had we had steam-power to do so; but, as it was, we saw them drift down helpless under the fort, and one is said to have sunk in deep water. The mortar-boat men acted with great gallantry, firing away to the end. The rebels fired two 32-pound shots through the mortar-boat, and two volleys of musketry into her, without hurting a man. "The Mound City had her bow pretty much wrenched off, and was run into the shoal opposite where we had been lying. The Cincinnati ran to the bank below where we lay when you left, and sank in eleven feet of water. The Champion steamer fortunately arrived, having on board a 20-inch steam-pump, and the Mound City is now afloat, but greatly damaged. The Cincinnati will be raised in twenty-four hours. My plan of suspending logs is immediately to be tried. The wounded of the squadron are five; killed, none. Stembel we hope will recover. He did splendidly. The loss of the rebels must be very heavy. Their vessels were literally torn to pieces, and some had holes in their sides through which a man could walk. Those that blew up-it makes me shudder to think of them. I have written very hastily, knowing that you would find excuses for my style in remembering by what busy circumstances we are surrounded just now; and I am nervous from an unwonted amount of exertion. I count off the days, anxious for them to roll round, when you will return with the Eastport with some (steam) power. Come to the squadron with your flag flying. "All hands went into the fight with a will. We have no news from below. Colonel Fitch will land his force in the morning. "This, I believe, is the first purely naval fight of the war. May heaven bless you, and restore you to us in health very soon. "Respectfully and very truly yours, S. L. PHELPS.” "U. S. GUN-BOAT BENTON,' OFF FORT PILLOW, May 17, 1862. "MY DEAR SIR,-Since my hurried letter after the fight the other morning, I have been absolutely unable to write. The Cincinnati was only raised night before last, and got off for Cairo. "The bell boat had no crew, and we had trouble about the machine. Mr. Hoel was left alone. One master killed, and two sick. We ran the Benton to the stern of the Cincinnati, and remained there till she left, and I assisted Mr. Hoel, besides getting logs, chains, railroad iron, etc., with which to secure the boats against rams. We are putting railroad iron about the stern of this boat, which is her weak part. General Quimby is coming down with some artillery, cavalry, and infantry, and a combined attack is to be made on the fort in about three days' time. Every thing has been quiet about the fort and where the gun-boats lie below. Two of their rams are missing. Deserters say that one hundred and eight were buried from their vessels after the fight. A good many deserters and refugees are coming in and passing up to Cairo-some thirty to fifty per day. "We are now anchored across the river a little below where we lay when you left. Captain Dove is here with the Louisville. Now we have the Cairo, Pittsburg, and Louisville to count among the six vessels of the fleet. Kilty did handsomely in the fight. Neither the Pittsburg nor Cairo got into it, and the St. Louis can hardly be said to have done so. Commodore Davis has got the run of matters very well. The plan of attack proposed is the old one-land on the bluff, open heavy mortar fire, and follow up with attack by gun-boats. What the rebel boats can do remains to be seen. The great craft building in Memphis has been taken up the Yazoo to be finished, and a mechanic from there says it will be fifteen days before she will be ready. We must catch her, then, before she can be fitted out. I have not time this morning, being so much interrupted, to write about all the little matters of the fleet, of which I know you would like to be informed. Suffice it to say that things go on much as before. I miss you a great deal; though, of course, with such a gentleman as Captain Davis, there could be nothing but the most agreeable relations. Captain Pennock writes that the Eastport will be ready in thirty days. I trust then you may be entirely recovered, and come to realize a little pleasant cruising in what will be the dashing vessel of the fleet. Thirty days make but a little count, and will soon pass. I am respectfully and very truly yours, S. L. PHELPS." 6 "U.S. GUN-BOAT BENTON,' NEAR FORT PILLOW, "MY DEAR SIR,—I had the pleasure to receive your kind letter written from Cleveland several days since. I am exceedingly gratified with its contents, and reciprocate with a warm heart the friendship it evinces. How great has been the error of all naval commanders who have relied upon power rather than upon generous consideration and sympathy to develop and arouse the energies and active co-operation of subordinates upon which the superior's success so much depends. "I have been really unfortunate in my efforts in writing to you. This Y is my third note-the two first written in great haste, at times when I really had my hands full. Now I write with a sore and heavy head. Day before yesterday, while on board the De Soto, looking to their way of getting guns on board, a spar broke, the pieces falling some fifteen feet. I found myself knocked over and my head badly cut. I have suffered with headache and nausea a good deal since, but these are becoming less. I am thankful to have escaped so easily, and, for me, I have been very patient. "Some four of the so-called 'rams' are here, and one or two more are expected to arrive soon. General Quimby came down yesterday with a battery of artillery and some infantry and cavalry. I think now the plan adopted in the proposed attack will be what you and General Pope had agreed to undertake. There is a flag of truce here this morning, making bitter complaint that two of the two hundred and two exchanged prisoners sent down by the Army for the commodore to deliver at Fort Pillow were sick of the small-pox. Nothing, of course, was known of the condition of the men by the commodore. They were sent down in the boat in which they came from Cairo. Lieutenant McGunngle now has the St. Louis. Mr. Erben is adrift again. Lieutenant Hall, who went to New York by summons of the Retiring Board, has returned to Cairo. Captain