, were, in November, elected members of the national Congress. the flag-ship Hartford, the frigate Richmond, the sloops-of-war Oneida and Iroquois, and several inferior vessels of the Lower Mississippi fleet. The passage was made in open daylight shortly after dawn, the squadron replying with its heavy armament to the guns of the forts. For an hour the contest was kept up with a vast expenditure of ammunition, the mortar boats below joining their fire to the bombardment. Of ten vessels under orders, eight passed the batteries and joined the rams of Commodore Davis's fleet, which had descended the river and were keeping guard a short distance above the town at the mouth of the Yazoo, where a number of formidable rebel vessels were understood to be laid up, or in preparation for future action. The casualties to Farragut's fleet in passing the batteries were reported in all fifteen killed and thirty wounded. The damage to the vessels was slight, though being of wood they were exposed to great hazard. There was no means of ascertaining the injury done the enemy. Immediately after this affair, Commodore Davis, with an important portion of his flotilla, including the flag-ship Benton, the Cairo, Louisville, and a number of mortar boats, descended the river from Memphis and joined Commodore Farragut above Vicksburg. It was at this time that a plan was formed and begun to be carried into effect, of diverting the waters of the Mississippi from their course by Vicksburg, into a new channel through a canal to be dug across the projecting tongue of land which causes an extreme bend of the stream before the town. If this narrow neck of land, about two miles in width, could be thus severed and rendered navigable, Vicksburg with its batteries left high and dry in an inland position, would no longer offer any obstacles to the much desired free navigation of the river. A large number of negroes were accordingly summoned from the neighboring plantations and set to work in digging the canal. Whatever might be the plausibilities of the undertaking, however, there was one important defect in prosecuting it at this time. The river, upon which much reliance was placed for assisting the labors of the negroes in working its own way through on a gentle hint from the spade, was, from the season of the year, falling, and consequently acting every day with less force. On actual experiment, moreover, the toughness of the sub-soil was found to be quite refractory to the threatened inundation, and it was more than doubtful if the path for the proposed channel had been struck in the right place. At any rate, after many exertions and more sanguine announcements, the work at the end of two months was definitely abandoned for the season. The next incident of importance to the fleet after the passage of Vicksburg, was an encounter with the Arkansas, a famous gunboat of the enemy, the construction of which had been commenced at Memphis, whence just previous to the conquest of that place by the Union forces, she had been taken in an unfinished state to the upper waters of the Yazoo for safety. On the 26th of June, two days previously to the arrival of Commodore Farragut above the city, Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred W. Ellett ascended that. river, with two rams, some sixty-five miles, to a spot where the stream was obstructed by a raft and four guns in battery. His object was to capture or destroy three of the rebel gunboats, the Van Dorn, Polk, and Livingston; but in this he was anticipated by the enemy, who set the vessels on fire and started them down the stream to arrest his own progress. To escape the threatened conflagration he was compelled to retire. The Arkansas was reported to be in preparation above, the raft. There were various rumors about her armor and equipment, but little was *Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Ellett to the Hon. E. M. Stanton. Above Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. ESCAPE OF THE ARKANSAS. known of her actual strength, till it was one morning suddenly demonstrated by her adventurous descent into the Mississippi, and assault of the Union fleet on her successful passage to the protecting fortifications of Vicksburg. It was the very day, the 15th of July, which had been chosen for another reconnoissance of the Yazoo, and at five in the evening the iron-clad Carondelet, the wooden gunboat Tyler, and the steam ram Queen of the West, had left the fleet for the purpose. They had not gone far, the Tyler being in the advance a few miles up Old river, into which the Yazoo empties, when the Arkansas was discovered steaming down. All uncertainty as to her offensive powers was speedily dissipated as she turned her powerful batteries upon the Tyler. She was completely enclosed with a plating of railway iron, and mounted ten large guns, three on a side and two at each end. In strength and armament she was, in fact, what the enemy claimed her to be-the Merrimac of the Mississippi. It was in vain for the Tyler to keep up a contest with this destructive monster. The guns of the wooden vessel were ineffectual against the iron sides of her