The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-14 00:00:00

IRONCLADS IN

The correspondents of the New York papers give accounts
of attacks made on Confederate works in the Yazoo. On
the 11th ult. one writes, dating 10 miles above Greenwood :
—" To-day two rec nnaisances were started out. One was
made down the river by the gunboat Chillicothe, Lieute-
nant-Comm►nder Foster commanding. She ran down to
within about a quarter of a mile of the rebel battery, ex
changing several shots with it. The Chillicothe was
struck four times in this affair, once in her square hull and
twice in her massive turret, in each case the ball making a
deep indentation in her 3,-inch iron, plainly marking the
unmistakeable stamp of s eel •pointed 64 pounder shot pro-
pelled from rifled pieces, '1 he Chillicothe returned from
the reconnaisauce without having sustained the slightest
injury. In the afternoon the Chillicothe was ag,in
ordered down to engage the rebel battery. She moved
down promptly, and soon her heavy 11-inch guns were
heard, to which the enemy made a brisk response. The
Cnillicothe fired but seven rounds, during which she
dropped three shells directly into the enemy's works with
good effect. At this juncture she met with a most unfor-
tunate and disastrous accident. Her men were just loading
her port gun, the charger being engaged at the moment in
cutting the fuse of the shell, which had already been placed
in the muzzle of the gun, when a 64-pound shell from the
rebels struck directly in her half open port, throwing apart
and unshipping the heavy iron port shutters, one of which
was thrown overboard, and, lighting directly upon the
muzzle of the gun, exploded simultaneously with the shell
that was being put in the piece. The casualties by this
double explosion were 14 in all—four killed and 10
wounded ; but the latter will probably survive. The
Chillicothe was brought out of action without further
damage. On the 13th another attack was made on the
fortification. The Chillicothe and De Kalb had both been

covered with cotton bales, to make sure that they should
not be hurt. The Chillicothe was under fire an hour and
a half. She was not withdrawn until long after the
enemy had ceased firing, and then only because her store
of ammunition was about expended, requiring a replenish.
ment of her magazine. The rebels singled her out as their
principal target, and they peppered her well. She was
struck to-day 34 times. Her storm-roof and wheelhouses
twoepreierceidsd.lsHd
earnednbgiandelywcaustfuoup H
r.
times sr launchshott whrouagsha,llandstohveer
pennant was shot away. Her massive iron plating was in-
dented all over her front where balls had struck her. Yet
she withstood the terrible ordeal, and is to-night as good
for a fight as she was this morning. But two men were
injured on her. The De Kalb was the unlucky vessel to-
day, and, considering the length of time she was engaged,
she got off very lightly. After the Chillicothe withdrew the
De Kalb was ordered to remain and continue firing until
dark. She did so, firing once every 20 minutes, but getting
no response after the main engagement closed. She re-
ceived about a dozen shots during the action, at least three
of which were very severe blows. One passed obliquely
through her starboard casement, just forward of the first
porthole, and roked through the mainleck, finally lodging
in the wardroom of the extreme after part of the vessel. The
shot penetrated through a section of her casemates whichwas
not covered with iron. In its course it struck a gun against
which one of the ship's quartermasters was leaning, and,
glancing, mortally wounded him. A shell exploded directly
in her wheelhouse, which damaged one or two buckets and
splintered the bulkhead a little, but did no further mischief.
Still another lodged in the forward casemate, under the
heavy iron plating. Shells striking on the outside of the
vessel frequently set on fire the cotton with which she was
covered, but no danger resulted therefrom. Two men were
killed and four wounded. The Chillicothe is a light •draught
ironclad, having one stationary turret, in which are two
11-inch Dahlgren shellguns ; the Baron de Kalb is an iron-
...

clad casemated steamer, carrying 13 guns of a heavy calibre,
We shall give the rebels another trail to-morrow, when

