Gardiner to destroy the Queen
of the West, the capture of which was unknown. This, a frail river boat
without protection for her boilers, could be of no service; but she
followed Brent up the river, keeping company with his tender. On the 23d
Natchez was reached, and here the formidable character of the Indianola
was ascertained. While steaming up river in search of the enemy, the
crews were exercised at the guns, the discharge of which set fire to the
cotton protecting the boilers of the Queen. This was extinguished with
difficulty, and showed an additional danger, to be guarded against by
wetting the cotton thoroughly. Arrived in the afternoon of the 24th at a
point sixty miles below Vicksburg, Brent learned that the Indianola was
but a short distance ahead, with a coal barge lashed on each side. He
determined to attack in the night, to diminish the chances of the
enemy's fire. It was certain that a shell from one of the eleven-or
nine-inch guns would destroy either of his boats.

At 10 P.M. the Indianola was seen near the western shore, some thousand
yards distant, and the Queen, followed by the Webb, was driven with full
head of steam directly upon her, both boats having their lights
obscured. The momentum of the Queen was so great as to cut through the
coal barge and indent the iron plates of the Indianola, disabling by the
shock the engine that worked her paddles. As the Queen backed out the
Webb dashed in at full speed, and tore away the remaining coal barge.
Both the forward guns fired at the Webb, but missed her. Returning to
the charge, the Queen struck the Indianola abaft the paddle box,
crushing her frame and loosening some plates of armor, but received the
fire of the guns from the rear casemates. One shot carried away a dozen
bales of cotton on the right side; the other, a shell, entered the
forward port-hole on the left and exploded, killing six men and
disabling two field pieces. Again the Webb followed the Queen, struck
near the same spot, pushing aside the iron plates and crushing timbers.
Voices from the Indianola announced the surrender, and that she was
sinking. As she was near the western shore, not far below Grant's army,
Major Brent towed her to the opposite side, then in our possession,
where, some distance from the bank, she sank on a bar, her gun deck
above water.

Thus we regained control of our section of the Mississippi, and by an
action that for daring will bear comparison with any record