assailant, while every well-directed shot of the latter told with effect. The Tyler bravely keeping up an ineffectual fire was pierced in several places, eight of her officers and men killed, and sixteen wounded, fled down the river closely pursued by her antagonist. The Queen of the West, which was behind the Tyler, following the course of events, made the best of her way back to the Mississippi, escaping any serious damage from the enemy. At the mouth of Old river the Arkansas fell in with the Carondelet, which being partly iron-clad, determined to test her powers. The Union vessel opened fire on the Arkansas when she came within range, but with no better result than the efforts of her companion; while the fire of the rebel's heavy guns penetrated her weaker sides, killing and 569 wounding a number of her men. In this emergency, Captain Walke resolved to board the enemy; his vessel was brought alongside, and a number of his men mounted the deck of the Arkansas, but finding no means of entrance within, were compelled to abandon the undertaking. Before parting with her the Arkansas fired a shot which burst a steam pipe on board the Carondelet, which caused many of her crew to jump overboard. Thus marking her path by the disaster of her foes, the Arkansas entered the Mississippi and approached the powerful squadrons of Commodores Farragut and Davis, and the rams, commanded by Colonel Ellet-more than twenty vessels of various powers, from the Hartford and Richmond with their formidable batteries, to the humble but effec tive gunboat. The whole fleet opened their guns upon the stranger, which pursued her course intrepidly through the midst of the bombardment, exploding the steam-chest of the ram Lancaster, by the way, and escaping the hostile fire, reached in safety the protecting fortifications of Vicksburg. The Union loss in this encounter, heaviest on board the Lancaster, was, in all, forty-two killed and sixty-nine wounded. That of the enemy, was ten killed and fifteen wounded. Captain Isaac N. Brown, her commander, who was himself slightly wounded, reported serious damage to his vessel. The smokestack was shot to pieces, with a loss of steam, so that the ram could not be used, and other injury was inflicted in the engagement at close quarters. In the evening there was a general bombardment of the works at Vicksburg by the Union fleets, and Commodore Farragut again passed the city to a station below, but whatever losses were inflicted upon the enemy, the Arkansas, apparently too much disabled to take part in the engagement, escaped further injury. The officers of the navy were not disposed to sit in quiet while the enemy en Benton, Cincinnati, and Louisville-were to engage the upper rebel batteries, the Bragg to lie behind the bend in readiness to butt the Arkansas in the event of her appearance above; and the Essex to run down in advance of the Queen and grapple her as she passed, draw her out into the stream, to give the Queen an excellent opportunity to ram her, Farragut meanwhile engaging the lower batteries. joyed this triumph of the Arkansas. of the vessels of Commodore Davis-the Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet, in particular, took the matter seriously to heart. On the 20th of July, five days after the disaster, he addressed from the ram Switzerland the following communication to flag-officer Davis:-"Permit me to say, Commodore, that I apprehend the continued existence of the rebel gunboat Arkansas so near us is exercising a very pernicious influence upon the confidence of our crews, and even upon the commanders of our boats; and, in view of "After the Queen had struck the enethis state of facts, it does seem to me my, she was to come up or go down the that some risk should be encountered to river, as was most advantageous, the insure her destruction and reëstablish Benton protecting her retreat in the forour own prestige on the Mississippi riv- mer, and the Essex in the latter case; er. I hope you have given my proposi- the Sumter to ram the hostile gunboat if tion your careful consideration, and that the Queen failed to perform her task. you may not conclude that the risk of The three gunboats opened fire; the failure is too great to attempt its accom- Bragg took her position, and the Essex plishment. I feel great confidence that, led off in fine style, the Queen following with united action, it will be made a at a high rate of speed, and under very complete success. I will myself com- favorable auspices. As the ram passed mand a boat that I shall select to run the flagship, Commodore Davis waved the Arkansas down, with a very small his hand to Colonel Ellet, standing near but carefully selected crew; while, if the pilot-house, and cried: Good luck, you and Commodore Farragut will vig- good luck!' The Colonel misunderstood vig-good orously attack the batteries, I shall feel the words, supposing the Commodore that success will surely attend the effort. said, 'Go back, go back!' and thereHoping to hear from you favorably as to fore turned the Queen about, and steamthe attempt to destroy the rebel gunboat ed toward the Benton, when he heard, Arkansas, and that you