March 8, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Mississippi River Correspondence.
YOUNG’S POINT, LA., THREE MILES ABOVE VICKSBURG, Feb. 26, 1863.
After the capture of the Queen of the West we had hoped that the Indianola would speedily succeed in retaking her. It seems we were doomed to disappointment, and to have the additional mortification of losing the Indianola. The ease with which she passed the batteries at Vicksburg and Warrenton appears to have created too great confidence in her abilities.
THE LOSS OF BOTH THE QUEEN AND THE INDIANOLA has been mainly due to the fact that these boats were allowed to proceed alone into the enemy’s country. Had the Queen of the West been attended by any other of the ram or gunboat fleet she could easily have been saved after running ashore at Gordon’s Landing. Had the Indianola been similarly accompanied it is doubtful if the rebels would have ventured to attack her.
AFTER MEETING THE ERA NO. 5, with those who escaped from the ill-fated Queen, Capt. Brown proceeded with the Indianola to the mouth of Red river in pursuit of the Webb. The chances of overtaking her were very remote, as the Webb could easily steam three miles in the same time that the Indianola could make one. The pursuit was not commenced until the Webb had been absent for some hours, and the only prospect of coming up with the rebel boat was in the event of her lying by for fuel or from some other cause. By the time the Indianola reached the mouth of Red river the Webb was at least a hundred miles above, on her way to Alexandria.
ARRIVED AT RED RIVER, the Indianola proceeded a short distance up that stream, on the lookout for any rebel gunboats or transports that might make their appearance. The entrance to Atchafalaya bayou was watched, in the hope that some boat might emerge on its way to Port Hudson or the upper Red river. No capture was made, as the boats were doubtless warned by couriers of the presence of the Indianola. Ascending Red river some twenty or thirty miles, Captain Brown ascertained that the Queen had been removed from the bar where she struck fast, and was repaired and ready for action.
HE CHANGES HIS TACTICS.
This discovery put a new face upon the whole matter. It was unsafe for the Indianola to remain longer in Red river, as the Queen might at any moment engage her where the stream was so narrow that she could not be handled to advantage. The Queen, having been built to run as a Cincinnati and lower Mississippi packet, was sufficiently short to enable her to pass the locks of the canal at Louisville. The possessing this qualification rendered her valuable for service on the Red river and other narrow streams, where it would be necessary to turn quickly. The Indianola, though a fine and powerful boat, was so long that she could be handled with difficulty anywhere out of the Mississippi.
THE ORDERS GIVEN TO CAPTAIN BROWN were similar to those to Colonel Ellet. He was to cruise on the Mississippi and up the Red river if he found it practicable. If circumstances rendered it necessary to leave the latter stream, he was to make his way to Big Black river, and attempt its ascent as far as the bridge of the Vicksburg and Jackson railroad, fifteen miles in the rear of Vicksburg. The destruction of this bridge would sever the railway connection between Vicksburg and the east, and strike a severe blow at the rebel stronghold. It was deemed highly important that is should be accomplished, and there is much cause to regret that it was neglected by both Colonel Ellet and Captain Brown on their downward trips.
ON LEAVING RED RIVER the Indianola headed for Big Black river, which empties into the Mississippi at Grand Gulf, forty miles below Vicksburg. Stopping at Natchez for a few hours he learned through rebel sources that no attack had been made upon Port Hudson, but that General Banks had massed a considerable force at Baton Rouge. The rebels stated that Gen. Auger was the officer in command at that point, and that General Banks at last accounts was in New Orleans. It is doubtful if their statements could be implicitly relied upon. The people of Natchez appeared neither friendly nor discourteous – evidently desiring to so conduct themselves that they would receive no censure from the Confederate government, while at the same time they preserved their city from the shot and shell of our gunboats.
THE INDIANOLA REACHED GRAND GULF, at the mouth of the Big Black, without any incident worthy of note. The batteries on the bluff fired a single shot at the Indianola, and received in return a warm welcome from her two eleven-inch guns. One of the shells set on fire a house that had been left unburned at the time Admiral Farragut put the town in flames in June last. The rebel battery, which evidently consisted of but three guns, did not open again upon the Indianola, though she lay for a long time within range.
Her arrival at Grand Gulf was on Tuesday morning, and on the afternoon of that day she prepared to ascend the Big Black for the purpose of destroying the bridge previously referred to. About two P. M. her lookout perceived a cloud of smoke arising below, and it was soon perceived that
STEAMBOATS WERE ASCENDING THE RIVER.
