The New York herald., 1862-04-26
Tho Naval Engagement mt Needham's
Cut-OH.


Tho Naval Engagement mt Needham's
Cut-OR.
OUR MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRESPONDENCE.
Nyar FoRT PILLOW (wRrGrr) !
q MISSISSIPPI RIVER April Is, 1862.
ee2s ord Pope Bctors Fort Wright -Tronqorts-Nesd.
haws's Cut OgThe Reoct Fleet appears SghtA tsint
and Ss S4ccess-Ths Fy2ht--7he Rebels Rnl-Ths Fesng
Atsng TIE ArEo'sds Shore-Disaaees Adore and BsO,o
Ge Fort, de-
If celebrity OF movement will overcome enemy, cor
LAiny Commodore Focte and General Pope will
sasy victory Fort Pillow (wrigh), before which they
arrsyed the former with feet of eight gun
bosts and the latter with very considerable force
which being constantly increased by hourly arrivals
sf transports from above black with troops Ny last
sommuncation left the naval fotilla at New Madrid
whence it uncertain when it would move forward,
swing 10 the difficulties attending the procurement Of
transports Tor Cen. Popes army There were at that
time lying At New Madrid including several the cap
tured rebel boats, twelve available steamers A re-
qusiI,on had been made for twenty more and IL was
uncertain when these could be obtained. snsr my
letter closed dispatches received announcing
iha. the requisite nunbsr had been impressed char
tered st. Louis all the up river boats being seized for
the purpose fast they arrived in port II also
announced in despatch that the OF these vc sss
were already under weigh, with orders o.repor
Pope This most gratifying intelligence dispellsd the
prospects along stoppags and the day (yeser
day) at els7sn A. NJ. the naval isst was once more
ordered 10 get under weigh. In precisely hall hour
after the order issued tis flagship Benton rounded
TO AMI steamed away a. her lsisursly pace down
ths river, followed by the Mound City, Cincinnati
Pittsburg and Cairo. Behind these followed the
animation and supply boats Grea. Western and
Judge Terrence, with thsr feet OF three
tugs. Thsn tho mortar boats, sixteen in
number towod by the steamers W. H B.. Alps. Key
stone V. r wilson Ike Hammitt and Wisconsin No. q
In pars tho two former with four boats between them
anu each pair OK The others with sx The gunboa Con-
estoga brought up the The iest 10 moved away
down tho long stretch below New Madrd prsseri cd
most pleasing appearances,
Al 0boavills ten miles below, the gunboats Csronde
lot and ST. Louis joined the fleet.
Al six O'Clock p ". the ieot tied up for the nigh, in
Escdham's Cut on, the boats lying against the island
the order they had moved.
Nsedham's Cut-On is fortyfvs miles below New
Madrid The river at this place formerly took inn.
circuit inland forming . horseshoe neck, about
mile at its base and twenty-five around. The
person arter whom the place is named = channel
across this neck which has since become the main chan
mol Of the river the Old bed being nearly flied up with
sand and othor accrsons The general character Of this
locality s shown diagram sccSnpsn ing this letter
Al about o'clock the following morning dee;
or rebel gunboats appeared in the river below the
ing place Of our aeet, where after discovering our
proximity they 10 anchor at safe distance As
thsy manifested disposition to remain quiet until day
they wore not molsstsd.
Al hair past six A. NJ the feet of army transports
composed OF those vessels which had 5eeu lying at New
Madrid, hove in sight. II comprised the following
stcamcrs:--John %. Perry, Polar star, Meteor, En- na
Daniel G. Taylor Admiral, Silver Wave, New Uncle sam
n w. Thomas T. l.. Mctjiil, Belle Memphis, g. W. era
ham and Emma No. 2. They ali loaded down TO
thsr guards with troops, hoTses and artillery One after
another they rounded in tha bay where the naval
nosia was moored and made fast TO the timber the
shore.
boats sp their moorings and follow the nagship
vesse, moving short distance up the stream
bring the point caused by tae bend in the between
him and the rebel aotils. The proved avery
cssaful for, sooner boats OFT OF
than the rebels, supposing We were retrsatng gave
of our guns The Pcnton quickly opened on them az
example that followed by all he feet. This was
altogether surprise to the enemy, VINO made haste
put and get under weigh down the stream BY this
time foet was also headed about and very pretty
running hght followed. lhs Comm 'dors managed by
continuous persuasons with his bow guns and those Of
the rest o the aota 10 three shots from the rebels
In thcr flight none OF which, however, reached their
destination. The chase continued for hall three
quarters Of an hour the rebel boats constantly increasing
the distance botwssn tho two fleets by u their
superior speed until they wero Day lost TO sight in he
tho accompanying diagram illustrates the positions of
the ests just previous 20 ss well a. the
mont Of this rst purely naval engagement the West.
Urs waters.
The rebel oet consisted Of the old United sta,ss ssrer
steamer cutter NcCras together with the Living
stone jay General Polk and Pontchssp the last four
q which are ions from New Orleans .ugbosts
cassmaIsd With railroad iron aud otherwise protected
with cotton bales. They are capable of making high
sr,sd, bat draw most 100 much water for river Use
xbsy me 40 and six guns each. They
panied 90 expedition by transport steamers;
but for what purpose does no, appear, though
sti concessd In the woods below and IN the vicinity
Iiptonvis. and that these transports gusd
whom this valiant Zee, had distancsd our gunboas an
order ssnt back Tor the balance OF fleet
20 get under weigh, which was obeyed with
AlAcriiy, every crew and The pssssngers being
The rebel stronghods The ammunition boats. preceded
by the gnboa Conestcga took the Lead the mortar boat
nset coming next followed by the Transports tho rear
being made up Of boats towing coal bsrges and ths fa
gnous Gosting blacksmith shop. Tho line was very
Imposing one, comprising. with tue ginboats upwards
Of 1fty vessels aud stretching out distance of nearly
Zen miles The day was clear and beautiful, and
steamed lazy alongths sluggish pace Of the gnboa,s
behind wnioh all other boats were compelled to remain
mot admitting Oh much speed--wGding among tho bends
and turns Of this provsrosy crooked river the ght
Dne OF the most beautiful imaginable At every settle.
mont aud dwelling along the shore the people all
Dut 10 the novel specace frequently these people
grestsd the passing vssses with shouts and cheers
waving OF hats, hsndksrchies and sometimes an onthu.
siastic individual, IN dstsut o. anything better, would
The Arkansas side, the whole population, men, wo.
mon and children, we're out on The river bank.
Their enthusiasm vas very intense soms shouted "IIur
lhs cham Another shouted "Hurrsh for free govern.
msnt" still another--"Cvs um he'll" At other places
Vsry si,Is and downcast They dSint ike the sirht
AZ noon the Iuuboats ms, with singular adventure.
Not exactly knowing The locality Of the enemys works
.y srona n:
bend at the head of which this Island 10 situated and
Buddsny found themselves not only face TO face with the
rebel 1est, but actually directly under the batteries
They at once headed bask up stream the snemys boats
firing three shots them before they got away The
batteries. snguarly sresgh did net open thsm pro
h.sy because s o. 'hsr sarri'ors being occupied
Che Tennessee shore nearly oppo,. the yss. Of oses
sxpsstsd during the evening and morrow The engage
nsnt will doubtless commence The rebel works are 10.
cstse q ths sxtIeme bead Of the rr chickassw Blum,