will excuse the 'Go on, go on!' Without comprehendfreedom of these suggestions from one ing this apparent inconsistency, and bewhose experience is so slight as com- lieving the first duty of a soldier is to pared with your own, I remain, with obey, the Colonel steamed down under feelings of great respect, your obedient the batteries; and arriving at the first servant, Lieutenant-Colonel ALFRED W. water battery, near the Marine hospital, ELLET, Commanding Steam-ram Fleet." where the hostile gunboat was lying, he The note was answered in person by discovered the Essex had gone on, and both Commanders, Commodore Farragut was then in advance one half or three walking over the Peninsula, the scene of quarters of a mile. The Queen was now the labors of the canal diggers, to the exposed not only to the batteries of the conference. It was then agreed that enemy, but to those of the gunboat, Davis should engage the upper and Far- which lay with her stern into shore and ragut the lower batteries, while Colonel her bow up stream, apparently expectEllet should" ram" the Arkansas. The ing and prepared for an attack. All this plan of the attack, and its subsequent while, so far from the gunboats drawing fortunes, as graphically described by a the hostile fire, and standing between correspondent, were as follows: "Three the Queen and harm, she was receiving RENEWED ATTACK ON THE ARKANSAS. most damaging attention from all sides. Shot and shell were raining around her, and she had been struck a number of times in very delicate localities. Colonel Ellet saw his was a desperate chance; that he had staked his life upon a cast, and that he had probably lost; that those on whom he had depended had failed, and he could now depend only on himself and fate. "The Colonel was resolved to take the odds, and he took them. He went against the Arkansas partially up stream, designing to butt her forward of her side guns her weakest place-but the eddies in the river altered his course somewhat, and he struck her aft of the aft side gun, and, unfortunately, a glancing though violent blow, that made both the traitorous and the loyal craft tremble. The Arkansas seemed to shrink and yield before the blow, and for a moment it was thought her side would give way; but she reacted, and the ram flew back from her, and, in moving toward her again, ran into the bank. The Queen reversed her engines, and, as she went sternward into the stream, her head veered up the river; and it was then evident her sole opportunity, if any there was for escape, was above. 571 Captain's office, penetrating the iron safe, and, passing out, shattered the wooden carriage of one of the mounted brass pieces on the boiler deck, dismounting the gun, and, hitting it, left a deep indentation in the metal. A 32-pound shot, after passing through the heavy timber bulwarks of the ram, and becoming nearly spent, grazed the hip of Lieutenant James M. Hunter, causing a severe contusion. Several huge roundshot passed immediately over the heads of Colonel Ellet and his son while in their recumbent position. Had they been standing, they would have become headless, and perhaps trunkless, heroes. A 50-pound rifled shot passed through the pilot-house, within a few inches of the legs of Alexander Ford, who was then at the wheel, and narrowly escaping the breast of his associate, Roley S. McKey, standing at his side, and passing the word from the commander of the ram. Jacob Lauber and John McCullough, engineers, were thrown down once or twice from the wind of flying shot, and their assistant, John R. Skelton, was struck with a small fragment of a shell on the left hand the most serious wound received by any one on the Queen of the West. The vessel preAlready had the ram been struck sented a most dismantled and forlorn aptwenty or twenty-five times. Her chim-pearance, and is as nearly shot to pieces, ney-stacks were perforated with balls; for any vessel that will float, as can well one of her steam-pipes had been shot be imagined." away; in various places large holes had been bored through the sides and bow of the dauntless vessel, and yet no one was hurt, though many of the escapes had been almost miraculous. The ram moved up the river, and the rebel batteries increased their fire. Heavy shot and shell fell before, behind, and around her, and every few seconds one would go tearing through her deck or cabin. As she passed one of the upper batter-over, that there was little hope of capies, a 32-pound shot struck her in the rear, went through every one of her larboard state-rooms, in which no person happened to be at the time, into the 64 After this adventurous, though, unhappily, marred affair, the attack upon Vicksburg was for the time abandoned. It was now the middle of summer, and the inevitable exposure of the troops in the swamps and on the river began to tell fearfully on the health of the men. The fall in the river also compelled the heavy draft vessels of Commodore Farragut to retire. It was perceived, more turing the city without the assistance of a large coöperating land force, which could not then be brought into the field. Accordingly, Commodore Davis present |