The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-19
COLLISIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI
ross OF 11rn.
Destruction Of DOnaldsonviIle, La,
by Admiral Farragut.
GEN. BUFFERS TAX on SECESSIONISTS.
One Hundred and Thirty Thou
sand Dollars Paid In,
&C., &C.. DC.

BY the arrival of the North star from New Orleans
10th inst, put in possession of the following
terestng from special correspondents.
Our New Orleans Correspondence.
New ILEANs, August S, 1852.
The Late Rebel Steamer Sumtcr-An A,arm-Aao9,e,
Col'ision-7he Sean Cunboat Sciota Nearly Satrk-A
Dash at Gbralas-Reinforcements Requircd-Rebel
Sto'idity-cot,om, Sugar and Corn dc.
Last evening, while walking down to the levee at Eaton
Rouge to take my passage this place. accepted the
Invitation of Lieutenant Commandin, Erbcn go on
board the Sumter formidable steamer he captured at
Memphis during the attack that She Is truly
tough looking customer originally owboa of vast power,
sh las been streng ;hened and plated in such
ncr as 10 render her most efficient river gunboat Her
sides have been built in soping direction and
these railroad iron has been laid the most artistic
manner. Her ports. when closed protected in the
same manner. Her pilot house used ordinary occa-
sons situated in the usual place the UPPER deck;
but beneath that and cncased In almost mpenetrabe
armor, is another pilot house, which is used when the
vessel is in action On her forecastle is magnificent
long hirtywo FOUNDER smooth bore gun OF rebel
facture which works a complete circle and is
ly arranged BIO worked by much fewer th,n an
ordinary guns and the greatest had an
opportunity OF seeing the gun practically worked while
board, under the following circums ,ances:-
While board the Sumter the long roll beaten
shore. and the troops under arms 1t seems
that signal rockets flashing upward from the
direction Of the rebel encampment and number of
discovered skulking the Union pckcts a
picious manner. 1t they band Of
guerillas intent making dash outposts should
they perceive any relaxation Of vigilance eide.
Our troops wide awake to be caught mapping
however, and tho gueras beat retreat The ginboats
threw several shells into tho woods and could bat
admire the with which the Sumters thirty
FOUNDER worked
last night the transports Ibervie Morning Light and
Burton, with a number Of wounded soldiers board.
lett Baton Rouge for New Orleans under the Of
the Scota, Lieut.. Comm inding Lowry. AS 1t was
ticpated that the transports would be fired into Captain
Lowry instructed tho masters or the transports TO go
ahead for couple of miles, in the of their being
moested that manner and wait for him. while he paid
his respects the guerilas These gentry however did
not show themselves during the night. At O'Clock
this morning the gunbost Cfton-one OF tho mortar
ec-was approaching the sciots from below upon
which the whistle was blown once on the latter vessel.
The signal was replied to, showing that 1t was under
stood In spite this, however, the Clifton still headed
for the Sciota the helm OF which vessel put hard
aport. AS the Clifton still approaching in dangerous
proximity, the Sciota stopped her engines Even this
did 1t ward of the threatened collision for at twenty
five minutes to o'clock the bow OF the Clifton struck
tho bow Of the Sco,a carrying away her cuwaer and
otherwise seriously damaging the last named vessel Mr.
Field the officer of the watch board the Sciota then
the bows with lantern and found that the in
jures were below the line. The well sound
ed, and It was discovered that she made water
The Sota then turned round and headed up the
whether the other vessel required assistance when
II found that though she was much more badly
damaged than the Scots she required no immediate
sistance The Clifton an iron plated vessel and such
the force Of the collision that she left her mark
the Scotia the form Of three four pieces OF
plating sticking into her bows.
The battle Of Baton Rouge demonstrates, nothing else
had done BEFORE that endorsements the army OF the
Gulf Department impoatvey required But for the
bulldog courage with which the Union troops fought
Tuesday the rebels would have recaptured the town,
although the presence Of the gunboats would have
the place untenable. Is it polite, however, to
leave 80 important place liable recapture even for
moments The argument applies to the whole line
Of the Mississippi river. Had there been su.
Gent land to cooperate with the navy vcksburg
would have been captured long since True, the place
can be shelIed and destroyed but what would be the
good Of that Other places be captured but
II there be not troops to occupy themr OF what earthly
utility is IL to gain victory over town, and perhaps
destroy IT, the rebels cannot be Kept out or the place
by the presence Of sufficient forcs OF Union troops?
These questions which ought to have practical an
swer by the immediate raising Of large number Of
troops and sending them hold and occupy the places
recovered the Union. But for tho presence Of these
vessels Of war New Orleans itself would be held Tor
any length OF time by the Union troops Large reinforce
are then clearly the only means OF enabling the
government 10 hold its own these Southern States.
pleasant little fiction has been got In this city by
the II IL that tho ram destroyed by the
Essex the Arkansas after ALL As is not impos.
sble that such story may find It's way TO New York
and be believed there by the incrcdulous, through
the Vaccinations Of tho disafected bet me nip
the evil In the bud. Captain Erben, OF the Sum-
ter, who oncc engaged the Arkansas the
former vessel, her. aud he pronounces
her 10 be the Arkansas. Indeed. there never
wa. the shadow Of suspicion his mind that the den
THY OF the could questioned therefore ne spoke
OF her the Arkansas just any would call the
nose on his face his nose, mere truism.
In my travels from the mouths Of the Mississippi to Ba
ton Rouge have with the slightest trace or cotton
cultivation. On both banks from little above head Of
the passes there fields OF great extent or
which, It said has taken the place Of cotton AS YOU
advance upward you upon uxurant fields or sugar
cane with sugar works at Intervals nearly up to New
Orleans. shove the city to Baton Rouge, know no,
how much higher tho sugar takes the lead Of corn
while nowhere TO be seen the culture Of the lat
ter az the readers Of the HERALD aware having been
prohibited by the rebel and state governments except
for seed