The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-02
The Arkansas.

\ correspondent Of the Mobile (Ala.l RegtS-
ier and d9rert'sec, writing from Vicksbure.
Miss, under date of July 10th, in an accoun Of
the donss of the ram Arkansas, after an.
nouncing her arrival i'll front of Vicksburc.
says;
In about bali an hour rascallv cunlJoat
crept up within range, and the first thing tie
crowd on hojrd and lining the shore knew Of
it was the whis Of a rifle she'll III most mlpieas-
ant proximity, followed instantly by others
and a regular shower Of shells from the re-
iaainiog mortar boats. Then, oh then, YOU
should haze seen the gallant southrons sfse-
daddlet For my own part. / saddeuly discov-
cred had pressing business elsewhere and :.
steil just then falling and exploding in an old
frame building a few yards distant, and send
ing the whole concern high in the air as
though a small whiliwind bad got INTO q Ium-
Der yard, my business became urgent
Thus rested matters until late in the after
noon, the enemy having gradually slickened
tire-wheli Il furious bombarduient commenced
on the lower batteries, and was maintained
without lntermission until dusk, at which time,
a movement in the upper squadron was appa
rent, AMI presently a nuulber OF vessels We're
dimiy seen turning the point above. just
then fast and furious grew the bombardnent
from below, and our upper batteries and
the moving enemy became engaged Tile
ships, some eight or ten in number, 1nuy-
ed slowly down stream, all the while throw
ing shot and shell 10y broadsides at our
batteries, into the Town aud at the ATkan-
sas, which returned the s:.ntaliun most iiearti-
ly. Icu may conceive the din when assure
you that an entire brigade of our infantry. a
few hundred yards distant from mY position.
We're pouring volleys into the enemy : rigging.
| had no idea any mushetry had been fired ,Ii-
ti the affair was over. For ue..r an hour and
a half the roar was deafenng and incessant
yet, strange TO reiate, the cheering and con
tending hosts could at times DC distinctly heard
During the height of the engagement a conH.-
grafton broke ont III the town, and several
houses were DESTROYED, which added to the
grandeur of the scene
As the vessels Were passing our lower bate
res again sailed forth, being anxious to learn
the fate Of the Arkansas. | reached her lust
after she had ceased firing, and found she had
changed her position ii few hundred feet having
gotten under way to fight to greater advantage
but found 1t Impossible to generate sufficient
steam Boarding her, | ioyfuily discovered
her TO be yet comparatively unhurt; but d
sold ii-inch shot had penetrated her side and
Killed the head pilot and another, whilst the
splnters trcm the tinlbers had slightly wound
ed several more, including lieutenant and an
engineer Captain Brown assured me that
with the exception of this unlucky shot, all
t'Ie others Fattled against his sides ike hail
stones. On his part, lie brought iive guns to
bear on the enemy ,stld feels confident TO have
struck them all but two; for, said he, II heard
my shot crashing through their timbers above
the roar Of the guns BY the way, the sound
ii heavy shot makes in going ttrongiia a ship ol
Il boaae IS prcdiSlous and exceedingly un