The New York herald., 1862-04-26


fest disposition TO make determined stand here.
The works of the fort begun early last summer,
and have had vast amount Of labor expended upon
them They we're completed before those at Columbus
were commenced They are situated upon what known
As tho First Chickasaw Busa high blum bank reaching
IN some places altitude OF one hundred feet above low
water mark The works somewhat similar in general
character 10 the outer batteries at Donclson being sunk
the side of the There eight batteries mount
ing in the aggregate fortytwo guns IL reported tina.
Of this metal has been withdrawn for At Corinth
but of this know nothing definite The garrison 10 var
oasy reported at from fve to ten thousand men This
fort ninety ave miles below New Madrid, one hun
dred and seventy below Cairo Between 1t and Fort Ran
OF serenity nvs miles.
In Fsosr OF FoRr Priow (wa,Gaf},(
MISSISSIPPI RIvxs, April II, 1852
TIE Operations Of e Gunboas Pe-A Bost ON Fire, and
Navrose Escape Of tae Whole Fes-A Nac Aalryal for
FSl'iag Saelts-Deser.ss from Me Reb@s-Sr~0th Of
ae Rebel fort-General Pope's Fwses-The Csis~s Of
Che Lesee, dc.
Indications point 10 . prolonged segs OF tho rebel
works at this point resulting, not unlikely Ia thecap-
ture Of the place and ts garrison BY strategy The posi-
ton Of the fort and batteries, the condition OF tho
try about itwhich entirely submerged by tho food
OF the Mississippi, which Is constantly increasing in
depth, rendering all approaches by land difculshe
necessities OF the SERVICE wo certain other
sons not proper TO be dvugedimperfect plans fer tho
capture Of the rebel armyrender quite certain that
decisive blow will not bs struck yet for several days.
In the meantime the boats have been placed
position, and occasionally remind the enemy sf our
proximity by she'll The gunboats have been disposed
in the river 10 mos enectually protect the
ports, ammunition and ordnance boats and 10 guard
against surprise, and i've are all possessing our
souls in patience--1ke Mcawber, waiting for somo-
thing to turn up. Occasionally little incident
transpres to afford small degree of excitement and fur
nish subject matter for Western newspaper CORES
pondsnts manufacture their daily quota of sensational
items On Tuesday evening one Of the diminutive steam
despatch that ply about the feet took rs while
lying in the midst of the feet OF transport
The crew were of of her the tms and when the
was given the destruction OF the whole feet, which
ing against the bank in close order, seemed most i'm
miner,. But the engineer OF the steamer Memphis.
against which the craft was lying, seeing the danger
rushed aboard the burning tug reversed her engines
as to set her backng her moorngs, and jumped back
upon his own vessel, with badly burned face The
wheelhouss of tho Memphis somewhat backcned
and scorched but otherwise she escape unharmed The
tug backed out the river and burned to the waters
edge.
On Monday the mortar boats were towed to their posi-
tons along the Arkansas Shore tho point behind
which The enemy's works situated. That day was
occupied in getting the rebel bate
res eighty shots being expended in this operation
none OF which the enemy deigned to reply On Tuesday
sixty shells were sent with much accuracy, worrying
ths garrison the bluffs to such IN extcn that they
orered their batteries upon Ia. display ing excel
lent gGEnefy we'll as tia possession Of some superior
guns. Their shots passed over The mortar beats and
fell quite thic<lv about the gunboats which were
anchored distance of the shore compelling them
10 gLer up the sresm. they hay ng orders to
respond. Their black smoke undoubtedly revealed their
po ton and aided The rebel gunners in directing their
shots. Since Tuesday there has been no firing either
side until shis afternoon, when il was renewed vgor
ousy on both sides, and still continues.
The few shots that have been drawn from the enemy
reveal fact that, while they have abundant supply
Of guns OF heavy calibrs hsy seriously destitute OF
Ammunition in their G.ing on Tuesday hey IN every
instance rss round shot, while va were sending 'ham
the heaviest weight OF shells The powder required TO
Gil shells is and costly an article with them 10
be wasted any artillery practice or skrmishing They
equally destitute of lead. Gu Sunday, when gun
boat fleet around the point under their guns they
threw from tsir gunboats few shells, OF which
piaied close Tho Benton, seasging rorso Of tys'
faotles her deck. Lsaden bullets cost too much to
be ussd in filing shells.
