Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-11
FROM TCKSBURGH.
STEAM RAM SWITZERLAND,
Above VIcKsBURGH, June 30, :
pia. MEMpHIs. July ID. !

Viu MhMihihs JulN Zus
To Hon. Il. VI. Stanton, Secretary of War:
Since my dispatch informing you that had
communicated with Flag Officer Farragut,
have been able to maintain constant inter-
course with his fleet, through the active ener-
gy Of Gen. Williams
On the 26th went up the Yazoo river, with
two rams, the Monarch aud Lancas;er.--the
latter unker command Of Medical Cadet Chas.
r. Elicit. proceeded about 66 miles, to
point where the river is obstructed by raft
built by the enemy and protecied byfour guns
in battery.
My object to capture or destroy three
of the enemys gunboats, that was informed
were lying below tho raft, the Van Dorm,
Polk and Livingston. | ran up close under
a battery, and was mortified to see the enemy
set fire to the boats and set them adrift down
upon us.
was obliged to leave the river to escape
confagration The three boats were totally
destroyed. The enemy did not FIRE upon us.
1t is with great pleasure ] announce the ar
rival of Flag officer Farragut, with nine
sells Of bis fleet, above Vicksburgh. They
passed up this morning at about 5 o'clock,
through a severe fire OF some 80 or 40 Of tho
enemys guns Their loss was, as far as re-
ported, men killed and 8 wounded.
Lieut. Col. ALFRED w. ELLETT.
CAIRO, July 5.
The ram Monarch brings news from Vicks-
burgh to the 2Sth ult. On Thursday, Com
modoro Porter's fleet commenced to shell
the upper batteries below the town
This continued all day without any result.
The shcll:ng was resumed on Friday, and
/ in the afternoon fire was directed upon
the town, over which the shells were seen
plainly to burst. This continued until 4
o'clock, when the firing ceased. During the
bombardment the rebel batteries played fee
bly, Their firing was inaccurate. Half an
hour after the cessation of the bombardment
the rebel water batteries opened on our NOR
tar fleet, which replied until the batteries
ceased firing
At o'clock in the evening fire was open
ed by the entire fleet upon the town, and it
was continued for an hour. The next morn
ing at 4 o'clock the bombardment was re-
uewed during which eight Of commodore
Farraguts vessels asscd the batteries with
out serious damage.
The city must have been damaged greatly.
as conAagrations wore seen in numerous pla-
ces IN different parts of the city. We have
been informed on iudisputablo authority, that
5 600 negroes have been ordered by Gen.
Butler TO work ON the canal across the bend
on which Nicksburgh, or its remains
are now situated. The channel OF the Miss
issipp will thus be changed, and Vicksburgh
become an island town hereafter, Seven hun
drcd thousand more shells have been ordered
from New Orleans to reduce the remains Of
the place to ashes.
A former employer on the Mobile and Ohio
railroad, via Tuseello, says there are two gun
boats and one ram in Mobile bay. About
10000 rebels are below Mobile, on Shell road.
The Qualifications around Mobile, commenced
a month ago. are completed. The inhabi-
tants are sangnine, and believe Mobile can
not be taken. He says Bragg is in command
at ruscollo, with 10000 or 1000 men,
| Breckenridge had left there with so 900 men.
All the troops are short of clothing aud pro-
visions, They have bacon twice each week
no coilee-no salt The rebels say they have
come 10 ietake Corinth, and the rebel i'm
| preston generally is, that the majority Of
our troops have gone East. 1t is the unani-
nous testimony Of doserters that no rebel
troops except cavalry have gone east
IRON WASHiNGTON AND VICINITY.
Gen. McClelans dispatch received here.
makes the sympathlzers with secession and
the croakers rather unhappy Officers Of the
army think that the rebellion has failed in
It's desth-strngglo, and hat the Union forces
will henceiorth be kept strong enough to in
sure success.
FoRrREss MONROE, July /.
Gen. Shields army arrived here this morn
! ing and proceeded up the james river They