Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-11
The Bomb ardment OF vlokshurg.


From the Memphis Bulletin, July Sd.
The Federal Ram Monarch arrived yes
terday from Commodore Davis feet, above
Vicksburg, and brings us intelligence of
the most startling character from that point.
The particulars, as we learn them from
Capt. Geo. e. Curry, who was a witness
of the whole affair from on board Commo-
dore Porter's flag ship Victoria, were as
follows:
Our readess are aware that some vessels
from Commodore Porter's feet have once
or twice before visited Vicksbnrg aud ex-
changed some shots with the Confederate
batteries at that point. Up to Thursday
last, however, there has not been at any
time anything like real bombardmeut of
that place.
About daylight on Thursday, however,
the signal for a general attack was given
The fire was mainly directed against the
fort on the top of the bluff below the town,
which mounted eight guns. The firing
| with more or less rapidity, most of the
time. AS evening drew on, the firing ceas-
ed on both sides.
Gu Friday morning the attack was re-
sumed, and continued until afternoon, when
Commodore Porter signaled to shell the
town itself-which was done for about TWO
hours-with what effect could not be def
nitely ascertained. Tho shells could be dis
tinctly seen to burst above the town, but
the nearer buildings concealed the exact
effect from view. so- l
The batteries on shore replied lightly
and irregularly during the most of the
time. About o'clock the signal was Civ
en- to cease firing, and the feet drew off
About half nu hour after the cessation of
the bombardment, the water batteries SUD
denly opened upon the Federal mortars,
| which replied until the batteries ceased
firing. No damage was done to the NOR
tars.
During the engagement the gunboat Oc-
torara fired a number OF Shots from her
l00-pound ritled gun, which exhibited sur
prising accuracy until the gun became heat
ed and began to throw high.
Soon after the firing ceased the signal
was given for all the Captains of Divisions
to report on board tue flag ship. Here
they received orders to open FIRE again with
the entire number of mortars at o'clock
that uight. Accordingly, at the appointed
hour, the entire feet of mortnrs, twenty in
number, commenced to hurl their fiery mis-
siles upon the devoted town.
The scene is described as grand and ter
rible in the extreme. The believing of
the mortars was like continued peal of
thunder; the glare OF the explosions IL
Illuminated the horizon like iucessant flash
es of lightning. The earth fairly shook
with the repeated conclusions, and the
huge shells seemed to hover above the
doomed city as if pausiug to select place
i 10 which TO plant their deadly missiles.
For more than an hour this terrible scene
continued, when the order was again given
to withdraw.
Il On Saturday morning Commodore Farra-
Il gut, whose fleet was then lying about Eve
miles below the city, got word to the NOR
tars to open fire upon the batteries at four
o'clock in the morning, and he would en-
deavpr to run some OF his vessels past the
batteries. Accordingly, the bombardmeut
was recommended at the hour named, and
during its continuance Fnrragut succeeded
in passing the entire Confederate batteries
with eight vessels, viz three men of-war,
two slOops-of-war and three gunboatS.
These vessels, it will be remembered, are
all wooden ones, being part of the United
States sea-going navy, and not iron clad
guuboats, like those belonging to Commo-
dore Foote'S feet.
During the passage, the batteries con-
tiuued to pour shower of shot and she'll
upon the passing vessels, but without iu-
flicting any serious damage ana disabling
none.
The fire of the batteries was generally
too high, and the vessels had their rigging
considerably cut. The Hartford, OommO-
dore Farraguts flagship, was struck in
the hull twice, one passing through her
starboHrd bulWarks near the bow about ten
feet above her water line, the other about
tie same height near the stern. Otherwise
she was but little damaged. All the yes-
sells also kept mp a sharp fire during the
entire passage.
Two of the vessels Immediately passed
on to the mouth of Yazoo river; the rest,
when our informant left, were still above
the town.
The damage to the city in these different
attacks must have been immense. Top
pling houses, tumbling chimneys, cracking
roofs, conHagrations bursting out on every
band, trees Overthrown and the ground
torn up by bursting shells, present a scene
which no pen can depict, and only tue most
vivid Imagination can conceive.
Such is the vengeance which has fallen
upon the city which first, and before even
her own S:ate had seeded from the Union,
attempted to assume control of the nayi-
cation of the Mississippi. 5ssrs
4 1t is asserted also that large force Of
negroes are being employed under orders
i from Msjor General Butler in cuttiug a ca
nal across the bend of the river on which
Vicksburg is situated, which will change
the channel of the river, and leave Vicks-
burg an inland town.
Capt. Curry was informed by the people
living along the river that the women and
children had all been removed from the
city previous to the final bombardment, and
they are now dwelling along the line Of the
Jackson railroad, many of them 10 holes
dug in the sidesofthe hills. He represents
the distress existing not alone in the neigh
borhood Of Vicksburg but throughout that
entire region TO be terrible The disturbed
/ state Of the country prevented the planters
from putting in the usual crops, and the
amount of provision taken for the use of
the army has reduced the people almost to
the verge Of starvation.