, 1862-05-12


RMoItar schonnCrs.
C-11rt,furd.
D-0uefIa
E-1AchmoHd.
F-BrookIyn-
G-PeEsarp1a.
H-a:i+kiesippi.
I-T&ffEmon,h
1-OrdnaGtc supply ebip5.
The engagement, ~aa opened by Fort Jack
son few minutes before 9 o'clock, and the
gunhoat Owasco, which had gone length or
tn G aeaa Of tbs mortar vessels, was the first
to Reply. Trtsent1y the bomb fo1illa COM
ueDceo throwing its shells, somewhat slowly
at firsi, but with increasing rapidity as the
sailors hecsnae accustomed to their work, IN
til L bomb vas seEs from each vessel, On an
average, once il five minutes. Before the
l'l1ce in the fure:or Of the Cngate Mississippi,
where tlr entire ield Of st1lc could be taken
IL at . glance. From this point saw the Ct
f,et OF tie firing. There were aeycnty-nine
shots fired fIcn the forts during the first hour
;rd half, the larger number Of which came
tie masts Of the eclooner5 on the left, drop
pirg in r,ng' Of those OH the other shore, but
f,on. 100 TO zoo yards short. After while,
how><tr. ths r,a'els got the range Of these six
vessels accurately, ,vud the balls fell about them,
especially 'rcm Fort Phillip, terribly thick and
fast. In r turn, the bombs we're directed spirit
tCly uron the fort, and with such effect
that ti:e cnemy s1ackcued his fire. It is won
efflul that Our vessels were not smashed to
pieces, Sulid shot struck the water close be-
Side them, wcttlpg the men with the spray, or
logging in the soft mud Of the river bank, di-
rectly between the Echoone1s, throwing thick
column cf earth high up above their masts.
These ves:s1s all belonged to the second d.
vision OF tie ffotill= ssIieuteuant Commanding
we're exposed fsr outweighed the advantages
| which might result from returning the posi-
| tion. and in The evening Captain Porter or
| dcrtd tbeE to retreat. The next morning
/ they were lowed into the rear of the 1iue Of
| vttstls on the LIT, where they remained nutil
| the end Of the bonlbardment. Only three Of
them were struck, and not soul Has injured
On board Of them.
That ii was intensely grand and animated
nobody Eil1 question. The Hartford, Pen"
haG come up close to the rear line Of mortar
vessels, Just without the range Of the enemy d
guns, and were steamipg only enough to keep
their relative Positions against the force Of the
current. L dozen smaller steam vessels dotted
men upon board when the game is nearly
finished. Oftlese gunboata the 0wasco. Ken.
nebec, Nlssachicon, CsyogA and Sciota, were
at the head Of our lines, belching out shell
upon the enemy from their 1Linch pivot guns
With furious rapidity, and With them the sloop'
ofwar Iroquois, Cspt- De Camp, whose gal
lant1y is everywhere admitted. The Iroquoi;
seemed to be special tatget for the enemy,
and shells ploHtd up the #ateF all around
her, but she escaped with only two Of the
creW slightly wounded.
Over the woods, beyond the forts, we car
count stven Or eight moving columns O.
smoke, which indicate that the rebel steamers
are passing about, probably plotting aomt
mischief against Us. Soon ono and then an
. other, and afterwards 3 third, appear In view
steering toward the forts. Before reaching
,. them, however, the steamers dash to cove
again, and We see that three huge burning
rats have been set adrift The swift curFen1
: sweeps them toward us, below they arc bril-
Liant blaze and rising from the flames is 3 spi
nj, funnel shaped cloud Of grayiEh blac}
| and all else in that direction Nearer ant
nearrr these seemingly formidable rats ap
| proach, but they occasion very little anxiety
! We Knew hoE to dispose Of them The sail
OTIS from the large ships are called out Of tha
] oeeup5 as interested apeeta}ors of as tie baaae t
c and in short time the boats have the rafts i.
: tow, and they are landed on the river bank tt
: bum away. We ali confess to IN admiratiol
= Of these pyrotechnic displays, They add vast
: II to the picturesqueness OF our surrounding
4 and are perfectly harmless.
4 The brave fellows on the schooners did no
Q relax their fire during this exciting interlude
!. The quick, sharp bark Of the mortars we're il
: ceesant. The pTacffce was pronounced to b
: excellent. Every bomb plunged IN aud abou
!. the forts, marking the place of its fall b
q throwing up columns OF gray earth whic
looked Ike fountains Of muddy water, OF,
exploding In the air, by the splashes which th
s scattered fragments made IS they dropped int
: the dyer, OF sank deep into the .oozy soil {
e It's banks.
. The var xsgcd in this way all day: At II
. teryals the fire Of the enemy Vas bfisker tia
5 at others. Aa nearly as Nc could judge tt
- rebels we're unable to stand long under OF
| fire at their bs<bette EnnB, but reteated