The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-09
From Vicksburg.

WASHINGTON, July s.
The Navy Department has received dis
patch dated
L. S. STEAM SLooP BRooKIN,
Off Nickburg June %,
The following is from Capt. Carver to Com
Farragut.
Sir-In obedience to your orders of the 18TH
l left Baton Rouge on my way up the river at
one L. Nj. of that day, on the 14th, at nine p
NJ, sent the marine guard and a party of
seamen, in all about 100 men, under charge of
Lieut.. Lowry to Bayou Sara for the purpose
of destroying the telegraph apparatus, and
with orders to inform the authorities OF that
town that We were on the river for the purpose
of enforcing the laws of our common country
and protecting its loyal citizens, and at the
same time to warn them that if any demonsta-
tons were made upon our vessels or trans
ports rs they passed in front of their town, by
the thieves and murderers ycelpt Guerillas, the
town would be held responsible for it and at
least would he held under contribution if not
dealt with more severely.
LIT. Lowry returned with his party TO the
ship, having accomplished his work excepting
securing the telegraph apparatus, which had
been removed but few minutes before he
landed. About half mile of wire was cut
and brought on board and the vitriol and bat
teries Destroyed.
The people ashore seemed to be peaceably
disposed, were quiet and civil and made no
disrespectful demonstrations.
The Mayor or chief magistrate informed 1t
Lowry that but two or three days previous to
our arrival to the town had been visited by
bands of guerillas, that they had committed
many outrages against law and order and that
he had arrested Lieut. who commanded the
party. but he was rescued by his men and
borne Off to the woods. He represented these
uuprrlllls n, "A iaWpgs n nf whom
the inhabitants of the country and small towns
had greater dread than for the visits of our
navy or even our army, and he hoped we would
not hold him responsible for the acts of a cut
throat band.
Before leaving shore Lieut.. Lowry, with the
flag of our Union at the head of his party and
TO the tune of Yankee Doodle, marched through
several of the principal streets. We passed
Natchez at about 1890 of the morning of the
10th. On the morning of the 18th the Rich
mond joined us, and at about $50 of that
morning We passed Badney. We arrived at
our anchorage on the 18th, at 11.30 in tue
morning. Nowhere on the route were we mo-
Tested, and saw no change in the aspect of
things since trip ut Grand Gulf The town
there was riddled by shot, and then DESTROYED
by fire. On small hill, just to the right of the
town, was a small earthwork which mad been
only recently thrown up, and was capable OF
receiving or small field pieces. It. as well
as the town, was entirely deserted. On the
10th inst. Com. Porter arrived here with ten
OF his mortar boats. Yesterday the Miami ar
rived with another. and this z. NJ. four others
were towed up Com Porter informed me
that his fiotilla was fired upon at Ellis Cliffs,
and that it is the intention of the rebels to
mount troublesome battery at that place and
also at Quitman's Landing, as he learned at a
farmers house coming up. The boats which
arrived this morning were fired at from Ellis
Cliffs; one was hit two or three times. Yes
terday morning | sent the Oneida and Winona
10 look after these places. Tomorrow / shall
send the katahdin to convoy the two boats as
far as Baton Rouge, or until she meets you.-
Here at Vicksburg the rebels appear to be quie
busy in extending and terrifying their works,
and II is said they have some 10000 troops in
and about the town.
CAIRO, July s.
Steamer Sunshine, from vicksburg Sd, has
arrived
The bombardment was continued The
town was deserted except by the military.
News from White River is not encouraging.
Col. Fitch still holds 1t Charles. No relief
has yet reached Gen. Curtis.
The whole county bordering on White
River is reported in arms, except those flying
from the CONSUMPTION, which is enforced in the
most vigorous manner. Boats are frequently
fired on from the shore.
Breckinridge's division has gone to Vicks-
burg.
Large number of Mississippi troops have
gone to Richmond.
The rebels have burned all the treste work
of the bridges between Memphis and Cold
Water.
Hen. Hindman has issued an appeal TO the
people of Arkansas and says that he intends
TO annoy the enemy in every possible way and
asks the people to do their part. The Little
Rock Gazette of the 2Sth says the Federals
have evacuated Indian Bay and st. Charles
and the whole lower White River. Gen. Cur
It's has left Batesville and crossed Black River
and is supposed to be marching towards Cock
bridge with view to reach the Mississippi.