The New York Herald Newspaper, January 25, 1863, Page 1

OLE NO. 9629. ATIONS ON THE WHITE RIVER. nea o of St. Charles, Duval’s Bluff and Des Arc. y Interesting Details of the Assault id Capture of Post of Arkansas. batment of Fort Hindman by ees RY OF THE GUNBOATS. RRENDER OF THE FORT ~ mind Prisoners Captured, s,, &e, ee ee «eS E DASH UP THE WHITE RIVER. ; from Admire! Porter and Cap- jm Pemmock to the Secretary of the as Carmo, Jab, 28, 1863. ve just (balt-past five P.M.) received a telogram mmphie, Tenneeset, from Acting Rear Admiral D, ir, on board the United States steamer Black |, mouth of White river, Jan. 20, as follows:— jugve taken St. Charles, Duyal’s Bluff and Des Are, ibe light draughts are over three hundrea above the mouth of the White river. DeKalb, Liewrepant Commander Walker,, cap- at Duval'e Blof. swo, eight-inch guue, with yee, ammunition, &c.; two huydred, feld rifies and - platform eure, and at Dem Are, we enptuned thirty. onere and « quéntity of arms and smmuynition. ‘A. EOYUNNOCK, Fleet Gagtaia. Special Report of the Opevations of the Army and Navy. Ark. i003.” } army of the Mississippi, under Major General Mc- nd the Mississippi squadron, under Rear Ad- H Porter, im a combimed agsauit upoa Fort Hindman, of Arkaoses,om the Arkansas river, fifty miles fe mouth in the Mississippi, have to-day achieved a victory over the rebels in this State, They have led the surrender of the fort, and have captured Colonel Duanington, ite commander, togother ‘the garrison, and the rebel General Churchill, com- Of the forces around the works, together with all ps and war materials stationed in the vicinity for defence of the position. That was deemed by the y to beall but impregnable. But the fort, and with Joast ten regiments ef rebel troops, have been cap" The prisoners will number nearly five thousand ‘THE WORSAIEP] RIVER EXPEDITION. timely victory will im some degree atone for the repulse of our troops before the walnut bills of urg, and the coneequent necessity which compelled leave the banks of the Yazoo. It is important ‘1 abould mention in thie place the design of that un” aesault on Vicksburg, and the reason which the temporary transfer of the Army of the Mis- and the Mississippi equadron from the majestic from which each derives its name, and its legiti- ephere of action, to operate on the inland waters of ‘The reopening of the Mississippi river to the of the world is a matter of supreme im- ce. It was the universal sentiment in the Fast, as as in the West, that steamboats which Jeave st. We ought net to be any longer subjected to untisual Hom till they arrived, as in former times, at the to New Orleans, It was the evident deterniination government that the river should be. reopened to Gulf. The two most invulnerable prints on the river) ly fortified and strongly garrisouod by the enemy, Vicksburg and Port Hudsom, Vicksburg is four and ten miles and Port Hudeon one iinndred and miles from New Orleans, Major General Bsaks’ Southern expedition wae sent round by the of Mexico and up the Mississippi river to Crescent City, whewce, in conjunction with dore Foote’s gumboas fleet, it was to operate againat Hudson from below, whilst the Missiexippi army, Major General McClernand, and the iron, under Rear Admiral Porter, in concert with the , under Major General Grant, were all te unite in one combined movement for the reopening of the river the Golf. Banks went round by the way of New ur. |, the Missixsippi river expedition was organized, and Grant commenced his forward movement. !n the of these operations the queation of calculation was Hy involved. The rebel strongholds in the river Detween them, of course it would be impossible for Officers of either the upper or the jower expedition to quickly and accurately informed of the operations of other. Though distant but a few bundred milém, barriers Of batterios most effectually soparated Fach was & distinct expedition; but, in obedience ® universal law, the action of one, its success or ure, might materially affect the operations of the other, Bews to pass from one to the other it must necessarily conveyed around over many thousand miles by land, river and the Gulf, While we were in the vicinity of burg, ton days ago, we heard through rebel sources fistabout that time Banks had been repulsed at Hodson, It caused us some enxiety aad snapense it should be #0; but we cotta not place any reliance the news. UCnoertain, unreliable intelligence ie th’ unsatisfactory kind of all, About the 20th of De. Wher last the Mississippi river expedition