April 30, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
FROM VICKSBURG – THE YANKEE GUNBOATS RUNNING THE GAUNTLET – ILLUMINATION OF THE RIVER – EXCITING SCENES – BURNING OF A YANKEE TRANSPORT, ETC.
From the Vicksburg Whig of April 17th, we extract the following graphic account of the recent passage of a portion of the Yankee fleet by the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg:
Last night about eleven o’clock the rapid firing of the pickets above the city admonished all that the enemy’s boats were advancing. In a short time a black object was visible floating down the river, and as soon as it came in range our upper batteries opened fire. The gunboat, which it afterwards proved to be, soon returned fire and steamed on down the centre of the stream until about opposite the city, after which she ceased propelling and floated along. When she got opposite Major Ogden’s battery, the house of Mr. Arnold, on the opposite side of the river, was discovered to be on fire, the flames of which revealed several other boats coming down in the bend. As they came in range battery after battery opened, and the flashes from the guns and the burning house on the other shore, gave us a fine view of the advancing steamers.
Our batteries still continued belching forth with apparently good effect, but nevertheless an occasional shot came from her, the flashes of which showed her to be a low, heavy iron-clad of the Essex pattern, with two chimneys, the tops of which appeared to be painted white. Five boats next moved down almost together, and as they came under the fire of the Wyman’s Hill batteries, Yankee missiles were sent thick and fast into our city. The firing of guns, whizzing of ball, bursting of shells, the devouring flames that rose from Arnold’s house and the huzzas from the crowds that congregated on the hills, in the streets and wherever a view of the passing boats could be obtained, was a sight beggaring all description. The five boats steamed on and were followed by two or three transports which kept pretty close to the Louisiana shore. Two of the gunboats appeared to have been disabled by Col. Jackson’s batteries, as they ceased steaming after passing the bayou and floated over to the opposite side of the river. Soon, another craft, we believe a gunboat, came floating by the burning house, with gushes of fire bursting out in several places. The flames rapidly spread, and in a few seconds the fearful glare of pallid light was dispelling the wild darkness of night in awful grandeur. Then cheer after cheer was sent up by our citizens and the soldiers at the guns and in the rifle pits. Cotton was thrown from the burning vessel, and a long boat was seen to leave her for the Louisiana bank. By this time the other boats, now some distance in advance, were being engaged by the canal batteries, while the upper guns opened or what seemed to be a couple of barges, floating far in the rear of the iron-clads. These crafts, of course, passed on with impunity, and about a quarter of 1 o’clock everything was quiet above, the firing being confined to the lower batteries, some of the boats still being in range. The burning vessel floated on, and both her chimneys dropped off into the river. The flames gradually diminished, and when she got to the mouth of the canal, a small light was all that could be seen above the surface of the water. Firing continued until a quarter after 1 o’clock, when everything become still and tranquill again. The total number of boats that went by are variously estimated at from ten to twelve. We only saw eight, and two of them were ordinary transports.
Firing was resumed again below, just before 2 o’clock, and at the time of closing our paper[…..]