The Ram Fleet
[The author isn't specifically identified but the following letters seem to indicate that he was one of the crew on one of these boats. The Ram Fleet was a group of boats built for ramming other boats on the Mississippi River during the Civil War. N. Elvick]
U.S. RAM SAMSON June 20, 1862
Ed. Journal:—I suppose you and your numerous readers, have long ere this, learned through the press that "Ellet's Rams" are great institutions, if they are not finished. Do you know who Col. Ellet is? Charles Ellet, Jr., who tried to get Uncle Sam to let him keep the Ohio river up by reservois [sic] in the Allegheny Mountains, who built a bridge at Wheeling, Virginia which blowed [sic] down, and attacked Gen. Geo. B. McClelland [sic] for not agreeing with him in command of the army, and lastly played Secretary Stanton and the Southern Confederacy a Yankee trick by getting up some shells of steamboats (that six pound cannonballs would sink) to run batteries and attack gun boats carrying heavy guns. The butting propensity of these rams is all right, but the resisting ability is very poor. Still, they have accomplished a great deal, and assisted very materially in the destruction of the rebel fleet which made a stand at Memphis. But the success of these rams was thought to be more accident than anything else. Yet a great deal of bravery was displayed by the officers and men of the Monarch and Queen of the West, which were the only rams engaged in the fight. Memphis is very quiet, and business has commenced once more, yet a proper currency is wanted for a basis before much business can be done. Southern Confederacy money is played out, and in fact nearly all money except our old coin. Gold and silver has [sic] ceased to pass at par. The "secesh" themselves would rather have our green backs than their own money.—The Mississippi river is now open, and Uncle Sam will take good care to keep it open, although the talk among some of my "secesh" acquaintances is that the war has just commenced, and guerilla parties will give us trouble. Well let them pitch in, we will try and keep the river free, and trust that Gen. Halleck will soon end the war in the West. All well with us, and I remain at all times ready to "RAM."
The Gallipolis Journal
August 7, 1862
U. S. Steam Ram Fleet, off Vicksburg, July 18th, 1862
ED. JOURNAL:—I suppose the telegraph has ere this announced to you the fact, that the great rebel RAM and gunboat "Arkansas" has run the blockade above Vicksburg, and now lies safely moored under the rebel fortifications. It was a bold adventure and well done, even if the rebels did it. On the morning of the 15th the Federal gunboats "Carondolet" and "Tyler," the former ironclad the latter wooden, accompanied by the ram "Queen of the West," went up Yazoo river to attack said rebel boat, and if we do not fear to speak the truth, found her before they wanted to. Seven miles above the mouth of Yazoo she attacked the "Tyler," and a few moments afterwards the "Carondolet" came into the engagement, and a warm time they had of it,—mostly a runnning fight, but they came so close together during the engagement that several times they collided. The Federal boats got the worst of the fight, and had not the rebel boat left them with impunity, I doubt not she would have destroyed both our gunboats. The "Tyler" had somewhat the advantage, as she could run faster than the rebel boat. The "Queen of the West" skedaddled and did not attempt to get into the fight.—As she came in sight of the fleet, followed closely by the "Tyler" fighting beautifully, then the rebel ram and then the "Carondolet." Such an excitement as there was among the fleet here would be hard to describe.—The rams looked out for number one, except the "Lancaster," which received two broadsides from the rebel ram, cutting away her mud drum and scalding from eight to ten persons, four of whom are dead, the rest I think will get well. Broadside after broadside was dealt out to this rebel ram without the least apparent effect, the shot even of eleven inch guns bounding off from her casemates like hailstones from a stone pavement. She ran by twelve or fifteen ships and gunboats, mounting from twelve to thirty guns each, and seemed to laugh at the whole fleet. All kinds of excuses are made by the different vessels of the fleet, but the truth should be known, that our chief officers were unprepared for what they were positively informed would take place, and I cannot help but feel that something is "rotten in Denmark." About sixty persons were killed and wounded in this fight, mostly on the "Carondolet" and "Tyler," both of which were badly cut up by shot and are now repairing.—Com. Farragut has again run by the rebel batteries with eight ships and gunboats, and is now below with his whole fleet. The ram "Samson" was attacked about seventy-five miles above here, near Lake Providence, by a band of rebel cavalry, while lying at shore during a very severe storm. After driving the rebels behind the levy [sic] with her sharpshooters, she put out into the stream, as the force was too large for her to contend with. But want of time will not allow me to write more, as I am just going out on picket duty to watch the actions of this rebel ram, and as my ram is fleet of foot, she won't catch us without some fun.
Yours, &c.,
"RAM"
The Gallipolis Journal
August 7, 1862
U.S. Ram Fleet July 21, 1862
Mr. Harper:—I have often heard reporters say that the dullness preceding a fight, or the same feelings after the excitement is past, makes uninteresting letters. Were I possessed of a correspondent ability, I feel that every day I could write something of interest for those at home. I think that "good grub" and laziness has more control over reporters in this section than the wish to keep the people posted. Want of time on account of duties, together with lack of ability is my excuse for not writing more frequently, but if you will look over my poor composition and take it for what it's worth, I will try and keep you partially posted from this section. I feel that poor as my letters may be, I have a few friends in your goodly place who will read them with interest. Could the good citizens of Gallipolis have witnessed last night's scenes, I think a cry of enthusiasm would have burst forth—that the patriotic hearts of Gallia county would resound to the new call for troops with such a cry as would cause the country to look with pride on that section. We need you all, every man. Come join the army, must be the cry until rebellion is crushed out from the land.—Our mortars opened on Vicksburg about 8 P.M., and every heart was fired that the hour for fighting had at last come, and Vicksburg would soon be ours. But alas, disappointment was again our lot. It seems strange that Commanders are so slow; probably "Mr. Small Fry" should not talk thus, but we will talk, and if something don't [sic] soon take place we will do more than talk, and I feel sure the people will sustain us. Could you see the suffering of those sick and wounded who are suffering in our fleet, you would feel that the hour had come when those at home must come to their relief.—But I will leave this firing of the hearts of this great people to you, and those whose duties run in this line.
As I write our mortars are playing on the rebel city and fortifications, and the rebels are answering. But a moment since a rebel shell burst over us, and I tell you, if you had heard the pieces rattling around us, you would have felt that the Journal office would be a much safer place than the decks of the ram "Samson," now on picket duty below the fleet, and in range of the rebel guns, where we have been for three days and nights. "Fun is fun," as the old saying goes, but if there is any fun in having the pieces of ten and thirteen shells bursting and falling all around you, I have not yet been able to find the point in the joke, and if you can inform me where it is, I will gladly acknowledge the information. Vicksburg is not taken, the canal did not work. Will it? No. Why? Too slow, is the cry. We want at least twenty thousand land force[s] before we can successfully accomplish our mission. We can take the place any bright day in less than six hours; we can't occupy it for want of land forces. Guerilla firing is all the go. The "Wilson," one of the navy tow boats, was going up to Memphis after coal with some empty barges two days since, when the rebels at Lake Providence pitched into her with a field piece, and she was forced to scuttle her barges and skedaddle, which she did with a good grace. We are now between fires all around us. The deadly aim of the guerilla is blanching [sic] forth to take our lives. Go when and where you will, the rebels appear to be ready for you. We give them some nice little races by pitching shells and cannister in the woods among them. But you know their great forte has been skedaddle. Well I must not write too much at one time but write oftener, so with my thanks to someone for a Gallipolis Journal received yesterday, I will only add that I still remain,
yours, &c.
"RAM"
The Gallipolis Journal
August 7, 1862
Transcribed by Eva Swain Hughes