started down river, ander command of Major General Sherman. of the gundoate were already near the rende. ‘the mouth of the Yazoo, Arrangements had beon fously made to this effect: that Gramt was to have army at Yazoo City and that the Misstasippl expedi. was to be on (ho banks of the Yeroo on Christmas ; that about Now Your's am attack was to be made the rebel works at Vicksburg by the Mirelexipp forocs under General Bhortman, assisted and pro- by the guaboats under Admiral Porter, whilrt ine ¥ Under Grant would be in position to co-operate, With 1! of Vicksourg and Port Hodson 4he navigation of the ippi river would be free. But the raid of the rebel joavairy,“the cutting of the Missieeipp! Centra! Railroad netween' Grand Junction and Holly Springs —thue cutting the transportation of Grant's supplies on the railroad compelting hie to fail back to Holly Springs for eub whence prevented Bim from reaching the place asrtgnet the appointed time Sherman, I Believe, had no au fShentic niormation of ube watastrophe when he ailed yom Hoiena ip obedience r9 which he hud received Few Grant. ThE ETOH! Heh went deve He Meee | was winding | fringed with cane, erttonw ‘and up the Yazoo; our troops attacked the enemy in a pe- sition which, natarally formidable, was found to be strongly fortified ang defended; and, as is already koown Dy the detaile 3 have forwarded, the aesault was unsuc- cenaful, It was, therefore, necessary that the ides of taking Vieksburg ip that way and at that time should be aban- doned. Preparations were immediately made to retire te Milliken’s Bend, on the Missiasippi, about twelve miles up from the mouth of the Yazeo, whore the treops could de reorganized other operation; for, though the original design not be tmmediately accomplished, it would not do for the army and navy to be idle. GENARAL M’CLERNAND ASSUMING COMMAND. ‘When Majer General McClernand, with orders from the President to assume command of the Army of the Missis. sippi, arrived at the mouth of tho Yasoo, on the night of ‘he 24 instant, the lund forces of tho Misaissipp! river ex. Pedition aifaiiasiine ot ‘board their transports, bound for Milliken’s Bera. We, arrived there on Saturday, the 3d imetant. It waa then and there that General McCler- obanges in the organization army. The four divi- Mla nooina widor command of Brigadier General Morgan | s@eneral-vsterhane was agrigned wo the commana of the division formerly under General Morgan, and General: ‘Stuart'to the commaatl of General Morgen 1. Smith’s di. -Vinion—Smith having been wounded Je theattact ow- Vicks, ‘burg: In this new: tization Sherman's corps formed We right wing al ‘Morgan's corps the - left wing of what is now known an the Army of the Missiseipp!. On the following dey (Sunday), the 4th instant—just one week ago to-day—aiter coneulta- tion between General MoClernand and some of his officers and the Admiral, she whole fleet sailed from Milliken’s Bend on another important expedition. Possessing infor- ‘mation concerming the disposition of the enemy's forces im Arkansas, it wae determined to operate againat then ‘Dy proceeding immediately to attack the fort on the Arkansas river, at an ancient sottlement called Post ef Arkansas. UP THE MISSI8RIP?). ‘The sail up the Mississippi was unatteaded by any ‘striking incident. It was a splendid eight to sec the gun" Donte and the transporte—one would almost imagine an Spnumerable uumber—siowly sa!!ing in stately grandeur ‘dgainst the rapid current of the mighty river. They made @moving line Of many miles in loagth. The gunboats are ® source of power in themselver, Among the transports the names of some of them were Rvggestive of interesting reminiscences and ‘The ‘Tigrese, fingship of the flotilla, ‘was followed by tho Forest Queen. Then there were the Continental, the Metropolitan, the Crescent City; Indian names~-Hiiawatha and Tecumeeh; royal names—the Duke of Argyle and the Empress; hostile nrmes—the North- @rner and the Sunny South; ‘manly numes—the Gla- Ajator and the Champiou—ai} kinds of steamboats, with all kinds of namer, from the Suuny South, already mentioned, to the Polar Star. I ought not, perhaps, to neglect to state that the Yankee, like the Spread Eagle, was abead of the Universe. The boats stopped several times during the trip to get wood out of the foreste, At almost every stopping place refugees from the iron rule of the rebel leaders came to our steamboats and sought and found protection on board. it was aseertained that within a few days previous the guerillas, knowing ‘iit the fleet wag om