Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-19

the Rebel army. made such q disposition o
the naval force under my command % nought
would give the most aid 10 our small force On
shore
on the morning Of the SIh inst st I q. m, the
enemy made attack on our land forces and
drove In the len wing OF our army, killing Gen.
Williams. Our men retreating, I opened Ere
with shot aud shell over them on the advancing
enemy, and turned them back.
IL was the intention OF the enemy 20 make
simulhneous attack ov land and water. but the
nre from The Essex and other Cunbosis driving
plans.
rhough not making her appearance, had In
formation Of the vicinity Of the ram Arkansas,
and this morning determined 10 steam M the
river and attack her, and II possible, prevent hes
rendering further assistance 10 the land forces che
was CO. operating with. At 40 a. m. ( came In
sig ht Of her at about the distance of half mile
aad immed lately opened IRE. After action %
about twenty minutes tncceeded In setting IRE
to her, and NJ meridian she blew up with q ire
mendous explosion.
The Arkansas had o crew of one hundred and
eighty, and mounted ten guns, (siI e-inoh and
four SO pound rines) Thi, vessel, the s.sen,
duty at the time Of our going into action. Ny
hrst master, Mr.. r. r. Riley, was In sick boz
ptal, and bis place was supplied by Second Master
David Porter Rosensmith, who conducted him
self 20 my entire satisfaction.
have Tue honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant w. u. PoRrKI,
Cong Div. Of Flotilla in Western Ws,ers.
REBEL REPORTS CT THE ARKANSAS.
FLAs SHIP HARTroRp,
NEW ORLKANs, August 10. 1854.
Sir: Since forwarding the reports Of Lieut..
Fairfax, Ransom and Roe, we have picked up Q
number Of prisoners from the ram Arkansas all
OF whom | have cstechized very closely. They
agree very well respecting her exit from the
lszoo, and her passing the heets; they also agree
as 10 the number Of killed and wounded on each
OF these occasionr, making In all eighteen killed
a A m of nde0
they plated the deck with iron, and fortified her
with cotton inside she then came down In
command Of Lieut. n. X stevens. (6rown having
been taken sick at Vicksburg,) with the intention
Of making combined attack with General Breck-
inridge upon Baton Rouge; but her port engine
broke down. They repaired IL In the course Of
morning, when they saw her coming up, but the
starboard engine gave way, and they ran her
ashore, she being perfectly unmansgeable.
They say that when the gunboats were seen
coming up, and the Essex commenced nring, the
captain set the ram on d e and told the crew 10
run ashore. They also state that the gunooeis
Webb and Music were sent for to tow her up the
river, but they did not arrive, and neither OF
them had been seen. THIS is the statement; all
Of which 10 respectfully submitted by your ODE
dent servant, ID. 6. FARRAsuT,
Flag Oricer, Com'd'g w. q. Big squad'n.
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, DC.
BoMBARDMENT OF rHE town OF DoSLLDsosvILLs
L. 3. FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
Nstc Orleans, August 10, I562. (
Sir: 1 regret 10 inform the Department that AZ
the town Of Donaldtonville, on the Mississippi,
they have pursued a uniform practice OF Airing
upon our steamers passing up and down the river.
sent message TO the inha bitants that IL they
did not discontinue this practice would destroy
their town. The last time I passed up 20 Baton
Rouge 10 the support Of the army, 1 anchored
about six miles above DOnsldsonviile, and heard
them firing upon the vessels coming Up, frst
upon the Sallie Robinson and next upon the
oklyn. In the latter case they made a mistake,
ana It was so quickly returned that they ran
away.
Tne next night they fred agsin-upon the %.
Charles. l therefore ordered them 10 send their
women and children out OF town, as { certainly
intended to destroy IL on my way down the riverT
and fulfilled my promise to certain extent.
1 burnt down the hotels aud wharf buildings,
| also the dwelling house and other buildings Of q
Mr.. Philippe Landry, who 10 said to be captain
OF guerillas. He fred upon our men, but they
| chased him OF. We also brought Of some tea
or twelve Of bis negroes, and supplied ourselves
with cattle and sheep from his place.
Very respectfully, your o5edient servant,
ID. FAKRAsrT,
Flag. oricer Cong w g. BlocE'g SQUAD.
Washington, ID. g.
DEATH or COMMANDER wAiSwRisHr.
u. =. FLAGSHIP HARTFORD,
NsD OfleaHs, Aug. 10, 1881.
Sir IL becomes my painful duty 60 report the
death Of Commander Richard Wainwright
Commander W ainwright was taken sick with
Il slig ht fever, some two weeks ago. The feet
II surgeon considered his case slight one and that
Il he would soon be enabled 20 resume his duties /,
but he continued TO fail In strength; which cir
cumstance, however, gave no alarm 10 the heet
| surgeon until three days ago. when DR.. FoltI In
| formed me that the disease OF Capt. w ainwright
i had taken a very sudden turn for the worse, and
i that he thought him to be In great danger The
/ next day, however, he rallied, and hopes were
again entertained Of his life but this morning he
/ wat evidently worse, and at p. m. he expired.
ii haU "a q n hQ WaFu full HnfTR
Il obedient servant, ID. q. FARRAGUr,
Flag Oracer Cong W. q. Block'g Squad'n.
Il Hon. GIDEON WELLEs,
Secretary Of the Navy. Washington, ID. c.