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A. LincolnDestruction of the Nashville |
From the March 14, 1863 issue of the Natchez Daily Courier.About half past 7 o'clock on Saturday morning, heavy firing was heard in the direction of Genesis Point, and the general belief was that Fort McAlister had again been attacked by the enemy's gunboats. The firing continued, though not rapidly, and with occasional intervals, until about ten o'clock, after which time only a few guns were heard. About this time news reached the city of Savanah [sic] that the Montauk had come up within range, and opened fire on the steamer, Nashville, which, in attempting to run up, had run aground on Friday in the bend of what is called Seven-Mile Reach in the Ogeechee, a short distance above the fort, and that the Nashville was on fire. With a friend, we drove down to Coffee Bluff, on the Little Ogeechee, some miles from the city. Arriving at the point where the battery formerly occupied by Reed's Flying Artillery, [sic] we had a view across the marsh of the fort, the burning Nashville and the enemy's gunboats. The firing had ceased some two hours before, and the three gunboats, with the iron-clad turret boat, had dropped some three miles below the point, where they were lying at anchor, while an immense column of smoke rose from the Nashville, where she lay apparently, from our point of view, about a mile above the fort. All was still, and the few spectators at the point who like ourselves, had arrived after the firing had ceased, could give us no information further than the reports they had received from the retiring salt boilers and others whom they had met on their way from the city. Some said the Montauk alone had engaged the fort and also fired on the Nashville, which being unable to escape had been fired by her crew. Others were of the opinion that the Nashville had been set on fire by the shells from the Montauk. There appeared to be some movement about one o'clock, among the gunboats which were lying at a distance of five or six miles from our position, and, as the tide was nearly full, we thought it probable that the enemy might contemplate another attack on the fort. We waited till about half past one, when we observed one of the gunboats leave her companions and steam off down the river, taking a course in the direction of Tybee, doubtless to communicate their operations to headquarters. When she was out of sight we returned to the city. It was not until yesterday morning that we learned anything of the particulars of the destruction of the Nashville. It appears that the steamer, having got aground in the Reach on Friday, was observed by the enemy and a few shots were fired at her by the Montauk on Friday evening. The Nashville being unable to get off, and the crew being forced to abandon her, the Montauk, favored by a curve in the river, took a position which brought her in easy range and opened fire on her again on Saturday morning, hitting her some eight or ten times, when she took fire from the shells and was entirely consumed, with her valuable cargo of cotton and all her stores. After the Nashville had been on fire some time, a quantity of powder on board, some two hundred pounds, exploded, blowing out the stern of the steamer. Her guns and shells that were loaded also exploded with a terrific report, which was heard in the city. Thus terminated the career of the Rattlesnake, which we fondly hoped was soon to be converted into a sea-serpent to plague the Yankees on the ocean. Her owners sustained a heavy loss in the vessel, and her machinery, while private parties lose [sic] some nine hundred bales of cotton which had been shipped on board of her. The loss being divided among many, will not be serious to any, and we have no doubt that thw owners of her cargo would have cheerfully submitted her to greater sacrifice to have secured her escape to sea. The Gunboat Indianola, which run [sic] pat Vicksburg, did not receive a single shot. She had 1700 bushels of coal, besides ammunition and provisions. The Indianola had gone to Red River, where the Rebels received supplies from Texas. Brillant [sic] results are expected. The last boats up report no difficulty from the batteries on the river banks.--(from the) Nashville Union. |
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