the Missiesippi, had gone up and down both banks of the river, end jp, Several places bad burned cord wood and cot- ‘top’ i order to prévent .us\getting them, At one plantation, where we bad seen a largesupply of cord wood on she. downward trip, where we stopped on the upward trip to replenish our supply, instead of the woed- pile we sawa pile of ashes, 11 had just been burned; the owner told us, by order of the provost marshal of that district, And that is a fair tilustration ef the hostile, wicked spirit manifested by the rebel leaders in the ‘South. On Thursday, January 8, the foremost steamboate arrived at Montgomery Voiat, pearly opposite the mouth of the White siver, abeut balf-past one o’clock in the morning. We remained there that day, waiting for al! the boats of the fleet to get up to Montgomery Point. In the meantime most of the soldiers who were wounded at Vicksburg—over seven hundred of them—were sent up fn steamboats to St. Louis. Before sunset that evening all the fleet was moored at Point, It was @ brilliant spectacle at night to see that im. mense crowd of steambeais fastened to the shore, along the exteusive sweep iven by the bend in the river, and stretching along for many miles, An innumerable number of white and bive lamps was Gisplayed high abuve the upper decks. Torches on some of the boate that were aking in wood and coal glared amid the surrounding darkness, and were reflected in the river. Tho whole piace had the appearance of a large, magnificenuly illuminated eity. & GUNBOAT RECON*OMBRANCE. During the day the light draugh: gunbost Conestoga went on a recempoisance up the White river to the cut-off, and thence into the Arkansas. She went about toa miles up that river, until some cavairy were seem on shore, at which abe Gred some shots. Of course the cavalry de- camped. Ithas vince been said by parties from that Reigthophood tha: the steamboat Blue Wing was lying Just above where the Conestoga stopped, and, hearing the dreaded sound from a gunboat, had quickly cut her lines and fled. Had the fact been known at the time she might “have been recaptured by the gunboat, ihe rebels say she is now up the White river. Dur. ing this reconncissance the Conestoga took on board @ refugee, who gave some reliable infor. mation voncerning the forces at Post of Arkansas, and the guns and garrison in the furt. He esid there were there about eleven regimeats, each of which would average five hundred effective mon—two battalions and two companies of cavalry. He enumerated the guns in the fort; but im that particaiar he was Dot #0 accurate: ‘The wort iteeif, he said, was deeply ditched all round, and tiad barracks inside; that the river in front was Darricaded with rows of spiies driven down into the river bed, and secured with log chains. That was to prevent the passage of the gunboats, Other refugees subsequently told us that the rising of the river had probably washed away part of the barricade, 0 that the guuboate could pass through. That proved 1 be correct. INTO Tae WHrTR uTER. Karly on Friday morning, the 9th inst., the fleet started from Montgomery Point. The scene of the departure war a splendid one. At eight o’clock the signal gun was fired, and the expedition moved from the Missiesipp! towards thé month of (he White river. The gunboats, accompanied by the Admiral’s flagship, took the lead. ‘Then the Tigress, Genoral McCler . nand’s headquarters, and then the remainder of the feet. The soldiers on board the boets had their rifles ready to reply to any shot from ashore, We had to ascend the White river fifteen miles, them pass through a cut-off to the left, eight miled in length, an@ that led us into the Arkansta. A passing giatco at the if Of the coun. try im this region will be énéeragting and important. * RRA NBER Perhaps no other State upoe the continent is penetrated by 80 many wavigable rivers a8 Arkangas; but owing to the Jong continued drovghte in the summer season mort of them can be ascends! oniy by small steamboate dur- ‘ng nine monthe in the year. That is to say, large steam- boats cannot ascend them. The eastern portion of the State, for about a hondred niles back from the Mises. sippl, may be said to be an extensive tract of level ina, interspersed with little lakes and lagoons, swamps and marshes. There is an occasional elevation Which i not tubject to overfiow. The White river and the St. Francis drain the northwestern section of the State, They have gheir sources io Mistour! and their outlet in the Mineis* sippi river. The Arkansas 18 tho largest of thet