. The naval history of the Civil War . ivenaway. The boiler or steam-pipe of one ofthe leading vessels of the enemy was ex-ploded by a shot from the flag-ship Ben-ton, Phelps, and three of theenemys vessels, including the one en-countered by the Cincinnati, were dis-abled and drifted down the river. A fifty-pound rifle shot from the Carondeletpassed through the boilers of another ofthe enemys vessels, rendering her helpless ate vessels made great holes in the MoundCity and the Cincinnati, and were con-siderably damaged themselves, they allsucceeded in escaping. The Cincinnati,after
. The naval history of the Civil War . ivenaway. The boiler or steam-pipe of one ofthe leading vessels of the enemy was ex-ploded by a shot from the flag-ship Ben-ton, Phelps, and three of theenemys vessels, including the one en-countered by the Cincinnati, were dis-abled and drifted down the river. A fifty-pound rifle shot from the Carondeletpassed through the boilers of another ofthe enemys vessels, rendering her helpless ate vessels made great holes in the MoundCity and the Cincinnati, and were con-siderably damaged themselves, they allsucceeded in escaping. The Cincinnati,after proceeding some distance up the river,sunk near the Tennessee side. The Cairoassisted the Mound City to the first isl-and above the scene of action, where shealso sunk. The incidents of this engagement are solightly passed over by Flag-officer Davis,that it is difficult to get much informationfrom the official reports. The enemys sideof the affair can best be learned by the fol-lowing dispatch of the Confederate Com-mander-in-chief :. Mound City. Caei NDKLET. Mortar. Van Dorn. Gen. Price. Rebel. BATTLE OF FORT PILLOW. FIRST POSITION. for the time being. All these disabled ves-sels might have been captured had therebeen any means at hand of towing them upstream, but the motive power of the gun-boats was so limited that they could scarcelymake any headway against the current,and they had to be continually on thewatch to avoid drifting under the enemysbatteries. This was the first naval engagement ofthe war, pure and simple, where the squad-rons of both sides were pitted against eachother. Our iron-clads showed themselvesunsuited in respect to steam power, to copewith swift river vessels that could ram themand then escape. Although the Confeder- Flag-Boat Little Rebel, )Fort Pillow, May 12,1862. \ Sir:—I have the honor to report an engagementwith the Federal gun-boats at Plum Point Bend,four miles above this place. Having previously ar-ranged with my officers the
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectunitedstatesnavy
