Shreveport News

Off Mouth of Red River, April 23, 4:20 P. M.
I have just arrived here on board the steamer Saratoga, which came very near being sunk by the rebel ram Webb, out of Red River, at the foot of Tunica Bend, at a quarter to 10 this evening. I was standing by the railing on the forward upper deck, and looked down at the Webb as she passed by with lightning speed. The Webb did not answer the Saratoga's whistle, and seemed to intend sinking her. The pilot of the Saratoga saw the danger in time to back and save her boat. The distance between the two at one instant was less than fifteen feet, and the Webb was running at a speed of about twenty-five miles per hour.-- No light was visible on her except one hanging in front of the smoke stack.
From Lieut. R. B. Ely, commander, and Chief Engineer Charles L. Cary, of the United States steamer Manhattan, I learn that the Webb came out of Red River at 7 o'clock this evening. She was not seen until within about two thousand yards of the Manhattan, which lies in the Mississippi just at the mouth of Red River. She had no signal lights, and floated down to where she was seen like a huge dark mass on the surface of the water, when the Manhattan fired a howitzer, and the Webb commenced her race. Lieut. Ely immediately prepared the two large 15-inch guns in the turret, and they were discharged at the Webb, but probably without effect. Before they could be re-loaded and fired the ram was too far away. Lieut. Ely then fired signal rockets for the other steamers lying near him, but remained himself in the same position, to look out for the rebel gunboat Missouri, which is constantly expected out of Red River. Lieut. Commander Foster, with the gunboat Lafayette, at once moved in pursuit of the Webb and was soon after followed by the ram Vindicator, the iron clad Tennessee remaining with the Manhattan to guard the mouth of Red River.—N. O. Picayune.