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ascertained that the vessel was iron-plated only about the portholes for the
protection of her gunners, and that some of Ritter's shells passed through the
monster. About the ist of May Lieutenant Cottenham's section was ordered
to Vicksburg.

On the morning of the 4th one of Major Bridges' scouts brought the news
that a transport heavily laden with stores, was coming down the river. Here was
sport ! Lieutenant Ritter took his guns and masked them at a point where the
current ran in near the bank on his side and awaited the vessel's approach. Soon
the black smoke of a steamer was seen rising above the tree tops, beyond Carter's
Bend, a few miles off, and shortly afterwards she came in sight. On the vessel
came, rapidly and quietly, anticipating no danger. The Confederates were
ordered to their positions, the guns were loaded, and as the boat came within
their range the order " Fire ! " was given.

The stillness of the calm summer morning must have seemed to the crew
rudely broken, when in quick succession the shrill report of the rifle piece and
the loud roar of the twelve-pound howitzer broke upon their ears. The first or
second shot cut the tiller rope, and another broke a piston rod of one of the
engines. The crew, despairing of escape, hoisted a white flag of surrender, and
brought the boat ashore. Major Bridges and Lieutenant Ritter were the first to
board the prize, which was found to be the Minnesota. The crew met them at the
head of the saloon steps, and politely requested their captors, in true Western
style, to " take a drink ! " This was as politely declined, but a revolver which
one of them wore at his waist was accepted instead — an article of which Lien
tenant Ritter was in special need at that time.

The prisoners — seventeen in number — were ordered ashore, and the Con-
federates took possession. The boat was found to be heavily laden with sutlers'
stores — flour, bacon, potatoes, pickles of all sorts, sugar, coffee, rice, ginger,
syrup, cheese, butter, oranges, lemons, almonds, preserves, canned oysters, whisky,
wines, mosquito nets, clothing, stationery, smokers' articles, etc. To impover-
ished Confederates no greater mass of wealth could have seemed conceivable.
They sat down to a luxurious dinner, which was in preparation at the time of
their attack, and relished it, perhaps, more than those for whom it had been
intended. Part of the festivities consisted in breaking a bottle of wine over Black
Bess, Lieutenant Ritter's iron twelve-pounder, to a shot from which Major
Bridges attributed the speedy surrender of the Minnesota. She had long been
familiarly known in the battery by this name, but only now at length on this happy
occasion received her formal christening. After everything which would be of
service was brought ashore, the steamer was fired. Her value was estimated at
$250,000. She was the property of a Yankee speculator.

About 5 P. M. that day the enemy's gunboats appeared, and, without notice to
the women and children upon them, began to shell the neighboring plantations.