all, And passes throngh the State, ‘The White river debouchen by one channol into the Misvievipp! and into the Arkansas by the orhor—that ie, when it ie bigher than (ue Arkansas, Tt inan interesting fact that when the White river is higher than the Arkansas, one current rune through the Cut off into the Arkansas, and the other into the Minis. Aippi; when the Arkansas i* higher than the White river, one of the Arkantns currents comes throngh cut-off and ont by the White river into the Mirsiseippi: and when the Misviewippi ie bigher than both, ove of ite eur rents rons up the White river fifteen miles, through the cut-off into the Arkancas, whevee it passes again Mineiasippl. The White river, se far ae we ascended it, The banks were generally low, they wore sycamore: Aa we we (eee wailed along the birds w on ehore THe eer nes eve. ook whoa w even Pee! fom th Pa i? ae / é 4 YORK HE JANUARY 25, 1863, THE CAPTURE OF FORT HINDMAN. NOTES OF REFERENCE. O—First line of works—artillery and rifle pits, ©—Thira line of works—rifte pits. PARA AAA AN NAN NNSA The Combined Mili and Victory the ye Fg ° 3B—Becond line of works—artillery and rifle pite. WD—Main Line of works—artillery and ride pits. ut-off into the Arkansas river. Wext to the Mis- souri the Arkansas is the largest affluent of the Mississippi river. 1¢ bas its soures in the Rocky Moun- tains,near the boundary line between the Indian Terri- tory and Utah, and after entering Arkansas flows through nearly the centre of the State, until it empties into thé Mississippi. Its entire length exceeds two thou- sand miles. It te ene of the wonderful rivers of the West. The water sometimes rises twenty-five feet. At such times all the surrounding lowlands for many miles are submerged, and the woods present the appearance of forests growing ia @ cea. During nine Months im the year it is navigable for some seven or eight hundred miles from its mouth. ‘ON THE AREANBAS. It was this river that we were now ascending. Soog on one of the banks we passed a shed that had been ured a a rebel picket post, and saw a hawser which bad been newly cut. Probably it belonged to the rebel steamboat which departed so hastily on the previous afternoon, as the gunboat Conestoga hove in sight. A short distance further INSIDE OF FORT HINDMAN. eS a Arrangements were immeiately made for landing, The bank bad to becus away in frontof al) the bonte, and roads made for the landing of the artillery and the treopa, A small force was deployed in fromt ae skirmibbers, and General MoClernand and staff rode out to ree the country. ‘The pickets brought in an old negro, Uncle Toney, seventy- feven yearn of age, who raid that during the summer «large Dumber of negroes had been employed in the con- struction of the fort, and that he had beard lest Toreday woek (hat there were some cight thousand men at the Post, Evening was now at aod, and reweral hundred men were at work making roadways up the hank. «0 ubat | the artillery, the wagons and the troops could be more | easily debarked. As the pight- advanced the work was | eewt vohes wer lighted. They glared (rm the he etoamboate that covered that portion y Ue Waeaing | giek @f suene (orcheme — > ~=— Sees EE: : ' ABATTIS Qi one 1 MILE IN ENGI Ashell from the Admirai’s flagship scattered thom, and away they dashed acroes the country to convey the news of our approach. After the cavalry was seen, our troops on the transporte wore on the qui vive,apd some with guns cocked were ready to shoot the first rebel who showed himself on shore. The river was very narrow, not more than as third of « mile in width, and exceedingly serpeu- Hine. In somo places the banks would acom from twelve to twenty feet high, and in others the clayey bottom Wooked almost like « sandy shore. Small clearings could be occasionally seen through the thin trees on the banks During the afvernoon we passed @ corncrib In Games. Asking the men on shore who burned it, they replied, “‘the pickets from the Post.” ‘Are there many troops there?”’ was the next question from our steamboat. “0, beaps!” said a negro, at the samo time extending bis arms as though be was trying to embrace them all. At Mr. Fletcher's plantation all the negroes were out on the banks looking at the fotilia as it passed. ARRIVAL NEAR THR PORT. At haslf-past four o'clock we landed on the right bank of the Arkansas, within about three miles of the Post. SVSNYN ey Al 4 NCH PABRO’ er ® INCH O — the dusky forme of the men at work looked exceeding!y grotesque. During the evening ® consultation was held on board the Admiral's boat, and arrangements were made for (he mortow im accordance with the plan of atiaek. PRAT ARATION® FOR THR AMAT After a ttorm during the might the « rons Om Fat ay morning clear and bright, and the day war fal. The Admiral gave orders for all the gonboats to be ready t move forward to the attack. The moved a jiitie further up the river, and an o “ bet was fredat the fort, Mostof the aruillery sod wagons yeen brought om shore during bebe tardsy — merning As the troop © daylight on piled they | were mnreiiaiiet in tbe @ and montow Ye ane we the river beck «Aboot Seven o'tlnck Genensl Molle cama | rebel ranks. A /anseult upon the fort. To somo of the Ohio treepe Resaid:—''} expect great things from Ubio to-day pte merew.” “We will follow you, General,” was reply, Tosome of the Illinois regiments be said I want'you to emulate the example already shown by the troops of your illustrious State.” To the Fifty-ffth IMinote he said:—-''Boldiers, | expect you to add briltians mame won for yourselves at Shiloh.” ‘We ; do. %, Gonora};”’ and then they cheored, ‘Barty im the afternoon the gunboats wore firing an occa ‘signer thel? whilst our troops were forming in the fields: Recowvotermg partice were sent out to examine tho ground in front, It was ascertained that there were tw° Tews of rifle pits or embankments, having at @mMresores for artillery. They svemed to bo aban, General Sherman directed General Stuar move with bis division along the levee, parallel with river, covering hin front with @ regiment of skirmiah, gF8, and if.Be fould tho works abandoned te enter quickly ‘display his colors to tbe gunboats.’ This was doue, nt the breantworks wore found to be abandoned, About ‘ wagous wap sem gaing.out of the fort, ‘Tebel troopn were Obsorved in movua, Teaw one , AD. ICE FOUR CENTS Wp Additional intreachments when ho departed; Colone) Dunnington was in command of mh od and Genera} Churchill in command of the forces 16; and that the first news they had of our near approach) Was from the squairon of cavalry wo saw on the banks. | Of the river soom after we came into it through the cut. Off, the cavalry having dashed across the country and arrived a6 the Post two bours before our steambonis Feached their landing placo on Mr, Notrib’s plantation three miles from the !’ost, THM PINAL ARRANOKMRNTS, At haif-past nine o'clock. General MeClernand, accom* | Panied by bis stadt, rode out aud communicated with bis | corps commanders, He had pravicusly signatiend the | Admiral, who was ready to move up and open with the junboate. About ten o’clock tho General took @ positions j im the timber about the centro of the lines, where he | made his headquarters, It was a beautiful mornmg—the | yy wee clear apd the weather warm. Kverything | Meemed ready Ow and every, momont we expected to, hear that the ball was opened. Haif an bour afterwards Genera) Sherman came to MoClernand’s headquarters in ‘the field, accompanied by General Steele. Gen. Sherman gala that bis corps was in position, with Stecle's, @ivisiom <0 the cxtremo right, within sight poe ved flag (st Jopked Hike @ battle fag) carriod af the | Of the enemy’s works, aud confrontod by @ jo: @ body of troops at a double quick, It was borne Mong over the open ground unti! it disappeared inside the Prt, . W.was Soazed that the rebala wore leaving the Post, biceady a reba Been captured. Soon‘ after three o'clock Stuart's dtvi- om, of Sherman’s corps, was in pesition on the right, Toug tive of. rebels outside thoir works. sherman bad plaged.a battery of wwenty pounder Parrots, with instruoe tous to the arfitleriate that they were to ba used only and several ether prisoners. had | Where they were sure of doing execution, Gonerul MoClernand'sent off a signal officer to request the Ad ‘miral to advance and commence the canvonade with We Feady to open the attack; but Morgan's corps, which wan | Suuboats. It was then arranged that when the guub wie So cccupy the left, had not yot been deployed. It takes | pened, and a favorable opportunity viterod, the lines \\me-to dobar troupe, form them on the field and deploy | Sould be advanced , and Stevie, on the right, would nt” them im line, previous to an adsault. General McClernand tack the enamy. It was supposed that be would svcw ent orders to Morgan to make haste, as the troops which | drive the rebels from the brush into the open prairie—sew he@ frat debarked were propared to make the assault, 18 the map—where (he gunboats would sbell them ocar and at the same timo sigualized the Admiral that be | ‘éfort. The enemy fired