hope to be able to report more satisfactory results. I have
already said the position is a formidable one. It is more
than that, it is an unapproachable one. We can't get at
them. If we could we should have been able half-a-dozen
times to-day to drive them out by storm; but infantry can
do nothing in the water, and this fortification is completely
surrounded by water." Another correspondent writes on
the 27th :—" Since my last communication we have made
but a single effort at the enemy, and that, like its predeces-
sors, resulted in nothing. On Monday last, at noon, the
bombardment was resumed. The gunboats Chillicothe and
De Kalb, with one mortar boat, were brought into action,
assisted by Battery Wilson, which at that time had been
enlarged and extended so as to carry three guns—two 301 b.
Parrots and an 8-inch Dahlgren. The Chillicothe. as on
former occasions, was the main target of the enemy. She
took her old position, about 800 yards from the rebel works,
at the point where the fort first comes into view. Her com-
mander begged hard to go down the river, but was refused.
The action lasted bat about 20 minutes, diving which time
only 14 shots were fired at the Chillicothe, eight of which,
however, hit her full in the face. The effect of this severe
pounding was to cause the speedy termination of the engage-
ment. Both her bow portholes were closed up. These port-
holes are covered with* ponderous ii on shutters, that are
drawn together when the gun is drawn in for loading. The
enemy's heavy missiles, falling upon these when closed,
had so indented and jammed the shutters that they could
not be slid open. The vessel was therefore temporarily
disabled and had to be abandoned. At this stage in the
operations we began to receive tangible evidence that the
enemy could reinforce more rapidly than we. His battery
had been reinforced by the addition of guns of greater
calibre, reaching to 10 inch columbiads. His magazines
had been bountifully replenished, and his garrison was
receiving accessions daily. Immediately preparations for
the withdrawal were set on foot. Battery Wilson was dis-
mantled, and its guns returned to the boats to which they
belonged. Orders were issued for the direction of the
fleet on its return voyage. Everything was in readiness
for the withdrawal, which was to have been consummated
on Thursday morning, when, late on Wednesday night,
the programme was suddenly changed. Why withdraw?
We must take Fort Greenwood sooner or later. The force
is at hand now that is able to take it. The only trou-
ble is this land force cannot move, owing to the over-
flow of the land between them and the rebel works.
Now, it is very plain thatat ifus we
They can'tmay make the t-
get at the enemy,
neither can the enemy get . a
tempt by boats—the only practical way ; but we have every
advantage of them there; having confidence that our fine
fleet of gunboats is more than a match for any temporary
war vessel they may fit up. We are safe from attack at
Shell Mound-place—the locality of our camp—and it is bet-
ter to remain there." According to a telegram they after-
wards commenced a retreat, but met reinforcements coming
down to them.

THE ALE-KINGS AT WORCESTER, April 1.
There have been great festivities in this neighbour-
hood during the past few days, consequent on the eldest
son of Mr. Allsopp, of Hindlip hall, near this city, having
attained his majority on Wednesday last. On the morn-
ing of that day there was a meet of the Worcestershire
foxhounds at Hindlip, where a field of about 300 gentle-
men partook of breakfast at the hall, and after a capital
run killed a fox near Alcester. In the evening a ball
took place, at which a large number of the elite of
the county were present, including Lord Lyttelton (Lord-
Lieutenant of Worcestershire), the Earl of Dudley, Lord
and Lady Raglan, Mr. and Lady Diana Pakington, Mr.
and Lady Georgina Vernon, Mr. and Lady Catherine
Berkeley, Hon. Mrs. Coventry, &c. The ball took place
in a magnificent pavilion erected on the garden front ofd
this mansion, with which it communicated by. a covered
corridor leading from the reception saloon. This
.d
was two hundred feet long by forty feet w!riPe;aiivaninte4
throughout with crimson and white drapery,
lighted. The ball was opened at 10 o'clocktiloi.t_hrradii'nogf
Coote and Tinney's orchestra, Mr. A1150pp,...1 n't°
rd Lieutenant and
with the J4ein the house. At
off with Lady Raglan, who,
other distinguished guests, was ern
eats, after which the fees-
msqiudanrieg,hwtaashpanardtaskomene
ofsu ptpyerte,hpsi
company staying at the hall
with great spirit until
tivities were renewed and
brethgeunt Steeplechases at C I
ruvpd byg.Clunter, of Berkeley-
e rifle volunteers from Burto-on-.
row e,
hwoaslds a commission, to dine at
the principal fete day, Mr,
near
llaeynBbtorpteopa ktu
au. nbi
vr,:hoeissott Thursdaytader
yesterday
antthe
near the city.
_
pinawfther.a. review in the park. A special train con-
e regiment from Burton, a distance of 50 miles, in
vuTeryineenddtfith
at
the
e half-pastcom m anldloofa'
ecaaktji.
Bass,Th e y
two hours, and landed them at Fearnhall-heath station,r
about
swPhoaemkwetohodi; companyass, Raat ttchl ieffr, G
withAiiso
Allsopp,
station,°la , nd
and marched with it to the hall. The Westwood troopof
the Queen's Own -Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, uner
the command of Capt, Pakington, came out in honour of the
day,
and met the rifle volunteers at Hindlip, where they
joined in the evolutions which took place during the after-
noon. At 4 o'clock the whole party, numbering nearly 600,
sat down to a banquet furnished by Gunter in the ball pavi-
lion. Mr. Allsopp presided, and was supported respectively
by Major Bass and Capt. Pakington. The usual loyal toasts
having been proposed, that of the army was acknowledged
by Major Tennant, Capt. Pakington responding for the
yeomanry, and Major Bass for the volunteers. The health
of Mr. Allsopp, jun., having been proposed by Mr. Friend,
of Abbey-wood, was enthusiastically received by the com-
pany, and duly acknowledged. The party broke up at 7
o'clock, in order to enable the volunteers to return to
loners.
ton, where they arrived at 10 o'clock. To-day the em
es, p
hayve
of Mr. Allsopp's firm, numbering nearly 1,200 mtat
been liberally regaled at Burton. it understoodis that •es
Samuel C. Allsopp, in whose honour the
abovebsine fesmivivli
took place, will hereafter join the house of
u
which his family name is associated.