Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/64

 54 Southern Historical Society Papers.

moment on the deck of the Arkafisas to have appreciated it. In fif- teen minutes, without being checked in our progress, we had thrashed three of the enemy's vessels — one carrying arms as good as ours and two more guns than we, and one of the others was a famous ram, whilst the third, though of but little account, gave moral support to the others. It was glorious. For it was the first and ofify square, fair, equal stand-up and knock-down fight between the two navies in which the Confederates came out first best. From the beginning our ship was handled with more pluck, decision, and judgment than theirs (the 7)'/^r excepted) ; our guns were better fought and better served. Not an officer or man doubted the result from the beginning. We went in to win, and we won. We now had no time to stop to secure our prize, as the enemy would be apprised of our coming and swarm in the river like bees if we did not hurry. These fellows we had beaten were but skirmishers of a main army. Consequently, we pushed down the river, and the Carondelet sank on a sand-bar on the right side.

I have been very explicit in regard to this battle with the Caro7ide- let, inasmuch as her commander afterwards stated to Lieutenant John W. Dunnington, of the Confederate navy, that he was not pierced by a single shot from the Arka?isas that day ; that he had no men killed or wounded, and did not strike his colors. I challenge him to print his official report of the day's proceedings from the files of the Navy Department It was carefully suppressed during the A'ar. And as for striking his colors, that will be sworn to by a dozen men ; and that he did sink can be proven by hundreds who saw steamers at work raising the vessel.

Official Reports of Actions with Federal Gunboats, Ironclads and Vessels of the U. S. Navy, During the War Between the States, by Officers of Field Artillery P. A. C. S.

No. I.

Quarters " Faries's Battery," P. L. A.,

First Brigade Infantry, (Mouton's), Forces South of Red River, Bisland Plantation,

Bayou Teche, La., November loth, 1862.

Capt. R. C. Bond, Chief of Artillery :

Sir, — I have the honor to report that on the afternoon of the 3d November, instant, the right section of this battery, consisting of two three-inch rifled guns, Parrott pattern, commanded by First Lieut. B. F. Winchester, having taken position at Cornay's residence,