As it could hardly be hoped that any boats from the lower flotilla had passed Port Hudson, it was at once conjectured that the approaching boats could be none other than the rebel craft from Red river. There were two of them, and both were burning coal. The foremost was perceived to be the Webb, while the other was the Queen of the West. It is known that the rebels have recently fitted up the Doubloon, Quitman, Louis d’Or and Magenta, in order to use them as rams or for boarding. Their success in taking the Harriet Lane has brought this mode of warfare into much favor with them.
SKETCH OF THE WEBB.
The history of the Queen is too well known to need repetition here. The Webb was built several years since, and was used for towing purposes in the harbor of New York. She was noted as being a very powerful and quick boat, using two separate engines, working independently of each other. Just before the war broke out she was sent to New Orleans, ostensibly to be used there for towing vessels up from the Gulf. Constructed for a summer and winter towboat, she must necessarily possess great strength of hull and power of engines, and would be admirably fitted, with a little alteration, to be used as a ram. It is said that she can easily make twenty miles an hour up the Mississippi, or thirty miles when moving with the current. There is no other boat on the river that could hope to cope with her in point of speed. Even the famous time made by the Eclipse and Shotwell in 1853 would be excelled by the Webb. It is thought the gun boat Bragg (formerly the Mexico), captured at Memphis in June last, would come nearest the mark made by the Webb.
THE WEBB FIRED UPON.
At the time the Webb came in sight of the Era No. 5, and was fired upon by the Indianola, she was but a few moments in getting out of sight, after once heading down the stream and putting her engines fairly in operation. It is easy to understand with what force she could strike another boat when fully under headway. The strongest steamer in existence could hardly hope to escape unhurt from such a collision. The Webb, being the foremost of the rebel boats, was the first to receive the shot from the eleven-inch guns of the Indianola. One of these struck her upper works, and though causing considerable injury, did not interfere seriously with her speed. At the same time the Queen of the West came up, with the evident design of striking the Indianola on the larboard side, opposite to the point where the Webb was approaching. A shot from the Indianola penetrated this boat in such a way as to stop the action of her machinery for a time. A second shot striking the Webb turned her from her course, and in coming around to give her blow upon the Indianola she lost much of her momentum.
THE SHOCK OF THE COLLISION.
The Webb struck the Indianola on the starboard side, just aft the turret, causing her timbers to crack fearfully. Had the blow been delivered with full force there is little doubt that the Indianola would have been so crushed in that she would have sunk immediately. As the Webb fell away from the Indianola the latter threw down of her eleven-inch shells directly through the upper works of the Webb. The shell exploded in the water a hundred yards from the boat, after passing through the cabin of the rebel boat, and causing much havoc on its way. At the same time the Webb brought her forward thirty-two pounder to bear upon the Indianola’s turret, but the balls glanced off without any effect.
THE QUEEN RETURNS TO THE CHARGE.
As soon as the Webb has delivered her blow and fallen back the Queen of the West came up again on the other side, endeavoring to imitate the performances of her consort. The Indianola brought her guns to bear upon the Queen, and one of her shot passed directly through the after part of the cabin, demolishing it to a considerable extent. Another struck the pilot house, knocking a large portion of its top completely away, and evidently disconcerting those within. As soon as this shot struck the Queen she steered very wildly, and instead of dealing a vigorous blow at the Indianola passed directly astern of her, running up alongside the Webb, as if desirous of obtaining the protection of the latter. In passing the Indianola the Queen made use of her fight guns, which had no effect upon the heavy armor of the iron-clad. One of the twenty-four pound shot passed through the light cabins, between the turret of the boat and her wheels. This work was originally constructed to serve merely as quarters of the crew when not in action, and is of very light material. A shot passing through finds little to resist it, and therefore causes but small damage.
THE WEBB MAKES ANOTHER DASH.
As soon as the Queen of the West was in such position as not to be endangered by the motions of the Webb, the latter made preparations for again using her prow. Once more she came up on the starboard side of the Indianola, in spite of the storm of eleven-inch shot and shell that was poured upon her. The Indianola manoeuvred to avoid her blow, but was unable to do so, though she did succeed in materially checking the speed and force of the Webb. The blow of the latter was delivered just aft the place where the first shock fell. The Indianola had been making water constantly from the moment of the first contact, and her pumps had been barely able to keep her clear. The second blow caused fresh seams to open, and the water came in quite rapidly. The great strength and thickness of the sides prevented her leaking so seriously as would have been the case with weaker boats. Several other collisions took place, until the Indianola became exceedingly badly damaged.
