The capture of the Indianola and her Reported loss.
The expedition which captured the
Federal Iron-clad
Indianola, consisted of the
Webb and
Queen of the West, all commanded by
Major Brent--They came up with her about five miles below New , at 9 o'clock at night.
The enemy were not aware of our approach until our vessels were in about one half a mile of her, when she rounded broadside to, having a coal barge alongside to protect her. The
Queen of the West put on all steam and ran into the
Indianola, cutting the coal barge in two and injuring the machinery of the enemy materially, when the action on both sides became general.
The
Webb then butted at full speed, when the enemy, being much damaged and in a sinking condition, was run ashore on the
Louisiana side.
The
Dr. Baley coming up just at this time, was ordered to board the enemy and as she approached, the
Indianola surrendered.
The officers and crew, numbering about one hundred and twenty men, were all taken prisoners.
An attempt was made to take the prize to
Natchez but the
Indianola bring in a sinking condition, it was necessary to run her on a sand bar, on the
Mississippi side, and the
Queen of the West was sent up to
Vicksburg to procure mechanics to repair damages.
Our loss was two killed and five wounded. That of the enemy was unknown.
It will be remembered that the
Indianola has since been nearly destroyed by our own people, in a panic occasioned by the appearance of two coal barges.
She is now being raised.
From the following description of her in
Harper's Weekly, it will be seen that she will make quite an acquisition to the Confederate Navy:
‘
The
Indianola, Lt-
Commander Geo. Brown, is a vessel of the following dimensions: Length.
170 feet; beam 60 feet; depth of hold, 7 feet; and will draw, when ready for action, about six feet of water.
She is propelled by four independent engines, two attached to the wheels and two to the propellers.
She has four high pressure boilers, and with this great steaming power it is expected that she will run against the current about thirteen miles an hour.
She is covered with two-inch rolled plates.
She has one stationary turret, with sloping sides.
She carries two 11-inch
Dahlgren guns in the Turrell, and several 21-pounder guns in the broadside.
She has also a powerful ram, and with her great power she will no doubt prove a very destructive vessel among the rebel craft.
’
