An online article just reminded me of several questions that I have about this engagement.

I've read both Isaac N. Brown's and George Gift's accounts of the action, as well as Walke's & Gwin's (of the USS Tyler) Official Reports and the typically exaggerated article in Harper's. Although the latter two are virtually useless and the Confederate accounts also reflect some 'national bias,' Walke was strangely silent from what I have been able to find.

Fleet Quartermaster George Wise reported the following in a July 21 letter to recuperating Flag Officer A. H. Foote:
'...a running fight was kept up to the mouth of the river, when the Carondelet closed and endeavored to board. Both boats used their steam pipes, which prevented boarding. In the midst of the fight they grounded on a sand bar. The Arkansas being on the outside got off first, closely followed by the Tyler, who at length passed ahead to notify the fleet of what was coming.'

Both Wise's report and the Harper's Weekly account, published August 9 (see http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/august/general-keyes.htm), are very similar to the following extract from the Carondelet's log as published in the ORN:

'At 5 the Tyler and Queen of the West passed us. At 6 discovered a boat coming down the river. Immediately went to quarters and cleared the boat for action. Rebel ram opened fire upon the Queen of the West and gunboat Tyler and they immediately rounded to. We found the advancing rebel boat to be a powerful gunboat and ram. We rounded to and headed downstream, at the same time firing upon her with all our batteries as we brought them in range. Captain Walke hailed the Tyler as she passed and ordered Lieutenant Commanding Gwin to go ahead and inform the commodore of the Arkansas' approach. The ram made for us and for an hour we continued a running fight (she gaining on us), distance 500 to 50 yards. Our wheel ropes were shot away, steam escape pipe cut, exhaust pipe cut, cold water supply pipe riddled with pieces of shot, and steam gauge shot away, the boat becoming unmanageable. Our tiller ropes and box being shot away, the Carondelet was unmanageable and ran upon a small stump after the Arkansas passed us. As she passed by us we called the boarders upon deck, and we gave her our starboard broadside and bow guns, firing them as the enemy came in range. At this time the Arkansas' flag was down and not hoisted again while in sight. Our backing bell and speaking trumpet being shot away, the pilot could not communicate readily with the engineer. By this time the ram had passed us and was following the Tyler. After remaining at the bank for a short time to repair damages, we made our way down the river and found the rebel boat had succeeded in passing by the whole of the flotilla and rams.'

I suppose there are several main questions regarding this legendary encounter:

1. If we combine the assumption that Walke was no coward, based on his performances at Ft. Donelson and Island #10, with the fact that a Commanding Officer could be (and was) Court Martialed for failing to bring his ship into action against an enemy, why did he turn is vulnerable stern to the Arkansas?

2. Did the Carondelet fire as the Arkansas passed? Brown said her ports were closed; Gift said her starboard guns were run out, but not fired; S. B. Coleman of the Tyler stated that 'steam was escaping from her ports' which means they must have been open; and the Deck Log says they fired.

3. Did Walke haul down his flag? Brown stated that after the Arkansas passed the Carondelet, no flag was flying: Gift says it was hauled down and white flags were waved from her ports.

4. Did the Carondelet sink? Gift said their final broadside put shots through her bottom and mentions hundreds who saw steamers at work raising her; the Log says they spent a few hours at the bank repairing their steering and then rejoined the fleet above Vicksburg. Gift stated that the Federals covered up the fact and it seems somewhat curious that Walke was not ordered North for repairs until a week later.

What do y'all think?