Varuna, the
In the naval battle on the
Mississippi, below New Orleans, the chief efforts of the Confederate gunboats seemed to be directed against the
Cayuga,
Captain Bailey, and the
Varuna,
Captain Boggs.
the
Cayuga had compelled three of the Confederate gunboats to surrender to her, and was fighting desperately, when the
Varuna rushed into the thickest of the battle to rescue her. Then the
Varuna became the chief object of the wrath of the
Confederates.
“Immediately after passing the forts,” reported
Captain Boggs, “I found myself amid a nest of rebel steamers.”
As he penetrated this “nest,” he poured a broadside upon each vessel as he passed.
The first that received his fire appeared to be crowded with troops.
Her boiler was exploded by a shot, and she drifted ashore.
Soon afterwards the
Varuna drove three other vessels ashore in flames, and all of them blew up. Very soon afterwards she was fiercely attacked by the ram
Governor Moore.
commanded by
Captain Kennon, formerly of the United States navy.
It raked along the
Varuna's port-gangway, doing considerable damage; but
Boggs soon drove her out of action, when another ram, its
[
35]
beak under water, struck the
Varuna at the same point.
The shots of the latter glanced harmlessly from the armor of her assailant.
The ram backed off a short distance, and, darting forward, gave the
Varuna another blow in the same place, which crushed in her side.
The ram became entangled, and was drawn nearly to the side of the
Varuna, when
Boggs gave her five 8-inch shells abaft her armor from his port-guns, and drove her ashore in flames.
Finding his own vessel sinking, he ran her into the bank, let go her anchor, and tied her bow fast to the trees.
All that time her guns were at work crippling the
Moore, and did not cease until the water was over the guntrucks.
Then he got his wounded and crew safely on shore.
the
Moore was soon afterwards set on fire by
Kennon, who abandoned her, leaving his wounded to perish in the flames.
This was one of the most daring exploits of the war, and received great applause.
