The New York herald., 1862-04-26
OPERATIONS In TIE GULF.
Our Ship Island Corrcsponiienee.
Sair ISLAND DErARrnxsr ov Tsk GulF,

va LARA kVuO HI 0VAEe
~>~->~~->~->>>~~-~~>~~->
Our Ship Island Correspondents.
sar IsLAsp DErAErnrr cv GuLs,
March 26, lS02. J
Accident % the Steamer Asslsssppi-Lands0 OF General
BSter-Ths Residence Of Mrs. Busisr-TAe Convenience
Of SeosA FssTni1e-0psratioas Of the Ne~ Pos ot6cs
Avrong>mert- Extensive CSrrpondence Of the Sdtsrs
Dssertsys from Sscessia-Whaa They Rport-A Small
Nava, E'lga9sse'.t, &C., dc.
Ny last bret letter brought up the incidents OF tho
passage Of General Butler and sta6 and the Thirty frat
Massachusetts, regiment Colonel Goding with four COM
panss Of the Thirteenth Maine regiment Colonel Dow,
from the Goth OF February, when left Fortress Mon
roe TO the 18th OF March, when Colonel Dow and his
command transferred to the Matanzas at seabrook
On the loth the leak tn tho Mississippi having
finally plugged from the inside, an attempt was made to
get her or from ssabrook Landing, whom sho ran
aground the second time, backed against ps jammed
her ruddsr round, broke her ter chains, and was
brought up call standing" She then unloaded by
thrce from Port Royal and being hnaissgo off,
loft for Ship Island at Thursday the 18Th with
the hatanzas, Captain Iissegang, In company. Both
steamers made slow. but pleasant passa ge arriving
here on Thursday the Doth heavy uorthsr blowing
mono OF ths troors were landed till Saturday the I'D
whom the four companies of tho Maine Thirteenth
came ashore. Al on Sunday, the 23d.
General Butler landed, and was received with .
saiato The Thirty -frst Massachusetts, wore landed
tho 25th and went into camp Ut tho extreme
right some two miles from the wharf. On the 2sth
Mrs Butler ashore took her quarters At the
house tho wharf formerly occupied by the Adams Ex
press Company. the building having been very COM
foraby fitted up with furniture recently captured on
rebel schooner She will probably remain here during
tho occupation Of the island by General Butler.
We found upon reaching hore grea; degree OF conu
sion owing the rapid arrival OF various regiments and
parts resiments many Of thom poorly provided with
tents equpage &C., to the lack Of facilities for and
transportation Consequently the mon have boon obliged
to carry all baggage stores &C., from the wharf up this
sandy the farther regiments, and also to raft
down the wood from the upper end Of the island In
consequence Of tho exposure resulting from this labor
many Of the the sick list who would probably
otherwise have been in good hoah There is, however,
small proportion OF serious illness hero, there having
been only about thirty deaths since the occupation OF The
,sland. Tho Ninth Connecticut: Colonel Cahill. which
OF the nrst regiments to land hero early last
December, has lost only one man. For four or FIVE
weeks past the weather has been coid ad we and the
recent arrivals or less nfr~ with slight at
tacks Of dyssntery throat &C. but the health on
The island is generally good, and no serious ct
tscks Of disease anticipated. J. n. G. Par
ker, Esq late Quartormassor Of tho Thirtieth
Massachusetts regiment, who has been recently
appoin ted postmaster here doing wonders ia the matter
OF tho postal service. Early the morning OF the %
the regular mail that left tho island went North
on tho Santiago de Cubs which took thousand and
seyenteeu letters the result Of two days letter writing
By the soldiers 1t is singular fact that The franked
soldiers letters which are paid at the other end Of the
line are always evidcntly Of less importance than those
that paid here the letters being put up IN bundles
containing one hundred each, those which are unpaid
occupy only about twothrds the Of the prepaid let
of the mail that went on the Santiago de Cuba
G 66T letters paid, and 1850 wero unpaid.
the afternoon OF the oath three Germans deserters
from Sscessa, who had managed to escape from Pass
Chrslian 70 Cat Island, and thence to this island in
small sailing boat, were picked up by the New London
known here and hereabouts as the Terror OF the
Soundpl aai brought in. They report general impress
ment OF men by the rebels and times among the
''oor whites, who are not allowed 70 get on spree
or indulge in any other little ndiscreton except tho
subsequent alternative OF the scala0oose or the army Of
the conlederacy. Not reshng this state Of affairs the
Germans-origually from Pennsyv sna-managed 70 es-
cape They state that great fears are for the
safety OF Mobile to which point large number OF troops
being transported from New Orssns Whether
hese fears are well founded few days will
recently built at Pass Christian, mounting
guns the other i've, all heavy and tho boats in good
order also that intention the par. OF the
rebels to run out and shell this island most Of the navy
having left It was the purpose the gallant secssh feet
to come down Saturday the I'D but the weather
not favorable to the enterprise. Since then thsy
have probably concluded not to come on account of some
Tie New London At oil events they have not appeared.
Yesterday TO be sure, the Oregon, rebel gunboat
out about ncon The New London Rct up steam Nhen sno
saw the smoke Of the rebel and at about hafpast ono
O'Clock put for her AT about two O'Clock the rebel
fred shot by way Of challenge, which the New london
Immediately accepted. She got within two miles Of ths
enemy when tho rebel grnboat Pamlico appeared and
fight Commenced. Tho rebels inshore OF shos
which the New london could not pass, and she was
ged lgh. them at long range She fred hundred
and twenty shots in two hours (he fight lasting from
quarter past three TO quarter rast hve, which were
answered BY thirty forty shots from the two heavy
ours with which each rebel was armed The shot fell
all about the New London, but without doing any da
mage who Of her shot supposed 10 have taken
effect on the PsTico, which ran away towards Pass
Christian disabled apparently udgng from the confu
sion her deck, while the oregon departed for the
Rgolets in time to ''save her bacon" Thus "Abner"
accepts all challenges from the enemy. Certain prison
ers recently taken, fought CALAMITY for the Unon ald
Captain Reed put Of his own in irons for dodg
ing the Tying shot, He Isl indeed the Terror OF The
Sound"