We had quite an exciting time here yesterday.
Late in the afternoon the fleet of gunboats arrived here bringing important news from
Hickman, Kentucky, and other points.
Yesterday morning the
Tyler and
Lexington, before stationed at
Columbus, Kentucky, went down to
Hickman, Kentucky, on a reconnoitring expedition, but hardly expecting to meet an enemy.
On approaching within a short distance of the town, before turning the bend which brings it into full view, they discovered a small stern-wheel steamer, painted black, evidently a gunboat, which took to her heels.
On turning the bend they discovered, by the aid of glasses, a huge side-wheel gunboat — the
Yankee--of immense power, formerly used as a tugboat in New Orleans in towing up ships from the Balize.
She was plated strongly with
railroad iron of the T pattern.
Our gunboats opened fire on her at a distance of about three miles, and the balls and shell fell thickly around her. One sixty-four-pound shell from the
Tyler struck her wheel-house and burst, but the
railroad iron threw it off without any effect.
The Yankee replied, but her shots fell far short.
On going closer toward the town a masked battery, also a battery of four rifled cannon, were discovered in a ravine near the upper part.
A large force of infantry was seen by our boats near the centre of the town, and from the number of tents pitched their number must have been nearly four thousand strong.
The Tyler pitched a couple of shells into their camp, and shortly afterward a dense smoke was seen to arise, which convinced our naval officers that their camp must have been set on
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fire, and probably some of the rebels have been killed.
No doubt is entertained that this is part of
Pillow's force, as the report came in day before yesterday that he was crossing the
Mississippi with his entire army.
The (Yankee) rebel gunboat evidently tried to decoy our gunboats under the masked batteries, from the fact that her shots fell short, and that she has an eighty-four-pounder on board, of longer range than any of ours.
Commodore Rodgers did not deem it prudent to run these batteries on land, and to engage her, for several reasons, viz.: The force of the land batteries was not known; the artillery of the rebel forces was not known; not expecting an engagement he had only eight rounds of ammunition; had only coal for one day; and his tackle for handling the guns was incomplete.
He therefore deemed it advisable not to run the land batteries, but endeavored to coax the
Yankee outside of their fire, where he could have a fare shake at her. He ran up a short distance for that purpose, the
Yankee following until she came to the land battery, where she stopped under its guns.
Commodore Rodgers then ran up with his two boats.
At
Columbus, at the upper part of the town, they were fired on from the bluff by rebels with muskets.
Several balls struck the sides of the boats, and one went through the commander's gig. A couple of shell were pitched at them, which fell among them, and they scampered.
What effect they had is not known yet.
At Chalk Bluffs, on the
Kentucky side, they were again fired into by muskets, but no damage was done.
A cavalry company was seen scouting through the woods.
A dose of shell was administered to them.
On their way up they met the
Conestoga gunboat sent down to relieve them, and she was ordered back with them.
All three gunboats are now busily engaged in taking on coal and shot, shell and ammunition, and will, in all probability, return to-morrow.
I am promised permission to go with them.
The several officers and crews are alive with enthusiasm, and determined to give the rebels the best shot in their lockers.
The grand movement on the part of the rebels is now to take
Kentucky out of the
Union by throwing a force into her rotten part, viz.: the southern part of
Kentucky, which is heart, soul, and body secession and rebel.
Armed neutrality in this part of the
State is at an end by the palpable act of her own rebels, who have called in the aid of
Pillow's rebels.
Pillow thinks his position in
Missouri is no longer safe or tenable, and now strikes boldly for
Kentucky.
Hardee is disgusted and sick of
Missouri, and laments the day that he ever set foot in it. He says openly and boldly that Claib.
Jackson has deceived him and
Pillow as to the real sentiments of the people of
Missouri.
They were assured by him that, on their first landing, the flower of the citizens of
Missouri would rush to their aid; that the great city of
St. Louis would, in one universal voice, rise in insurrection and take the
Federal forces by storm; that they would all be well armed and equipped.
The truth, he says, is this, viz.: that, instead of meeting with all this aid and comfort, they find that only the scum of
Missouri has joined their men, who would rather steal than work for an honest living — many of them horse thieves; many of them who would prefer whiskey to bread.
Not only these facts are apparent, but also the following facts: that they cannot be disciplined; that if they do not have their own way they desert at every opportunity; and, also, they have no arms to fight with.
They find that the rebels of the
State of Missouri are now more completely and fully in the iron grasp of the
United States than ever, and that the rebellion in its incipiency is fully crushed out, and that it would be death and destruction for them to advance into
Missouri with the comparative handful of men which they might bring to bear against the
Federal forces.
Even
Pillow, rash and foolish as he is, sees this state of affairs and acts accordingly.
