Before Cincinnati could recover from the blow struck by General Bragg, CSS General Sterling Price rammed the ironclad. Cincinnati had her sternpost and rudder destroyed by the blow. The ironclad then swung out of control into an angle that allowed a third Confederate ship, CSS General Sumter to ram her. The blow struck Cincinnati in the fantail. The commander of General Sumter had offered Cincinnati terms of surrender, but was rejected. Water rushed into Cincinnati, putting out the fires for her engines and flooding her magazine. The crew of Cincinnati was sent to the decks, ready to defend against a boarding attempt. Sharpshooters on General Sumter fired on the ironclad, severely wounding her commander, R. N. Stembel. Mound City and Carondelet had arrived at close range after about 10 or 15 minutes, but had been unable to fire for fear of hitting Cincinnati. The situation on Cincinnati had become one of attempting to get her into shallow water before the ship sank. General Sterling Price and General Sumter pulled back from Cincinnati enough that Mound City and Carondelet were able to open fire, and Benton had entered range for supporting fire.