DcserteTs from the rebol camp and feet occasionally
fnd their way into our lines. One was taken aboard the
Benton yesterday, and detained for several hours by
the Commodore in conversation. He appears to be a
we'll Informed and intelligent Yankee sailor. At the
commencement OF the war he in New Orleans AID
was Impressed for service in the Confederate navy he
has been serving atterly the Polk, from which he
escaped night before ist oy jumping % SvsrSoasa % ana
great Hollins has gone to New Orleans with his flagship
the sloCrae His enumeration of tho vessels composing
tboir fcot corresponds with the list you my last
letter. lie xes their land force at between four and Eve
thousand They have but three batteries that mount
according one Ot single
thirteen inch sun. The whole number of guns in their
works does not exceed twenty. They are convinced OF
their inability to hold these works, and arc arcaty
discussing the proprety Of falling back with
thsir guns Fort Randolph, ten miles lower
down the river. Fort Randolph, be says, has
been stripped OF its guns. which have been sent TO
various other points along the river but if the guns
cow at Fort Pillow (Wright) were mounted there, the
place would offer Formidable resistance than the
point we are now besegng. The works Of the former
are ali completed, aud extensive scale for de.
fence against both land and water attack Tho fort
htr1 -adf hstsh
these subsequently, sent 20 Columbus aud Island
No 10, at which places they into possession.
The army Of General Pope has been encsmped for
raj days en- the Arkansas bank OF ths river prey 10
swars OF mosquitoes OF the most voracious and perse
vering class. Their ensanpnent was in the woods, be-
hind The ievee which stretches down la; bank tho
distance 10 New Orleans. The land along that shore
very low being several feet below the surface Of the
river at the present stage OF the water. Night Gfore
tca The enenp seH small parties ia sklfs and cw
Nis across IN -four Ilasg During The night and 1foHH
ol g,,sriag he 1cct.r posrc Mrcpqi me cs in ,or
rs, deep ming ard tgi,ieaing them constantly, until the
farHdctos io oiy o. this po,t beam. certainty, Js
ci s L9fom lands ot ne rhos ea'ssrn portion o ATko
srg Their object doubtcss 10 prevent anticipated
operations at this point by army The result will be
the loss OF immense amounts OF property " the planters
along the river without producing acorrespondng scvar
,sge to the Confederate States service There bayou
this point which, IL desirable, could have been
used in anspertins troops, artillery and stor. 70
Through this bsyou depth Of five feet OF water could
easily have been obtained, which, by the cutting Of tho
lsves will be Increased TO six or eight iest-sucsnt "
float our largest vessels ard gunbostseo that did Gene
raj Pope ft avail himself of IT,, this destructive
work CT the enemy would bs Of immense ady antsge 10
him rather thsn any Sdetrimsnt. The only annoyance
forces could experience fror this overflow would be
the necessity Of repairing On board the transports in
stead Of camping in the woods until active operations
should commence. But other plans already ma
tured prior TO the cutting OF the leyee.
They will be heard from in due time, when IL viii be
that they we're 10, osted by the destruction and
devastating operations of the rebels.
The most sin Gular circumstances contested with the
cutting Of this sves the fsct thai OF cuts IL d
recty opposite the noorns oi the Sunbost Son-stoga,
and scarcely Ave hund cd feet distant The intervening
space covered with water and thin woods The night
was perfectly clear, and the moon at full so that /,
almost Incredible. had proper watch been kept
that vessel that tho work could have been accomplished
without discovery II they permit enemy approach
within Eve hundred feet OF them, aud accomplish such
feat the cutting OF eves without being discovered,
they expect 10 wake up some Line ol ming aud find
themselves, with their ship, capture in the snsnyis
lines.
Although We are constantly moving farther down into
Dixie, Commodore Foote manages TO Keep up aday mail
ith l.arn LIIe nilrad EeLsl .lsaLnar