The New York herald., 1862-04-24
Niles.
THE COMMANDMENT OF FORT WRIGHT.
Special despatch to the Chicago Tribune
Orp Fopr " pfcur Aprtl 10


OFF FoRr WRIGHT, April 10, 1862.
The susmys gunboats have laid behind Craig Head
Point for two three nights past fearing an attempt
on our part 10 run the blockade.
The nrins both sides on Thursday was very
heavy The moftars opened at noon four being ia opo
ration Tbs enemy replied Immediately and briskly
from the land battsros throwing shell clear over US,
and ssary the river TO the Tennessee shore.
Their nring was very accurate. and from very heavy
guns
The So Louis, carondele, and Cairo, stationed as
picket stops tho extremity of tho point, were
obliged 10 up the rive several times to get of
range
A skif attached 10 mortar raft was hit by shell
and dashed TO peiccs The shells flow thick and all
about our gunboats, but none wore hit
On Thursday night the mortars commenced firing at
eight O'clock ths enemy replying Immediately, and the
Ore was kept up until midnight.
A rebel shell exploded directly above the stern
awnings OF the ST. Louis, slightly njurlug one man in
the wrist another shell struck the broadsde casemate
Of the Cairo but did no damage. Ihe firing ceased at
midnight.
Yesterday but little was done, except o few shots
fred BY the mortars. In the morning the mortars
were shifted from the Arkansas the Tennessee shore
for tho greater protection. In their past locality thoy
have been In great danger from bands of rebel
prowlins through the woods These scouts have
already cut the lsvee In two or three places, 10 en-
barrass the operations OF the mortars
Dossrsrs are being rapidly taken, both from the rebel
gunboats and from their batteries They say that nearly
oil the Of the sunboats have been impressed and
great is the fcar Of tho officers lest they desert that
they frequently muatsr them every hour in the day
The batteries mount about forty very heavy guns
They have sixty more guns which they rapidly put
ting position. within The past few days Bragg has ar
rived and succeeds General yillpsnc, hitherto 10 com
mand Thore about sx thousand troops there Both
troops and guns are from Pensacola.
Thero are but four gunboats In the river-ths Mari
posa Mcas Pontchartrain and Livingston mounting
total OF twenty four guns The Ivy has gone New Or
leans with Holins board The Gen. Polk 10 at Msm
phis repairing. Capt. Enscs 10 acting Commodore In
Hollins' absence.
An independent company Al Memphis has Eve boats In
tended 70 grappls 70 our nses and take u down 10
Dixie.
There are fsur ramss q New Orleans among them the
Manassas Active preparations are not expected 1t pres
eos.
Commodore sso,s suffers severely from bic wound re
ssivsa o. Donssoa.
The Ram Manassas and Fourteen Rebel
Gunboats on the Fort-The First Cotton
Shipment 60 the North. Sc.
oAiso, April %, 1859.
The enemy ~ Fors Wright are reported 10 have four
teen gunboats OF the ors together with the ram Manas.
s. The latter and Of the former arrived on sun
day. Rollins has returned from New crisaps with
McRas.
The steamer Do Soto left the feet yesterday with one
hundred bales Of cotton for Cairo. This s the 6rs ship
70 tho North since the en-, OF bost,.s
--------------------