au occasional shot before wa might advance with the gunboats and open fire. The | opened the attack. Every one was waiting with the gupbosts then advanced, first the iren-clads, then tne Admirai’s fiagsbip, and then the light draught gun- Doate, known as the ‘Mosquito Fieet.” It had been previously arranged between the General and the Admiral that when the sound of the atteck by the troops was heard the Admiral would open the terrific. capnonading of the gunboats. It was at first sup e that the assault would be made, and perbaps fhe fort duced, thas day; but even at sundown the troops on the right bad not worked round far enough so as to surround the fort—and , in truth, the troops were not in position to attack. It was soon appirent that we would be compelied to wait till next day (Sunday) to see au assault upon the fort, 4 WRILLIANT NIGHT BOMBARDMENT. However, we witnessed a brief night bornbardment by the gunboats. They moved up above the bend of the river indicated in the map,to within a few hundred yards of the fort, and commenced the cannonade just about sundown. By six o'clock they had become fairly engaged with the fort. As the twilight faded and the darkness deepened, the scene on the river, heantiful at the commencement, grew grander till the end of the bom bardment, Perhaps there ix nothing in war so terribly magnificent as a night bombardment, Mere were seen the gunboats on the river, arranged in line and clone to the fort, the fearful fiushos from their guns and from those tn the enemy’s intrenchimente illu minating the whole horizen as vivid lightning does, the reverberations of the cannon sound ing ike the loudest thunder, the eracking noise of the volleys of musketry fired from the river bauks at the gunbouts, the columua of black smoke ascending from their smokestacks, the stars appearing in the clear sky, which atill displayed the departing grandeur of the crimson sunset, The Admiral, deepest interest the commencement of the battle. It wi noon now, and we had not fired a shot, Time was pred Gious; for if we expected to take the fort we must take ft ‘defors sundown, On the morrow the ouemy mighd/ huve heavy reinfercoments. An hour or two were yout in waiting, the General waiting for the gumboam {9 Commence, and the Admiral for the army. At half« past twelve the General received a communication from the Admiral requesting bim Ww name Wie hour precisely’ that he wished him to commence the bowbardment witht the gunboats. The General replied that he winked bim to open fire immediately, The aigual olficer went off at full gallop to the river, in order to communicate the inessages OPERATIONS OF THE NAVY. Tp this simple narrative of the bombardment and in- Yostment of the fort, where the troops and the gunboays were blazing way at unce, it in not #0 easy to separnte distinctly the operations of the army and the navy, asd at the same time preserve the chain of circumstances and Sncidents as they transpired onthe water and on land, But, a8 the gunboats commenced the fight, 1 will first al- lude to the operations of the wavy. Jt was five minutes past one when the gunboats Baren DeKaib, Cipcinnat! and Louisville, all iron clade, steamed up to within about throe hundred yards of the fort, and Gro upon it. Just so son as the yun: Doats hove tn sight, and before they fired @ abot, the sort opened on them. On & wort of entidy bese, by the ‘bend in the river ,the rebels had erected heveral targota, which were to asnist them iu niming at the gunboata. Barrt- Caden bad also been placed in the river opposite the fort; but the high water had washed part of them away and in the 1 ‘stoamt if ickiy about from | ‘ft the vkannel open. The“bombardment inctepmed in ‘Doat to etl aa agp brodigestey Dn phar, gynboat | Tpidity as other vessels Of the squadron came into post> Rattler, Walter Smith, Lieutenant almost under the guns of the fort, aad was struck severay times, One hall passed completely through her, amasb. | DeKalb bad orders from the Admiral to Mi » passed tion, It took some time to got good range of the cavo- mated guns and the barbette gus on the furt. The Barca at the right ing everything in the captaiu’s cabin. she is not one of | band casemate, the Louisville at the middie ope, aud the the regolar iron-clads. There ts iron on ber only for the @f her guns. Another shot from the fort the woodwork, and struck a jolly i davite and carried ome of her boass away. ‘The damage to the Rattler is slight, and can soon be ro. | Deb/gren gun om the parapet, whea the Haron De Kel paired. Theincinnati, IJeuteuamt