Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/339

Rh whole upper fleet of the enemy, and he thought that if she could fight her way through that fleet and reach Vicksburg uninjured, it would demonstrate to the enemy the impossibility of their taking the city, for they then would be put on the defensive. He determined to make the venture, and Captain Brown, her commander, was ordered to bring her out into the Mississippi, and after sinking a boat in the Yazoo to prevent the enemy reaching our steamboats, let her drive right through the upper fleet. How well Captain Brown obeyed his instructions you all know. On the morning of the 15th of July, the cannoneers at the Vicksburg batteries discovered a commotion in the fleet above, and rapid firing was heard. There was a scattering of the groups of war vessels and transports, and soon from the midst of them, firing broadsides from all her port-holes, came riding down a queer-looking craft flying the Confederate flag. It was the Arkansas. She had run the gauntlet of the upper fleet, dealing death and destruction as she came. She had proved her offensive power, for she had inflicted much damage. A right royal welcome did she receive as she rounded to at the wharf, and right nobly had she earned it. Her injuries were slight, and soon repaired. Her casualties, if my memory serves correctly, were but seven—two killed and five wounded. Among her crew was a young man from this city named Gilmore. He had formerly been an officer in the First Kentucky infantry, a one-year regiment, which had been mustered out when its term of service expired. From the Kentucky brigades volunteers were accepted to fill the places of those who had been killed and wounded. About a week after this event, just about sunrise, the Essex, a formidable Federal ironclad, bore down on the Arkansas, but after a short fight withdrew. The evident intention was to fasten on to the Arkansas with grappling irons and then board her with a superior force, but the attempt failed, and the Essex lost a number of her crew killed. The enemy, now apparently satisfied that Vicksburg was impregnable to his attack, seemed determined to destroy the city at any rate. The bombardment was more furious than ever for a few days, and then gradually ceased, and on the 27th of July the fleets which for nearly a month had day and night rained an iron hail upon the city, acknowledged defeat and steamed away. Not a gun in the batteries had been dismounted, and we had lost but twenty-two men killed and wounded. The successful defence of Vicksburg had been accomplished. Hardly had the enemy disappeared, when orders were issued to Breckinridge's command to break up camp and proceed to the railroad and take the cars for Camp Moore. It