New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-20

The Navy Department ls in receipt Of voumlnons
&, matches from Admiral Farragut, and among them
he following:
L. s. GuxBo,r KISro
OYP BAToN RoUOR, IA. Aug s 1862
SIR: ] have 20 report that a vigorous attack was
rasde upon forces at this place yesterday morn
ng, At about5 O'clock by strong Rebel force, SAID to
be Goa auded by Gen. Breckenridge. The kineo q
Katahdin were placed immediately in position pre-
yinsls indicated 20 me by Gen. " hams 10 protect his
r ht flank, but his lines were so much extended ana
completely covered the enemy's agproach tiiat cur
Aus conll not be made available with safety 20 our
roops n anv time during the morning. In the
afternoon, however, we were nCulen o. such
changes Ia the relative positions OF the two forces
That we Were enabled 10 open, with tremendous
effect we are informed. upon the enemy leit WING
witch caused him 20 withdraw III much lhs'e alo
fal back several miles,
csrlv in the mors z, soon after the attack had
been commenced, the smoke of steamer, supposed
from information received the previous evening TO
he the ram Arkansas, was observed moving rapidly
down the river toward the bend lust above this
place stopped about IA mile above the bend and
.rm.ined there some time, apparently moving M d
e. then down again sdurng the day and night.
10 the afternoon she was joined apparently By
other steamers, judging by smoke, which sepa-
- from her this morning moviDS-up the Iiver.
he Essex, accompanied by the Cayuga and SUM-
v then moved up toward the bend. Finally gen
VI slgaal was lna0e by the former, agreeably to
oh tie kineo and katahdin followed. Upon
(
White smoke having been observed in the rear of the
etS, il deemed advisable for the two Latter 10
fslnrn TO their station for the protection OF the
toops. BY this time il had been discovered that The
Arsapsa on fire. Subsequently it had been
Ssned believe, that she had suddenly become help
.css there by some failure OF her ines AMI seeing
cur spproacn formidable 10 her in her crippled
coafilion, doubtless they set her on fire and abaL
.sned her. About O'Clock her magazine exploded,
&so the ram Arkansas was extinct.
FAVE the honor to De- Sir very respectfully your obedient
F.s d. C. FAKRAeuT Commanding Eioci sding
L. 8. GuyBoar K.rAnDrv
Or BATON hcysK, La, Aug. D, 1852
h: The Anticipated attack Of The enemy on this
pls r, Of winch made mention III my letter wi the
4tb instant took place on the morning Of the 9Th In
conseq aeLce of the line Of our troops being ex
ten0ed, the kstaidin could render 10 asolstnIce
to tie place until afternoon. During Yesterday
afternoon the KiDeo and Katahdin shelled the ere-
ny, firing clean over the town into his very camps
Tins We were ensbed to DO by means OF a system Of
sgGals established by Lieut.. Commanding Ransom
on the tower Of the Stale House, which corrected
our aim. Oar shells did fine execution, and drove
the enemy from bis position and determined him TO
retreat, lie having been eFalsed by troops under
Gen. Williams in the early part Of the day. The
only way We can operate Is by irug at extreme ele-
walton clean over the town OF Baton Rouge.
Iris morning Com. Porter, in the Essex, accom-
panied by the Cayuga and Sumter. started up 10 at
tack the ARKANSAS. The katahdin and klneo re-
manned at their stations near the Slate Houte, but
were subsequently, signaIed to follow up and close
ia with The other vessels but when nearly up with
the enemy appearances indicated an attack ON the
town. and we were again ordered back 10 our sta
lions. In TIE meantime Tie Essex engage tue ar
kansas for about an hour, when the latter fired,
deserted, and al p. m blew up with Il terrific eX-
plosion. For ZONE unexplained reason the two
sorts Of ,he Arkansas lett early la the morning, and
advantage was taken OF Their absence 10 engage the
~. IL bod yictnr Unft he
timely arrival Of the Cayuga and our approach In
force 10 doubt had good moral elect, a. lie ram
was badly managed, and made poor hight. Inc
enemy are still bovering III the rear OF this place
Information is received that TO the 5000 troops al
ready in this vicinity, 400 are approaching from
Msnchac, and others from Nicksburg. / keep III
constant communication with the Cominander,in-
Chief o. the troops here, ready TO open ire when
and where he may desire
F.A'wROE. Lieat. CoIndg.
Tisy oAeer A. FARKAGuT, Comdg. W. GnnboAt Squadron
L., s. GussoAr Esssx, oyT BARON RoueE.
To IRE Hon. GIDEON wELlys Secretary Of ne Nary
SIR: On the evening OF the 4th inst. was m
formed by Gen. Williams that the Rebels in consid
erub force under GeU. BTeckloridge, were moving
on thls place. The Rebel ram Arkansas, with two
punboais-the Webb and Music--were also IN the
vicinity the CITY TO support tie attack OF the Rebel
army. ! made such a dIsp0sitoD oil The naval
force under my command as thought would give
the most AID 10 our small force ons shore. On the
morning OF the 9Th inst, ~ IN, The enemy made
an attack Oh the ano iorces, and drove III the left
wing, killing Gen. Williams. Our men retfeang,
opened ire with shot and shell over them on the
advancing enemy, and turned them back. IL was
the intention OF Tie enemy 10 make simultaneous
attack by hand and watef, but the fire from the
Essex and other gunbOas driving the enemy back,
evidently disconnected their plans.
Though not making her appearance, bad infor-
nation OF the vicinity OF the Arka-as aud tits
morning ] determined TO tteam up the 1ver sand
attack her and il pOssible prevent her rendering
further assistance 10 the aud forces she was cooper
siug with. AT ~ q. H., / came IN sight Of her a.
about he distance Of halt mile, aud Immediately
opened ire. After action of about twenty
succeeded IN setting FIRE to her, ami at meridian
she blew ND with tTeinendous explosion.
The Arkansas had q crew Of 10 aud mounted 10
guIs, 6 S-inch and JO-pouDd rifles. This vessel,
the EsseX, mounts guns, and had only 40 men on
DUTY 1t The ime.Oi Der going INTO action. My first
Master Mr. k. k. Riley Was sick IN hospital, and his
place was supplied by Second Master David Porter
kosensmith, who conducted himself TO my entire
satisfaction.
have the honor 70 he vsrv resneclflv vour ob,d.nt
servant, 70 De- very " r. poRTEis 10' 0''''s''
Commanding Division ofFlotlla in Western Waters
FLAGSHIP iiAETYohD. Nhw-oaLk.sst
SIR; IL becomes my painful DUTY TO report the
oeaih OF Commander Richard Wainwright Com
mander wainwright was taken sick with a sliyh,
icver some too weeks ago Tbs Fleet SURGEON con-
adhered his case slight one, and that he would soon
be enabled 10 resume bis duties; but he continued
TO fail III strength, which circumstance, however
gave no alarm 70 The Fleet Surgeon, until three days
ago, when DR.. FotZ informed me that the disease
OF Capt. Wainwright had taken a very sudden turn
Tor the worse, and that he thought him Ia he in
great danger. The next day, however. he rallied
and hopes were again entertained of his life. Lnt
this morning lie WAS evidently worse, and at D. 10.
be expired.
h..s the honor 10 be yery rsspsctfnlIx vo,x al,,