Commander George L. Bache; the Baron DeKalb, Licuteuant Commander John H. Walker, and the Loulsviile, Liouteaant Commander kt 1. Owen, all tron-clads, wore also near the fort and sus- tained some Injuries, ‘The Cincinnati for some time threw grape and cauister into the fort. One shell explodéd on Cipcinnat) at the great uine-tnch Dabigren guy «nm Larbe «. jo baif an hour after the bombardmeat commonnn:| the cao ‘and glanced off; but the momentum of | Males were struck by the shell from the yunboats. Whee ia the range was obtained the sbellefrom the gunb ate , fracturing his jaw. On the side | Struck the guns in the fort almost every shot, until every’ to the Gre of the fort a shot | ¢ was silenced and smashed. The Cincinnati fired xbrap- nell at first and cleared the crew away from the nise. nck broke of the muzzle with a ton-inch shot. The Lovingto: Night araught, Lieutenant Commander James W. shirk, moved up at two o'clock, und with her rifed cums rapid to the Parrott rifled guus in the fort, whilm the Matti Lieutenant Commander Waites Smith, «nd the Gl) Lieutenant Commander Woodworth, threw in «brapne!, her deck. doing fearfui execution among the crew. she | *@ in company with the ram Monarch, Colonel Charies k. had one man killed outright, two mortally and over « dozen slightly wounded. The Iitue tug from which the Admiral was directing the operatous of the gunboats was struck several times. And thus the bombardment was continued for over balf an hour. It was brief but brilliant. We have since ascertained that by the explo- won of a sbell in one of the casemates of the fort quite considerable number of the enemy were Killed and wounded. CAPTORE OF PRISON EKA. Whilst we wore watching this gunbout bombardment, Colovel Stuart and Captain Freeman, of MeCiernan: staff, who had gone oot scouting with sume cavalry came ‘n with rity or seventy prisoners, whom they had eap- tured in camps outside the fort. These camps contisted of numerous tents and log houses calculated to quarter quite @ Iarge number of troops, These men were cap- tured aboat halfe mile from the fort, in & convalescent camp. Atmeong them was Lieutenant Shetlinberger, of the Third Difeois cavalry, whom the rebels bad taken prisoner whee they captured the Hive Wisg, He was now recaptured, The prisovers said they were every moment expecting (be arrival of reinforcements in the fort, and that when the aegault should be made we should jearn that we would have a tough time taking it. MOVING AT MIDNIGHT TAROYGH FORT Ayu swamr, After seven o'clock General MoCiernaud issued bis orders for the wight. The troops to get into powt tion during the might, ready to make the attack in (be morning. General Sherman was to swing his right round #0 ag Wo invest the fort. A brigade was thrown across the river in order to prevent the arrival of reinfurcemouts down, or the escape of the garriros ap the river, If Sher. man could overcome the natural obstacles in hia way, oon sisting of swamps and bayou, and Covet the river bey oud the fort, the whole rebel force would be surrounded and captured. By reference to the scommpanying map, it will be seen that the bend in the river offered @ splendid opportunity to invest the fort. The whole affhir was well planned aod adiwirably execated. Sherman's oolumns commenced on Saturday sight working round to tne right. Withoot any guides whatever, the brigade com inanders took their troops throngh the almost impene. trable forest of tangled timber and marshes indicated in the map. Generals Hovey, Thayor aod Blair were busily engaged pusbing their brigades through that swampy region. The mud and the darkness were #0 great thay they were compelled to Wave their artillery in the reat until the morning. When daylight dawned it revesied to view their long lines of infantry deployed in splendid style amid the trees and bushes, the right stili working round to complete the investment of the fort. Wheo the rebels aaw those lines they must have beea convinor) | tbat means of crcape for them were now simont cut off. THE BATTLE. BORE INFORMATION PROM Tire Font. Karly im the morning apother refogee camo mto Tt vorws that he was s Northern man, who hag gone from Indiana Ww Texas two years ago, and *as compettied, for self-protection, to join the When the bombardment by the gueboate commences vight before last, bh log above the furt, and, tating brigade scrome the river, wae fury « veyed withia our linen. Although be war in the Southern army, the fact * that be wae © Martherner by birth eausen bim to be closely watehet, He