ear the town, or discovered, to ram a
steamer called the Vicksburg lying at the wharf, at the same time
firing turpentine balls into her, and then to pass on down under the
guns of the army. She started on what was to prove a chequered career
at 4.30 A.M. of the 2d of February. Unfortunately it was found that a
recent change in the arrangement of her wheel kept her from being
steered as nicely as was needful, and the delay to remedy this defect
brought daylight upon her as she rounded the point. A heavy fire
opened at once, but still she went straight on, receiving three shots
before she reached the Vicksburg. Rounding to partly, she succeeded in
ramming, and at the same time firing the enemy with her turpentine
balls. Just then two shells from the Confederate batteries passed
through her cotton armor, one of them setting it on fire near the
starboard wheel, while the discharge of her own bow guns produced the
same effect forward. The flames spread rapidly, and the dense smoke
was suffocating the men in the engine-room. Seeing that, if he delayed
longer in order to ram again, he would probably lose his vessel, Ellet
turned her head down stream and arrived safely abreast the army below.
The fire was subdued by cutting her burning bales adrift and throwing
them overboard.

In this gallant affair the Queen of the West was struck twelve times
by heavy shot, besides undergoing a steady fire from the Confederate
sharpshooters. One of her guns was dismounted, but the other harm was
trifling, and none of her company were hurt. The Vicksburg was badly
injured.

The ram was at once sent down the river, starting at 1 P.M. of the
same day. At Warrenton, just below Vicksburg, she encountered two
batteries, which fired upon without hurting her. The following day,
when fifteen miles below the mouth of the Red River, she captured two
Confederate steamers, one of which was loaded down with provisions for
the army; and when returning up stream, a third, similarly loaded,
was taken coming out of the Red River. The coal supply running short,
it became necessary to burn them. A quantity of meal on a wharf,
awaiting transportation, was also destroyed, and seven Confederate
officers captured. The Queen returned from this raid on the 5th.

On the night of the 7th a barge, with coal enough to last nearly a
month, was set adrift from the fleet above and floated safely by the
batteries to the ram. Having filled up, she took the barge in tow an