March 2, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
From the Jackson, Mississippian of the 21st, we get the following particulars of the capture of the Federal gunboat Queen of the West:
On Wednesday of last week the Queen ran past Natchez and anchored two miles below. The DeSoto followed her, stopping just above the landing, where she destroyed several flat boats and skiffs. From one of the […..] she took three boys prisoners, who were raised in Natchez. The Queen of the West remained at anchor in protecting distance while these depredations were carried out by the DeSoto. They both then steamed away together, the boys having been placed on the Queen of the West. The two vessels proceeded down the river, entered Red river, and at or near the mouth of the Atchafalaya Bayou, the Era No. 5, with a load of corn for Port Hudson, was captured. They were fired upon at the mouth of the Atchafalaya, by a right battery, when the captain of the Queen was killed. In revenge, they steamed down the Bayou, and utterly destroyed six plantations by shelling them. They pressed the pilot of the Era No. 5, who deceived them as to the location and strength of our batteries. One of the boys captured at Natchez heard Colonel Ellett repeatedly assert that before he would surrender he would blow the boat up, but when he was fired upon by our batteries his feather immediately wilted and his only anxiety was the safety of his precious person. He was afterwards seen floating down the river on a bale of cotton.
The Natchez Courier has the following report of the affair: The engagement lasted above one hour, when twenty-five of the crew were taken prisoners – ten or twelve were drowned – And Col Ellett, who was in command of the Queen, cowardly forsook his boat and floated down the stream on a cotton bale. He own crew shot at him for his cowardice. The Queen had on board six heavy guns. The DeSoto was scuttled and sunk by her crew, as well as the coal boat in tow. The Era No. 5, being in possession of the Federal guard below the scene of action, she soon put out to the Mississippi River, bringing with her our informant, Thomas O’Brian, who was afloat in the river on a cotton bale, and who brings us this intelligence. About ten miles below Natchez the Era No. 5 met the Federal gunboat Indianola, carrying four 11 inch guns and about 200 men. Here both boats came to an anchor, and our informant made his escape.
Young O’Brien and two others were kept on board the Queen of the West as prisoners, during the attack of our batteries. He says that every shell from the Confederate batteries carried destruction to the boat and crew. The first shell completely cleared the gun deck of her men, and the second or third came crashing through her engines, cutting her steam pipe in twain, and completely disabling the gunboat. She will soon be got off for repairs. On the Era, when taken, were two Confederate officers and twenty-five privates. The privates were paroled. The victory on Red River was complete. The amount of stores taken is large.