, 1862-06-10

t1l1a that it was nero " Woaiu niteS tAe feuea |
feet, and if not that We must find serious OBJ
structions to a further progress down the
river in a strong series OF forttcations- |
Hence the f}otilla moved cautiously. The
high aud yellow banks of the river came grad
ua1'y In view; Every eye-eTery glass Was
rebel steamers But neither fort nor flotilla
met the eye, only broad, deep river, the
high shores ard the green trees. just oppo~
site Fulton were seen the plantation and Ice
captured seven Of the rebels the other day as
they were taking in ice for the fleet which
was then actually occupying the position In |
which It was expected VT might find it to-day. |
BURNING COTTON.
From Island No. 27 to Island No. 81 the |
passage Tas made without the occurrence ot
an ineident Of any kind. Near the latter vas
fhe house OF another Of the Lanier family.
His stock Of cotton WAS nlass OF shoulder
Inc coal and ashes His cotton gin was also
destroyed At this point the first symptoms
Of tie great destruction Of cotton we we're
the river were lined with it. It was floating
in large masses in the water and was being
burned On the banks. ali along the Missl5s-
| tppi, up to where We are pow resting, large
Quantities Of cotton were being burned and
! thrown into the river. This has been done oy
| tit order Of the government.
FoRr RANDOLPH.
4 At hHNHqiD1 LIZ 3Eu-35 A-A aa39 NtENAC@A
strong fortldeations-at least so rumor said
and hence, as the feet approached that point,
| it did so with circumspection, every moment
expecting to receive 8 slot from q masked
or open battery: But again the fleet ~as to
be agreeablr disappointed. No guns were
| fred. when opposite the fort, which is
merely system Of rifle pits projected By Z
few rusty and useless guns, some men from
| ore Of the Federal rams went ashore
and raised the stars and stripes on
! la NJ an a15 rHffcn fnhafrn
warehouse, no resistance being offered By
trio Of butternnt gentlemen who infested q
groggery near at band. Il was small flag,
but good one. aud it undoubtedly waves
there still. The inhabitants Of Randolph,
from fear Of the Lincoluites, or e de sire to in
dulgc their curiosity, had, men. Women and
children gathered on 2 high bluff in the rear
of the fort, aud there stood mute spectators Of
them. tic : They did not cheer: They did nol
wave handkerchief, showing that their
hearts warmed not towards the beams Of the
old flag, and TINT they were welded to their
2 idols.
Nearly opposite Randolph is the palatial
q crate army. It looks lone and desolate. moi
e even the black couuteuauce OF contr2band
S appearing to relieve the drcary monotony o.
t The Ecene. n this vicinity, also, is the mouth
f Of Hatchee River.
= Just below Randolph our eyes we're greeted
0 with the very first signs Of agricultural life
:: in bebolaing field Of wheat, the ripenei
r grain having been cut, and noW standing II
5 Shocks ready te be transferred to the barn O.
: stack. It really brought to mind the harges
time at the North, . season which 1laS hardl,
commenced thus early in these colderregions
TIE FLEET CAPTURES THE SOVEREIGN.
= As the vanguard Of the fleet was passin!
! across the chute between the foot Of 1slant
e No. 36 to tie head Of No. 81, We saw smok
t puff from the sides Of the Benton, and present
t1-4. to- $nF f.af
. burst in the air ahead Of ner. Turning glas
), in The direction, the smoke Of 9 steamer va
), seen just turning short curve in tie stream
!, and making excellent endeaEors to show
h clean pair Of heels. The accne was really cs
h citing. The Benton and her eoueort kept u
d . continual succession Of fslcils-thr rebel kep
IS up some Of the ta1lest Kind Of walking, an
u very soon was out OF range. Fired with d.
If sire TO catch and find out what the craft wa
4 doius in these parts, # nothing more, Lieu
II comranicd by boats crew No. 10, boarde
ID the fast tug Spitdre, which carried
ID brass lowitztr at her bow, and CAV
chaEe They soon came NJ. with the yesse
which proved to be the rebel steamer Sore
eign, Rsed as an army transport. Seeing tn;
Is she stood 10 chance in I contest with sauc
ID little tug, aud having no arms aboard. Il
te captain of the Sovereign ran Lis boat alongsiG
ID the Tennessee shore, and in company Wit
ce the pilot jumped upon dry land and made b
| EECNpE. 1uE E1EH 4IIlsSu IL kUllJH VI
Ee burn the steamer according to orders, and r
Us u,aincu quietly on board until the tug eau
re up and took charge Of her prize. The ere
he was imnle ediate1S placed in charge Of the So
c,cign. Mr.. BiXby took the vessel and OF
be more transport WAS added 70 our fleet.
in The err:snd Of the Sovereign up the riS
In ] was to catch two piiotf, MeEsr5. TeunysG
5d ard Williamson, who had started diguised
or butternut to go down to Eicksburg, in dn
Il. out, and jim Commodore Farrasut ,aato pill
ed him to Memphis. How the rebels SO 500
he found out that the men we're on their Why is
Of mystery. That they kncw it, however,
ch certain. Tie pilots managed to elude Il
Y, Sovereign, and joined our fleet soon after Il
Ae | capture by the tug boat. This was a haz II
tn Gus undertaking, aud had it been successf
let would have been an important and serril
At- able one
:Eh At tic head Of Island No. 81 man aud ts
women We're hailed and asked when the ret
IN fleet passed along. They answered-on1y tt
III morning. When tho inquiry WAS made as
who caused SO much cotton to BE- burn
ed they responded, They say it is by orders
IN the government, If we've goE such thing
VAl this dcvilish country" It seems tuet
steamer St Francis and crew Of fncn ha
4ck lately passed along here, burning all the c.
a ton they can Finland that is not j gr
Jus deal.
The Without meeting with further adyents
led tho fleet made the present locality at II;
on- past seven this evening, and put up for
OF coming Of another day before moving nca
nt5 Memphis, the Mecca Of our pilgrimage.
Is, "