New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-11

the Ciiy-Thc Enemy severely Eksndied
six Of Favragut's Vessels Run the
Suun:ict-N Meeting of she two Fleets
Affairs up iac Yuzoo-RcbCI Rams
KuTucd-VicLsbarg 10 be Dried Up
Failure OF she Corn Crop
81 III Our STecial Correspondent
MISSISSIPPI RIVER VIcKsBrRe. July ?. 1862.
Upon the receipt Of dispatches from Commodore
Fslragut, Commodore Davis Immediately placed his
feet in readiness to proceed down the river. As the
Commodore has had some experience in giving
knowledge 10 such &c required il, it ives, Doubtless,
thought that the MississiPrians who boast that they
know not how TO surrender, might profit by his in.
etructons. Early on tie morning Of the 18th June,
a detachment from the tois, consisting of the flag
ship Benton the Cairo, and Louisville and six NOR
iar boats weighed anchor, and, leaving Memphis to
the protection Of Captain McGonnege, of the gun
boat 81. Louis, and The land forces under Grant the
i.eet steamed southward.
The ordnance boat Great Western, Capt. Wilson
ia ommand, which lei, Memphis eight hours after
the departure Of the flagship, got aground on a
sand.bm, NJ II o'clock on Sunday night, OF Friar's
Point. and was detained twelve hours, when, by
hard Spanning and strong pulling she was got off
without. sustaining any damage. Fiiars Point, il
will be secoieccd, is the place where little more
than 9 year ago, Union men were bsrIeled up and
rolled iuto The river. The Mississippi et'val,y,
however, that attacks and murders unprotected
travellers, die not make its appearance, either in
;oTce or as idle spectators.
AZ the month Of the While River, the gunboat
Cincinnati Joined the feet, and proceeded down the
liver.
SCENES On TIE RIVER.
The Iargo plantations which heretofore bloomed
VIII the luxrr:snt ootton-plant, now have their
broad fields covered with corn. " King Cotton
Las beer dothroea. and the least pretending OF All
staples Indian oorn now rules. The question o.
-NOthlas 20 eat IS just bow mncn more VITAL 'han
that OF - Nothing 10 wear.
Tue villages and even the plantations seem TO have
bssE entirely deserted by the Chivalry, and only
:he negro slave is eit TO guard his masters prop
er.v. At several points large numbers of slaves
Were collected on the bank OF the river to see de
Liokum Qunboats." Iovaria6ly demonstrations Of
10Y were made BY the sable group; hats. aprons,
and aaniu& cotton handkerchief were waved tnd
Ill. broad. gOod-bumored gin OF the plantation
negro displayed the white line Of ivores the
broad black foreground. At point the scene
vas que amusing About go plantation hands
had assembled Oh The bank, and evidently tho con-
seouences of demonstration OF welcome TO the
Yankee was rot lost eight of, for half dozen Of
the more enthusiastic OF their number got down un-
der the bank and vigorously swung their old white
hats around their knees. not daring to q" throw II
high in ain al joyful news, least Perehsnee some
Re- rss.er In his wrath might order three times
thirty nins 20 be laid severely their loyal bodies.
The woneu seeing the action OF their Drawer
brothers. stooped down and waved Their cotton
aprons so as 70 be observed only from the nver, but
all the time faces were turned backward over the
sDou,der to keep watch Massa" and his spies.
DESLRTED.
Helena where the OHIO Belle. tie FIRST boat cap
tured Oh the river by Rebels was taken from Der
owners and the crew grossly insulted, 10 now de-
serted BY it'd puI dering inhabitants who have, not
without cause fed from the wrath to come.
The "City Of Napoleon whose citizens were the
,rst 20 fire into an unarmed boat, laden with
scores Of ladies and gentlemen, IS the very picture OF
the " deserted village" The stores, hotels, ana
private dweings were all closed. and not white
man We seen IN the place. niger and mule
were Nj that remained in sight, 10 give evidence
that lie WAS still there.
Along the river south Of Ma Doeon there was more
evidence of faith in the civilization of the men CON-
posing the national army. Ia the vlllsgos, ladies
we're .een 4. nearly every house, and the men came
out OH the leyee to get better view OF the feet.
On tie plantations, tie families OF the propretOrs
made 40 scruple in allowing themselves TO 10 seen
and tie field hands were at their accustomed labor
The proportion Of cotton being cultivated Increases
rs we 20 southwark. and altogether there IL unmis
taxable evidence Of greater confidence IN the sia5l
ity Of commercial relations than is witnessed further
u0rtl
REBEL BOATS ~ TIE woo RIVER.
~ the mOlth Of ibe 1sz0o River, portion OF the
ram feet, which had preceded the guuLoats was
bicckading the stream This river is the great store
2ouse OF Rebel steamboat prOperty all the elegant
New-Orleans packets, aud numerous smaller craft,
'he unfinished Tam Arkansas, ana the Van Dorm, are
reported TO be up the YazoO. Among the boats IN
eoCa condition sIe named the A. j. Cotton, General
,nitin@n, Louisville, N8tchez, Nicksburg. City Of
Meu.pms, kennett, Prince Of Wales, Magnolia,
magenta tnd d number Of smaller boats-n all
.oeIe die ABOUT twenty five vessels, all OF winch
WI" Du' i''eie repair couiG be made berviceabe.
TIE RAM ARKANSAS.
iuUuE' ms southern people are exceedingly fond
o. 'eiung Rfei stones concerning ,hngs unseen, and
cove 10 lA'gHily the Importance and OyerIate the
power Oh in',i'iols uitIed, they to dwell with
cspeeai eii lh"si' on Tie construction and prove
d theif unfinished g1nOoat ram, Arkanlas This
NeFsel wa paItieily built al Memphis; il Is eighty
ieet Ia ieue'i, 'ty-eieht feet beam, aud il driven
oy TWO prOpeliers Oi seven feet diameter and when
complete with full arlnament will draw min. feet
wafer he ram Is TO be hon'tad in every port with
railroad iron; the battery IL to consist OF pix cage
mated Parrot guns and one swivel gun on fhe bow.
The east-ron that her Prov weiybs TX QO0
pounds and il attached by iron bolts passup through
eighteen inches oi solid oak.
The Arkansas WAS run from Memphis to prevent
us iailng into the hands OF Commodore Davis. The
materials necessary for its completion were placed
on 'oard, and carried up the Yaz0o River as far as
the aepth OF water would admit of The work has
oeeh continued, and this terrible engine of war ia
DO" reported complete and ready to annli late the
enufe national hotiila the river. This glight o.
sbuctIoD, however, in the xyay: there is suf