came down to the fleet, arriving just in time to witness the fight, and applied to be sent to Cairo to superintend work on the Eastport, or to St. Louis to perform similar duty, and thither he has gone. This looks as if pressure of public opinion in Boston sent him out. There is a good deal of sickness. I shall have to stop, as I am increasing my headache. There are many inquiries for the news from you. You carry with you the earnest wishes of the entire flotilla for your speedy recovery and quick return. While I, who must needs feel your absence more than all others, desire greatly to see you return to finish the work that is of right yours to do, I am exceedingly anxious that you should not return too soon. The climate is a trying one, and you should feel quite sure that you are entirely recovered before you come. "Respectfully and most sincerely your friend, S. L. PHELPS." "U. S. GUN-BOAT 'BENTON,' NEAR FORT PILLOW, May 22, 1862. "MY DEAR SIR,—This morning I had the pleasure to receive your most welcome letter of the 19th inst., and avail myself now of a quiet moment, before going to bed, to give you what little gossip I can recall re lating to the fleet, that may serve to interest you, and to thank you for your letter. I am feeling very comfortable for the time, the doctor having just bathed my sore head, and put me in good-humor for the nonce. I have been about a good deal to-day, and by to-morrow I shall be myself again, ready for any thing but long exposure to the sun. "The Mound City is now here, ready for service again, and the Cincinnati will be ready in about one week. It is strange how that inevitable month in the case of the Eastport drags its slow length along; never beginning always one day in advance of present time. To-day's mail informs us that she will be ready in one month-so did the mail on the 22d of April last. General Quimby examined the river bank opposite Fulton to-day, and the guns have arrived to put in battery there, so that. by the day after to-morrow we may hope to have something doing. The commodore sent Captain McGunngle down with the party reconnoitring. Seven gun-boats are reported at Fulton. Driving those and the rams away with a battery, so as not to be in our way while under the fort, is, of course, leaving us free for the main work. Some of the boats are secured to a considerable extent about the bow and stern, and all have logs suspended along the sides where there is no plating. We are putting railroad iron on the stern and quarters of this vessel. The rebels have dismounted nearly every gun on their vessels, depending on smallarms and rams. Jeff. Thompson, the nightmare of every port commander on the Mississippi, is the commodore of the rebel fleet just below us. Yet the commandant at New Madrid this night lies in an unquiet bed, assured that the immortal Jeff. is after him with those naked and starved swamp-rats. The Taylor* and Lexington are forced out of the Tennessee by low water, and will join the fleet here, being much needed. Will you believe it, application was made for them to remain at Cairo to protect that place, there being considerable apprehension? The Conestoga is to look after Hickman and Columbus, and will be within call of Cairo. Affairs go on much as usual with the squadron. Some few changes among the lower officers caused by sickness. Mr. Parker has gone as fourth master to the Louisville. Mr. Reed has applied for a master-mateship on board the Great Western. I suggest sending Mr. Wilkins there, and keeping Mr. Reed here as the best of the two for our purposes. Cap *This was the original name of the boat, which was called after General and President Taylor; but toward the close of the war she began to be called the Tyler, which makes some confusion even in official reports. We have chosen to call her uniformly by her original title. tain Walke I have not seen for several days. Little Thompson is very busy getting his vessel secured so that when the rebels 'come around the Point' again he can 'pitch into them.' Of the Cairo nothing is known, except that she was heard of to-day as wanting coal, being about out of that commodity, and pretty much ashore for provisions. The St. Louis I am satisfied will now be found up to time every where. That hospitalboat has not yet come down. It takes so long to do any thing! There are a good many sick-in this vessel more than one in ten. "Sanford is not here, having gone to look after the ordnance at Cairo and St. Louis, and now is gone to the latter place. I can not, therefore, deliver your messages. I, too, wish an exception could be made in his case without a dangerous and ruinous precedent. I received notice from Mr. Grimes, through Mr. Whittlesey, of the action of the Naval Committee on the nominations before it was published. I should most certainly let -'s vanity have full swing. It will yet hang him. He only follows his master in attacks on the flotilla. We can afford to let both go unnoticed. If familiar with Sancho's 'saws,' you will remember one applicable to his case. "May 23.—There is nothing new this morning. Mrs. Phelps will probably have the pleasure of seeing you in Cleveland, as she is about leaving Paducah to go to my father's in Ohio. I trust you are improving as rapidly and surely as the universal desire of the flotilla would have you. You could wish no more. "Very respectfully and truly yours, S. L. PHELPS." "U. S. FLAG-SHIP BENTON,' OFF FORT PILLOW, May 28, 1862. "MY DEAR SIR,—I was a good deal disappointed this morning not to have heard from you either directly or through Commodore Davis. I, however, have seen a paragraph taken from the Cleveland papers stating that you are improving in health since causes of excitement have been removed. "I am like the host twice made glad-glad because the people manifest an appreciation of your character and services, and glad because the same people have concluded to let you get well and in a fit condition to return to us. All the gun-boats are being secured as far as possible against rams, by putting railroad iron about the bows and sterns, and slinging logs about the sides. This vessel is being secured extensively. I have had three bars of railroad iron secured between and along the |
