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[238] river alone. For two weeks the fleet bombarded Fort Pillow at long range. On May 9th, Flag-Officer Foote, whose wound received at Fort Donelson had not healed, asked to be relieved, and Captain Charles H. Davis, a man of well-known skill and bravery, was appointed in his place. The day after the retirement of Foote a Confederate fleet, known as the “River defense,” under the command of Captain J. E. Montgomery, came up and offered battle. Among them was a powerful side-wheel steam ram, the General Bragg, which made for the Cincinnati. The latter opened fire, but the shots could not drive the antagonist off. Presently the onrushing vessel struck the Cincinnati on the starboard side and penetrated the shell-room, rendering the ironclad almost helpless. Before the wounded vessel could get away she was rammed by two other Confederate boats, the General Price and the Sumter. Meanwhile the Carondelet had come to the rescue of the Cincinnati, firing as fast as she could load. At last the Sumter was struck by a 50-pound Dahlgren shot from the Carondelet and completely disabled. Her steam-chest was penetrated and the steam instantly poured out upon all parts of her casemate. The men ran for life, some leaping into the water and some falling on the deck, victims of the scalding steam. The General Van Dorn, one of the most agile of the Confederate vessels, partially disabled the Mound City by ramming her amidships with fearful force. The smoke of battle had enveloped the whole scene in a dense cloud. There was a lull in the firing, and when the smoke cleared away the Confederate fleet was seen drifting slowly down the stream to Fort Pillow, and the battle was over. For two or three days after this battle long-range firing was kept up, the Union fleet lying a mile or more up the river, the Confederate vessels being huddled under the guns of Fort Pillow. On the 4th of June, great clouds of smoke were seen to arise from the fort, and terrific explosions accompanying
Review of Reviews. New York. 1912.
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