hat been court martisited oo « charge of mutiny, withou. bin knowledge, be wait, had been coudemnnd, and was under arrest at Ube time of bie exeape. We wad that the fort was jowt two moles from the lower intrenchment oo the river, that there were two eight ineb Debigren gans casemaiet one nine toe od & reguber battery of her Of (roopm at tbe on bartetic and eight other g that the © x pieces in tbe fort shout eight thourend that one fegimant of 99 tor 1 Charlon, om the White or, bate . orrammnte were mementer ih at the empe were throwing Flict, of the army, commonding, pushed up chore to the fort. Bach of the gunbonts silenced the gun if vee in structed to fire ot about the samo time, At twesty min- utes past two all the teavy smooth bore and rifled guna ia the fert were most effectually silenced. The Mlack Hawk, Tieutenant Commander K. R. Breese, the Adi ie tag thip, steamed up and took part in the fight. The Admi~ ral himeelf, with bie secretary, Dr Heap, wos in the Hity te tog which was all the time ecrearming and dasctog abon among the ganbouty, directing and superintondiug the fight (NUON ON THK IRONCLAD ' The Biron DeKalb, more than ony of the other won clade, porbaps, bore the brunt of the fight. This i the urteenth ov fifteenth bombardment in which she baw mn engaged. She is the old Bt. Louis, ber name hawog beeu recently changed to the Barun beKeib. To day ashe lay right under tbo guna of the fort from the commence meut of the battle to the cher, One shall from theter, - #track the gun on the port bow and broke the morse se 4s to render it uselens, passed through the porthole tue gun deck and exploded, smashing everyting before t, killing two men and wounding Gfteon. Another shell struck tbe iron armia, two icetes and @ ball te thichoons, broke the plate, but did not poueirate the vemei, & third shell hit pear (be sil! of another porthole, carried away the Dutkboad of the deck, destroyed the port bracket of the gun carriage, bet did not injure either the gum of a man, striking the gun, however, it glanced off ws the right, flew the aholelougth of the gum deck, touched ne oylinder chamber sud paused outover the spar deck. A Parrott shot strack the pilot house and made quite am Indentation tn the irop. Another phot carried the botinm of the Inunch away and damaged some woodwork oo ne i. This gueboat was hit Ofieen oF sixteen Nima by heavy #uot, but (he lors of (he gum Ie the only #eriows in jury the sustained. The Cincionat) lay close to the Baron beKalb. The Caw” elmnati fired on the fort only with ber teres bow gum tee Gred shot and Kbrapnel at ihe guaners, aad tarew Krapeover the fort, She was struck some nineor tem times, One shell few tn on deck, wont clear through the wheel dows into the captains cabin, through his sleeping apartment into the exseraent, and there iblodged. ehown strock the trom armen, but af the plating ip prne- raily greased, the baile ginnced of without dung aug damege. Nobody wea burt on beard the Cineimmetiy Her gunoers mate nome sjlendid shote at the fort ‘The Loulsyiiie did eneetions servion im ihe tebt bas more than «dozen scare. A shell entered Uhre the middle port, struck the iron canereting for the testion of the boiler, and there exploded sounding wre ob nen. Another steels, gving I 00 Ube port bow 6ulel moe man instantly au@ wounded! severss seversiy. lhe «how Strack the gunboat amidebipe ve the port de, oad were | away the railing ov the deck Ancor slighted om tha tlarboard quarter, bore up the pay mania © rome aad tiem wont overbosrd, & shot from the tine imeh varbetie gun 00 the fort touching the armor, want throngh tue euodwor't bet seen four Dreadaiae fons, Mrvex \be yam deck, tencbeted end went solo the sonpe poe. The stease rusted ost over ihe dou, the g eit | Somes, o bot the engloeer soos turned the eseniing mene oto the mmoien stack ki The other outa were bit nereral men, Hat aid av postain any tererus lajury, At bell poet two, just os ten othe fort were ileoced Gamer Were seen aeoets og A Glance mE Kom ed 1 aK aon en ane A he gunlvonte the Louleviiie wan om fire, The Admiral, m ue tog, werk sbogeide immediately, Bot to wer oa board seemed counciran oh (he tire, With the wee ence (the men On the tag the re wan pat vet The of and men om board the Lawteriile were me botdit orem (hoa ve were Waning away at tbe rebels iw the fort we bo Much pert nacity—that (hey sctunlly 4:4 0M bnew boat Kerr rn ehh, tied been on fre and that the Gomer vd Deee catingyiyhed = Am aiarm oe heard @ be the tere 1 to have ariven (soy bee ‘ . r ’ * brine ery ome,