The New York herald., 1862-04-29
UslrsD STATES FLAG SHIP HARrr0Rp, I
HEAD or rag PASSES March 2l 1862

HEAD or raz PAssEs, March 81, 1862. I
The ReseI Spy Crsisers-QGia Reiss Aroand--Lo r'tG
A'rGngensal' for ne Coming BqflIe, dc.
For the last two days It has been blowing gale OF
windfrom the westward, with tremendous rain storms
at night accompanedwth heavy thunder and very vivid
lightning This weather ia cold that peajackes are by
no means uncomfortable. Every day the rebels como
down Ia tho Star to U.s. Yesterday they wero
what startled by the sigh, OF quite number OF The
tar otla coming outre so that they could go
down the Southwest Pass rather than go around outside
and over thsbar. Our guuboats who peform kind OF
pickle. duty prevented the Star from seeing much
one time. At about eight O'Clock last evening we dis
covered large re In the neghborhood Of the fors
ws have not yet learned why 10 was kindlsd. My I'm.
preston that the rebels clearing away the woods
or reeds, 80 as to "sve Jessie" when up.
mail arrived to-day composed of old letters probably
picked up at PlcSens or brought out n army
port The Flag ocer has not yet returned but shall
look for him by Sunday loas Until then probably
Shall remain in satu gto, whch, by the way, is very
dsagreeable position be placed in. We all very
anxious 70 bs up and doing For naval officers thsro is
nothing disagreeabie want Of something TO do
when the snony Is wthne dozen miles. But suppose
~e will have all We want to do by and by
The Bssu OF Modcno and Surgery OF tho Navy Depart
mont have shipped, and we daily expecting tao
rival o. largo amount Of hospital stores mattresse
and in fact all the necessary articles for hospital
for the squadron. Feos Surgeon Fotzwl prepare the
houses at Pilot Town for hospital purposes This arrange
ment will be excellent the location is good easy of
access and the houses are commolous and instead Of
sending the wounded up ship Island or the marine
hospitalat Key West. we will have them US, and
where thcy be easily attended TO without much
transportation Dr. Fo.z's expsrisncs in the service
and during the with Mexico fits him emlnently for
the post occupies We viii need few colored women
bore nurses, they much better than But
supposs they DO procured at points further North
as shess are mono here that wa can gos as yot.
Oh BOARD UNITED STATES GusBoAr KEsxrssx. !
MIsslssIrr1 RIVER, March 2S, 1862. !
ReconAossdnce-Ths Appearance Of The Rrer Basaks--
TAeRebets Fre on Oar Rseoanoaeriag Pary--TAe Shot
ard Shell Full Close 70 Our Vesse,-We DO Not sop-A
Owsssdcd Figh-Skeca of tie Rebet Worss-T1s Range
GfAe Guns, &c, do.
This morning Captain Ball and your correspondent
board Of this trim little gunboat and proceeded
up the river for the purpose Of making
and If possibls 10 draw ths ire Of the enemy. Tie gun
bosa wssahckon was ordered 20 join US; but. her
speed not equal TO ours, she fell into the rear,
and we were obliged TO slack up our speed ahe
could keep in company We proceeded up the
river. mseting, after wo had passed the salt
works. quite number Of smL huts and
small houses situated the waters edge on both
banks Of the river Whom within about three miles
the forts, their fags being In sight, saw ON
shore, and despatched boat TO bring him or to the
ship. He was somewhat frightened, and did not get
but ltlo information from him well posted
up In affairs In the vicinity Of the forss At
in full view Of the snemy; but Fort Jackson
hid behind grove Of trees We steamed ahead at full
speed Captain Be and Mr. Wade being st the masthead
taking notes. At this tins the steamer Star out
toll on 70 what thoy considered would be certain
destruction Their theory well based the sequel
will show We only noAced tho rebei steamer by airing
at him Whom Fort Jacksons barbette guns were
just emerging from the cump Of trees Of which portion
had bean fesd 80 to leave unobs.ructed line Of
Are, il Ave minnss past no0n and the instant
fash. dense column Of white smeko showed that their
mpetcnce could not be brooked and that they were
termius to driYs back On steamed, heedless OF
the shen which burst within hundIs Cd yards OF us
We busy taking notes Of the surroundings when
bang went two guns, the shot falling within sixty
yards of az. On We stssmei Our coolness was
too much for them, and they showed /. by
firing whole curtain at us OF at ieas,
eight guns In the tne noticed that egh. hks
and large rat supported the chain cable across ths
river and that, protection the chain small mud
battery had bosa erected point lying from the
fort We also noticed that there heavy batteries
twenty guns each either side Of Fort 81. Philip
The second broalsds from the fort brought out rae
gun from Fort ST. Philip, whose range exceeded the guns
Of Fort jackson. The first rife, succeeded by
second both being OF extraordinary range. In fact
better firing could not be made Tho shell and shot
wore dropping around like hail aud in close proximity
and must confess did some tall watching Captain
Russell handled the Kennebec beautifully and n she had
not been novel Up and across the river rapidly we
would have been knocked Into match sticks. After
secesh had fred about sixty Shots and had learned
all wanted to know, turned around and tho placc
lying on, the left banx Of the river moment
before made white with the plunsng shot and burst
ing she'll Each shot thoy fred getting nearer SC
that their last fol within twenty yards Of our decks
II the pret,est sight have Witnessed In thai
particular line OF business Tie wissohickon coinrs
up, sgnaized her 10 follow motons and as she
turned she tho recipient OF their Far reaching Shot
| nous of which struck her. We camo down the river
having been under severe drs for about twenty mi
nutes Capt. Boil cool could be- and 10
iced with great pleasure the discretion and activity
| Lieut. Commanding Russell and bis executive officer
| Lieut.. T. Blake
We would have made splendid nght, but did not do
| sire 10 show our metal TO enemy. As oil arc no
familiar with the location of the place question: viii
describe It, Much and in fact all in relation to posi-
L
mandlns officers bu, for public benefit viii state tha
Fort Jackson 10 the first work approached and s situate
on the right bank Of the river I. Ia Eve sided work
with bastions. Two Of tho curtains only casonacd
each containing eight guns. The bason guns are ais,
cssenatod The up river side Of ths fort poorly armed
and Is not csssmaed An auxiliary work way down th
river has boen bull, TO command the upward approach
and mounts twenty eight guns. The parade ground hS
bosn dug mp, and the %ater le. In so that II SHE'LL un
exploded falls made Of the work lie value dimnishe,
by is non. explosion On point outlying from the for
Is small mud work, probably constructed, 70 cover th
chain hulks. Tho magazine capacity OF this fort s on
hundred rounds 10 each gun.
Now for Fort 81. Philip. II Is an Irregular work
OF considerable sire, with no sassmatcs, and /
strengthened by heavy batteries on each side. II A
| q formidable work, and Ia In many respect
equal 70 Fort Jackson The two red guns whose NETS