The New York herald., 1862-08-20

place with orders for the other vessels to follow
| fast ready.
Iarrved here to-day twelve O'Clock NJ, in comrany
with the Brooklyn, westaeld, Clinton, jackson and
Seiota
Ihld sent the cayuga up before, agreeable TO reest
Of Gen buer consequence Of the guerias firing into
some of his transports.
ON my arrival ! was informed by Commander " d.
Porter that yesterday morning O'Clock the enemys
forces under Breckinrdge attacked General viii
larns and drove in his pickets, &c General Williams
having had ample warning, all was prepared for him.
| The fight continued with great energy on both
sides until ten A. NJ by which time the enemy had been
driven back two three miles; but unfortunately the
gallant General Williams, while cheering on his men,
received Mimic ball through the heart
General " iiams had Informed Lieutenant Command
ing Ransom the evening before his pans and requested
him not to fire gun until no notified him; and when he
did so gunboas the Kineo and Kaahdn opened with
fine effect throwing their shells directly in the midst OF
the enemy producing great dismay and confusion among
them.
Lieut. Ransom had officer on the State House, which
overlooked adjacent country and could direct the re
Of every shell
AS soon the enemy were repulsed Commander Por.
ter with the gunboats, went up the stream after the
ram Arkansas which lying about Ave miles above,
apparently afraid take her share in the conflict.
According the preconcerted pnn, he came within
gunshot he opened her and probably disabled
of Der machinery steering apparatus for she be-
came unnanageabe, continuing, however, to fire her
guns at the Essex.
Commander rorser saws he took advantage Of her pre-
senting weak point towards him and loaded with in
cendiary shells After his first discharge of thus pro-
ece gush of fire of her side, and from that
moment ii was discovered that she fire, whirh he
continued exertions TO prevent being extinguished
They backed her ashore and made line fast which
soon burnt and she swung of the river where she
continued to until she blew up with tremendous
explosion thus ending the career OF the last ironcad
! ram of the Mississippi.
There were many persons on the banks of the river
| witnessing the fight in which they anticipated tri
umph for .Seccssia but the return OF the Essex not
!, a soul was to be
win leave a sufficient force of gunboa,s here TO sup.
port the army and viii New Orleans
immediately for Ship Island with light heart
leaving no bugbear torment the communities Of the
| Mississippi in my absence
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
| D. q. FARRAGUT. Flag Officer,
Commanding We tern Gulf Rlocsadihg squadron
To Hon. WElEs Secretary Of Navy. Washington
Commander W. D. Porters despatch to Admiral Farra
! gut Is thss given
SII,-Thts morning at eight steamed up the river and
At ten A. ". attacked the rebel ram Arkansas blew
her up. here is nota fragment Of her left
Iicuterans Ransom and Roe, and also Commander ".
D. Porter each gives crcrmstantia OF the af
| fair.
Lieutenant Roe says that "he cherny still lowering
in the of this place aton Rouge) and that informa
tion is received that, in addition to the six thousand
eady the vicinity four thousand approach
ing from sfanchac and others from vicksburg keep
in constant communication with tho Commander
ofhe troops here ready to open Gre when and whore he
may desire"
| Commander Porter says the Arkansas had crew of
| one hundred and eighty and zen guns-sx
eght-nch and four n;typounders rifles. The gunbea.
Essex commanded by him. mounts guus, had
only forty duty at the time Of goin action.
The following rebel account of the Arkansas is
mted to the Secretary Of the Navy by Admiral Farrs
| gut
| New ORLEANS, August 10, 1862
SR-Since forwarding the reports Of Leutcnauts Fair
| fax Ransom and Roe we have picked up number of
prisoners from the ram Arkansas, all Of whom have
catechs very closely They agree very well respect
ing her exit from the Yazoo and her passing the eets,
aud they also agree as to the number OF killed and
| wounded each Of those OCCASIONS, making in all
eighteen killed and large number wounded.
Az vcksburg they plated the deck with iron and for
| titled her with cotton inside She then came down in
command Of Lieut.. II. X. stevens, Lieut. Brown having
been taken sick At vcksburg with the intention Of max
broke they
II in the Of the day and went to meet the Is
sex ihe next @ morning when they saw her Co coming up
she being perfectly unmanageabe They say that when
our glnbrats coming up and the Essex
enccd firing the captain set the ram on fire and told
| the crew 10 run ashore.
They also state that the gunboats Webb and Music were
senptor to tow her up the river but that they not
i arrive and neither Of them had been seen.
Admiral Farragut under date Of the 10th Of August
| thus addresses the Secretary Of the Navy
SRI regret TO inform the department that the town
OF Donaldsonvle they have pursued uniform practice
0rng upon steamers passing up and down the river
sent moss ge to the inhabitants that II they did
discontinue this practice would destroy their town The
last time passed up Baton Rouge the support OF the
army anchored about six miles above Donadsonviie
and heard them fire. upon The vessels coming
| up-hrst upon the Sale Robinson and upon
the B.ockyn. In tue latter they made
| mistake, and IL was so quickly returned that
they away. Tho night they fired
again upon the So Charles THEREFORE ordered them to
send their women and children ont OF town. certainly
Intended to destroy ii on my way down the river and
| fulfilled my promise to a certain extent.
burned down the hotels and wharf buildings also the
dwelling house and other buildings OF Mr. PHILIPPE
Sandy, who Is said 70 be captain OF guorillas He fired
4 III on our men, but they chased him of.
We also brought or some ten twelve Of his negroes,
and supplied ourselves with cattle and sheep from his
place.
Commander Wainwright died the 10th instant after
an illness Of two weeks