THE IVES TERN FLOTILLA.
447
The Confederate fleet called the “ Biver Defense ” having been reenforced,they determined upon capturing the mortar-boats or giving us battle. On the8th three of their vessels came to the point from which the mortar-boats hadthrown their bombs, but, finding none, returned. Foote had given specialorders to keep up steam and be ready for battle any moment, day or night.There was so much illness at that time in the flotilla that about a third of theofficers and men were under medical treatment, and a great many were unfitfor duty. On the 9th of May, at his own request, our distinguished com-mander-in-chief, Foote, was relieved from his arduous duties. He had becomevery much enfeebled from the wounds received at Fort Donelson and fromillness. He carried with him the sympathy and regrets of all his command.He was succeeded by Flag-Officer Charles Henry Davis, a most excellent officer .
This paper would not be complete without some account of the navalbattles fought by the flotilla immediately after the retirement of Flag-OfficerFoote, under whose supervision and amid the greatest embarrassments it hadbeen built, organized, and equipped. On the morning of the 10th of May amortar-boat was towed down the river, as usual, at 5 a. m., to bombard FortPillow. The Cincinnati soon followed to protect her. At 6:35 eight Con-federate rams came up the river at full speed. A The Carondelet at onceprepared for action, and slipped her hawser to the “ bare end,” ready fororders to “ go ahead.” No officer was on the deck of the Benton (flag-steamer)except the pilot, Mr. Birch, who informed the flag-officer of the situation, andpassed the order to the Carondelet and Pittsburgh to proceed without waitingfor the flag-steamer. General signal was also made to the fleet to get underway, but it was not visible on account of the light fog.
The Carondelet started immediately after the first verbal order; the others,for want of steam or some other cause, were not ready, except the MoundCity , which put oft soon after we were fairly on our way to the rescue of theCincinnati . We had proceeded about a mile before our other gun-boats lefttheir moorings. The rams were advancing rapidly, and we steered for theleading vessel, General Bragg , a brig-rigged, side-wheel steam ram, far inadvance of the others, and apparently intent on striking the Cincinnati . Whenabout three-quarters of a mile from the General Bragg , the Carondelet andMound City fired on her with their bow-guns, until she struck the Cincinnati on the starboard quarter, making a great hole in the shell-room, throughwhich the water poured with resistless force. The Cincinnati then retreatedup the river and the General Bragg drifted down, evidently disabled. TheGeneral Price , following the example of her consort, also rammed the Cincin-nati . We fired our bow-guns into the General Price , and she backed off,disabled also. The Cincinnati was again struck by one of the enemy’s rams,the General Sumter. Having pushed on with all speed to the rescue of theCincinnati , the Carondelet passed her in a sinking condition, and, rounding to,we fired our bow and starboard broadside guns into the retreating GeneralBragg and the advancing rams, General Jeff. Thompson , General Beauregard ,
•jJVThe mortar-boat, No. 16, which was the first object of attack, was-defended with great spirit byActing-Master Gregory, who fired his mortar eleven times, reducing the charge and diminishing theelevation. (See cut, p. 450.)—Editors.