To set the rebel steamboat on fire was part of the arrangement. That portion of the programme was intrusted to Sergeant J. H. Campbell. He was directed to fire the forward guns, loaded with combustible balls saturated with turpentine. As the ram swung round he was ordered to fire them. Just at that moment a 64-pound shot from one of the rebel batteries came crashing into the barricade of cotton near him; but the brave Sergeant did not hesitate a moment in the execution of the order. The guns were fired, a tremendous blaze was vomited forth from them, and the rebel steamboat was in flames. About the same time the ram was found to be on fire. A shell from shore had set her on fire near the starboard wheel, while the discharge of the guns with the combustible balls had fired the cotton on her bow. Both steamboats were thus ablaze at the same time. The flames spread rapidly on both vessels. The smoke from the front of the ram rushed into her engine-room and threatened to suffocate the engineers. Those on board the rebel steamboat did all they could do to extinguish the flames on their boat. This they soon accomplished. Colonel Ellet had intended to strike the rebel steamboat in the stern, and thus finish the work of demolition; but the spreading flames on the Queen of the West made it necessary for him to attend to the safety of his own vessel. He therefore ran down stream, and set all hands on board at work extinguishing the flames. Though the cotton had been wet before starting, the fire was extending rapidly, and several burning bales were thrown overboard in order to save the ram. She then anchored below the mouth of the canal, where she awaited further orders. All this time, both when approaching the city and leaving it, the rebel batteries were blazing away at the Queen of the West with light and heavy guns. It was a very exciting scene. About one hundred and twenty shots were fired from the batteries; but the ram was struck only twelve times, and sustained no material injury. The Queen of the West now proceeded down the Mississippi, and when below Natchez, burned three small rebel steamers, the Moro, Berwick Bay, and A. W. Baker, laden with stores for the army at Vicksburg. After cruising for two weeks in the Atchafalaya, the Red river, and other tributaries of the Mississippi, inflicting serious injury on the rebel commerce, and capturing several vessels, she finally ventured up the Black river, and captured the rebel steamer Era. She proceeded to Fort Taylor, some fifty miles from the mouth of the river, where she grounded on a bar, exposed to the fire of the guns of the fort, and her crew was compelled to abandon the vessel, which fell into the hands of the enemy. Captain Ellet and most of the men succeeded in reaching the Era, and effected their escape. * * * * *