ed up the river in a small steamer
to rescue Sir Charles Wilson's party. As it was known that there was a
strong battery below the spot where the steamers had been lost, and that
Beresford would have to run the gauntlet of this on his way up, much
anxiety was felt as to the result, and a constant and eager watch was
kept up for a sight of the steamer on her return. When the time came
that she was expected to make her appearance, and no signs were visible
of her, the anxiety heightened; and when another day passed, and still
she did not return, grave fears were entertained for her safety. At last
the welcome news came that smoke could be seen ascending from the river
higher up, and loud cheers burst from the men when the flag at the
masthead was seen above the trees.

There was a general rush down to the shore of all who were not on duty
to hear the news when she arrived; and when she drew up near the bank
and the first party landed, it was found that her escape had been a
narrow one indeed. In passing the battery she had had a sharp engagement
with the artillery there, and a shot had passed through her boiler and
disabled her, and she had been obliged to anchor. Fortunately she was a
little above the battery when this took place. The guns could not well
be brought to bear upon her; and although assailed by a constant fire of
musketry, her own guns, her Gardner, and the rifles of the troops had
kept the enemy at a distance and prevented them from shifting any of
their guns so as to play upon her, until an officer of the Naval
Brigade, who was acting as her engineer, had managed to repair the
boiler.

While the fight was going on Sir Charles Wilson's party were upon an
island, near which the second steamer had sunk, two miles higher up the
river, and were hotly engaged with a force upon the bank. They were able
to see that the rescuing steamer was disabled, and at night had crossed
to the river bank, and marching down it to a point opposite the steamer,
opened communication with her by signals, and then did what they could
to divert the attention of the enemy from her by opening fire upon the
battery with one of their guns, causing the enemy to turn two or three
of his pieces of artillery against them. At nightfall they marched down
the river to a point where the steamer had signalled she would pick them
up. The steamer ran past the battery in the morning and fortunately
escaped without serious injury, and then picking u