The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-09
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, MAY 8, 1862.

snder Taylor, boatswain's mate, was cut in
TWO by shot, and five others OF the crew were
tadly wounded The Kennebec was struck sew
eral times, but none on board were hurt.
1t waB now about o'clock, and the mortars,
which had kept up their fire ncessantly, were
signalzed to cease. Then report was spread
that q larger part of the squadron had passed
beyond the forts, and cheers upon cheers OF ex-
ultation made the welkin ring
Read the following letter, copy of which
was permitted to make. 1t was written when
the Flag Officer was warm from the conflict, and
the words have the ring of true metal IN them
DEAR PORTER We bad rough time OF 1T,
as BoGGs will tell you, thank God, the number
of killed and wounded was very small, consider
ing We destroyed the ram in single combat
between her and the old Mississippi but the
ram backed out when she saw the Mississippi
coming at him so rampantly, and he lodged her
and ran on shore, whereupon SMITH put two
or three breadsides through him and knocked
him all to pieces The ram pushed q fire raft on
to me, and in trying to avoid it ran the snip on
shore. He again pushed the fire rait on me, and
got the ship on fire all along the side. thought
1t was all up with US, but we put it OUT and got
CT again, proceeding up the river, fighting our
way. We have destroyed all but two Of the
eunboats, and these will have to surrender with
the forts. intend to follow up my success and
push for New Orleans and then come down and
attend to the forts, so you hold them in statu
quo utill come back think if you send a
flag of truce and demand their surrender they will
yield, for their intercourse with the city is cut
Off, We have cut the wires above the Quaran-
tine and are now going ahead. | took 300 or
4OO prisoners at Quarantine. They surrendered
and paroled them not to take up arms again.
| could not stop to take care of them. If the
General will come up to the bayou and land
lew men or as many as ne pleases, he will find
two OF our gunboats there to protect him from
the gunboats that are at the forts. Iwsh to get
to the English Turn, where they say they have
not placed battery yet, but have two above
New Orleans. They will not be idle and
neither will |. You supported us most nobly.
Very truly yours.
ID. G, FARRAGUT
TO Capt. D. D. PORTER, Commanding Mortar
Flotlla
The dispatch was brought to Capt. Porter
this afternoon by Capt Boggs, late Commander
ot the Varuna, whose vessel Was sunk in the &C
ton. From Capt. Boggs obtained some fur
Their information. He stated that, before the
Varnna sank, she destroyed alone six of the rebel
of which he learned the names of four.
viz The William Ii. Webb, Palmetto, Phoenix
md jackson. AS he passed the forts, Capt.
Boggs, as we'll as all the other vessels, received
their fire. The Richmond, and one or two more
Of the large steamships, slowed down and
poured three or tour broadsides each into the
Enemy. The Varuna did not wait after deliver.
ng TWO broadsdes, but pressed directly on into
hornets nest of rebel gunboats which were
nile or TWO above. She was assaulted by these
'wo or three at q time, in ram fashion buttjng
1t her with their iron. cased prows, aud several
arge holes were made in her. As long as his
'essell hoated Capt. Boggs fought calamity with
lis guns, and drove the enemy g steamers ashore
where they were fired by their own crews. One
II the Varuna shot disabled still another steam
II by making hole in hel boiler and this yes.
el surrendered to the Oneida, who took her Off
ers and crew prisoners. The Varunas last
,uns were fired when her decks were under wa
er, aud no clothing or other property was saved
~ soul on board. There were three of the
'aruna q crew killed in the action, and seven
wounded, two Of whom are not expected to sur
i've their injuries Including the ram, there
we're eleven OF the rebel steamers DESTROYED, and
he captain of the ram is a prisoner on board
he Mississippi.
Alter the hght, the whole squadron repaired
the Quarantine anchorage, which is seven
niles above the forts. There the dead were
'urled and the wounded made as comfortable
3 circumstances would permit The number
II our killed and wounded is estimated by Cant.
'oggs at about l25, and II of these belong to
he Richmond. He thinks that the loss on the
lde of the rebels was enormous. The chain
able which We fastened on the outside of our
essels proved an admirable protection to their
machinery, as in every case where the shot
truck them it bounded off without penetrating.
\ great deal of damage was done to us by the
loating dock of the rebels, to which have be-.
ore adverted and although many broadyides
we're discharged at it, they had no effect what
yer upon it's iron sides.
Capt. Boggs came down from the squadron in
small boat, having picked his way through a
aayou out OF the river, and pulled along BACK
Say, In the rear oc Fort St. Philip. lie was
uded by soldier whom he took prisoner. and
vas twenty-six hours making the passage.
There Is significant concurrence in point of
lme between the long desired movement of our
unCoats from Hampton Roads, and the vsit of