By this time the various movements had brought the boats quite near the Louisiana shore, and the Indianola, being in a sinking condition, made the signal for surrendering. The instant her flag was hung out the Webb and Queen came alongside, and an officer from the former took possession. Orders were given for running the captured boat on the shore, as it was feared that her pumps would not be able to keep her up. She was accordingly run aground. The officers and crew became speedily prisoners of war. One man escaped to the shore and thence to our fleet, brining the news of the occurrence. From this source these few particulars were gleaned.
REMOVAL OF THE PRISONERS – CONDITION OF THE INDIANOLA.
The rebels at once set to work to remove the prisoners from their prize, and to save her if possible. The officers and crew were transferred to the Webb for safe keeping, the pumps all the time being vigorously in motion. As the Indianola had not sunk at last accounts, it is probable that they succeeded in saving her. Although the damage to her will not be easily repaired, still it may be done sufficiently to exclude the water. By the time you receive this the Indianola will probably be cruising under the rebel flag. As the place where the boats are lying is about forty miles from our camps, on the Louisiana shore, and is held by the rebels, we are not are to glean much news from that quarter.
POSITION OF THE QUEEN OF THE WEST.
At last advices the Queen of the West was lying under the batteries at Warrenton. Whether she designs making a raid upon our transports at this point or returning to the vicinity of Red river, we are, of course, unable to say. It is probable that she is lying there ready to run below and give notice of the approach of our gunboats in case we should attempt to run any of them past the batteries. In possession of the Indianola and the Queen of the West, the rebels will probably attempt to reopen communication with Red river and bring forward the supplies of which they are now in great need.
CAPTAIN BROWN, OF THE INDIANOLA, was formerly in command of the Octorara, flagship of Commodore Porter at the time of the attack upon Forts Jackson and Philip and the subsequent assault upon Vicksburg. On her trip from New Orleans to Fortress Monroe last year the Octorara captured the British steamer Tubal Cain, laden with a cargo for the Charleston market. I regret that I have no list of the officers of the Indianola at hand at present.
THE REBEL FLEET BELOW VICKSBURG.
The rebels will now have below Vicksburg this recently captured iron-clad, the wooden boats, Webb and Queen of the West, and the cotton-clads Louis d’Or, Doubloon, Quitman, and Magenta. The two last named are very large and powerful, and will prove no mean antagonists. A fleet of seven boats would seem sufficient to reopen the river to the use of the rebels. They will make vigorous efforts to keep it open, as by their own showing they depend largely upon the Red river country for their supplies. It is much to be regretted that we have allowed two powerful boats, one after the other, to fall into the enemy’s hands. With the Indianola we have few boats that can cope, either as a ram or gunboat. Had there not been two of the rebel boats against her in the fight it is doubtful if she would have been captured.
EFFECT OF THE CAPTURE.
Her loss has cast a gloom over all our forces at this point. In a walk of a few moments along the levee I could not fail to notice the expression of sadness in all the little groups that were discussing the event. Following so closely upon the capture of the Queen, the effect is still more depressing. This fact, joined with the cold, wet, cheerless weather, with the river rising rapidly, cannot fail to have a depressing effect.
It is barely possible that this gloom is but the prelude of a brilliant future. We all trust that it may be so.
The rebels have erected strong batteries at the Mouth of Bayou Tensas and obstructed that stream with fallen timber, so that the passage of boats will be a matter of great difficulty.
PRISONERS OF THE QUEEN.
Nothing has yet been heard from the prisoners taken at the time of the capture of the Queen. They may be exchanged along with the crew of the Indianola.
Just as I close this letter I learn that the levee has been broken a few miles above here, and that an extensive crevasse is feared. Should the river rise much higher such a result is to be seriously dreaded.
THE VICKSBURG.
The rebel steamer Vicksburg is still lying at the landing in front of the town. The injury in her wheelhouse has not yet been repaired. She had steam up yesterday, but did not move from her moorings. A two gun battery has been erected just above here, probably with the design of destroying any of our gunboats that might attempt to attack her.