A Confederate “ram,” employed chiefly on the
Yazoo River, above
Vicksburg.
Farragut sent three armored vessels about the middle of July, 1862, to attack her. Six miles up the stream they found and assailed her; but she repulsed the attack, and took shelter under the batteries at
Vicksburg.
Another attempt to capture her was made on July 22 by the
Essex (
Captain Porter) and the
Queen of the West.
Again the attempt was unsuccessful.
After the repulse of the
Confederates at
Baton Rouge, early in August,
Porter, with the
Essex and two other gunboats, went in search of the
Arkansas, and found her 5 miles above that city.
A sharp engagement ensued.
the
Arkansas became unmanageable, when her crew ran her against the river-bank, set her on fire, and she was blown up.