New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-09
THE OPERATIONS ON THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI.
The vi,it ia Ecyou anrn-Desirnction Of
TeIcgraphic Corinunicsiiou-Dep resia-
tions by GuerriIias-Progress UP The
River UnnioIcsted-Obsirnc at Ellis
Cliffs.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July g. 1904
The Navy Department has received dispatches
dated United States stesm-sloop Brooklyn, of Vicks
burg, June %. The following ID from Capt. Craven
to Commodore Farragui:
SIR: In obedience to your orders Of the 18Th, |
lett Baton Rouge my way mp tie river at p. IN.
OF that dgy. On the 18th, at p M, sent the Ma
rine Guard and a party OF scamen, all about 100
men under charge OF Lieut.. Lowry, at Bayou Sara,
for the purpose of Destroying the telegraph appara
tus and cutting the wires and with orders 10 inform
the authorities OF that town that we were on the
river FOR the purpose of enforcing the laws OF our
common country, and protecting Its loyal citizens
and at the same tine, to warn them that If
anv hostile demonstrations made upon
our vessels or transports IA they passed in
front OF their town, by the thieves aud nurderers,
yclept "guerrlas," the town would be held re-
sponsble for it, and al least he laid under conTibu-
ton Il not dealt with more severely. About III in
the morning Lieut. Lowry returned with his party
to the ship, having thoroughly accomplished bis
work, excepting securing the telegraph apparatus,
which had Deen removed but few minutes before
be landed. About half nile OF the wire was cut
and brought aboard, and the vitriol and batteries
destroyed
The people ashore seemed to be peaceaby dis
poeed were quite civil, anu made Gisrespectful
demonstrations The Mayor, or Chief Magistrate,
informed Lowry that but two or three days previ-
Gus g. our arrival, the town lad been visited by
bands Of guerilas; that they have committed many
outrages against law and order and he had arrested
Lieutenant who commanded tie party, but he was
rescued by his men and borne OIL 10 the woods.
fle represented these guerrllas as lawless set of
men, whom the inhabitants OF the country and small
towns had greater dread Of than for the visits of our
navy, or even our army; and he hoped We would
not hold him responsible for the acts OF cutthroa
band. Before leaving shore Lowry, with the iag OF
our mon at the head of his party, and TO the tune
of Yankee Doodle, marched through several OF the
principal streets. We passed Natche1 at about
half-past ten Of the morning OF the 10TH
On the morning Of the Eth the Richmond joined
u.s. and at about $3.50 Of that morning we passed
Rodney. We arrived al our present anchorage on
the 18Th, a. 80 in the morning. Nowhere Oh our
route were We moesed, aud 1 saw no change III
the aspec. OF things since last trip, excepting
nj Grand Gulf. The town there was riddled by
shot, and then destroyed Ly fire.
On small hill just 10 The night Of the town was
small eaIihwork, which had been only recently
thrown up, and was capable Of receiving three or
ioar small deld-pieces. 1t, ~ We'll as the town, was
entirely deserted. On the 10Th inst, Commander
Porter arrived here with ten Of his mortar boats;
Yesterday, the Mimi arrived with another; and
this afternoon four others were towed up. Com
m.ndcr Porter informed me thai hs flOii.a was Icd
upcn IL Ellis Cliffs and that II is the intention of the
4, bells 10 mount troublesome battery at that place.
also at Quiimans Landing as lie learned at farm
house coming mp.
lie boats which arrived this morning were fred
at from Iii Cliffs, aud on the Empire Parish. One
was bat two or three times, ore shot temporarily
disabhug one Of ber boilers. Yesterday morning
cent the Oneida aud Winona 10 look after these
phces Tomorrow / shall send the kaAhdn TO
convoy the TWO boats 40 far as Baton Rouge, or un-
Ill the meets you. Here a. Nicksburg the Rebels
appear to be quite busy in extending and terrifying
their works, and IL Ia said they have soue $1,000
tfcoJs quartered ID and about the town.