New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-19
The Bomba rdment of Natchcz.
From The Neao- Orlcan, Data SEPT. 9.

The United States iron-clad steamer Essex, Com
mod, re w. ID. Porter, arrived from mp the river
yesterday. We have some very important and in
feres,ing news by this arrival, comprising some Of
the gcts and doings Of this monster iron ship, with
" iron hearts"
About a week more or less ago. as the Essex was
cruising aloug the river, the lookout reported the
Rebel gunbost VIM. II. Webb III sight. Chase was
given immediately, s'd she was pursued PAST tie
guns at Vicksburg. TIE Essex thea started down
tie river, and reaching Natehez sent a boat
crew ashore for ice The boat, nearing the shore
was fired into by the Rebels, ana several o. the
wounded. For this act of 'enerliy The whole shoot
ing force of the Essex was brought 10 bear upon the
Inflated city for about two hours and half when a
deputa,ion was sent down With a proposition 10 sur
render the city, and hoit the stars sud stripes.
Commodore Porter then ordered the firing to cease
and proceeded down the river until of Bayou Sa'a
where he came 10 II stop long enough 20 burn that
Inflated sbode Of Rebels There were but two houses
k't standiUP-one belonging to gentleman who Is
said 10 be friendly 10 the Union cause and the other
the property of q lady. We did not learn VITA, insult
was tie iuIne date cause Of this visitation Of ven
Seance.
On Sunday, as the Essex coming down The
river, Rebel battery OF "a guns, opposite Port bud
ssn opened upon her, and herce battle N not
inan 50 feet distance, began, which lated hour.
At the end Of that tine the battery seuced and
the steamer pas.ee1a on down.
The Rebel battery was mounted with guns Of very
neavv caliber; but that Circumstance only suficed
70 prove the remarkable powers Of resistance of the
Eek. Her iron sides were struck in O multitude
Of tlaces with l0Dch and other sized balls, the
suit in all being the ssme-a slight indenisiion
Into the sides OF the steamer, and then the balls
blcsking Into q thousand fragments and falling
bsrmessy into the water. The Essex commenced
with the upper gum and senced them all, one after
the other She is truly a foru4ida bic craft and
comes fully NJ 10 the most saneuine expectations Of
her designer and builder, who, our readers will
rsecllect is Commodore Porter hiuself. Certainly,
nothing the people Of New-Orlesns have ever seen
In the shape Of an iron-cad' can compare with the
Essex.
In the contest with the battery at Port liudson
the sinoke.ppes and the ventilaior were perforated
In numerous places, and present something the ap-
pesarsnce of being rust-eaien.
Ii was impossible TO ascertain what the loss OF the
Retel- Was, those engaged on the Essex were too
well projected by iron amor TO permit their seeing
sshore bat the action was at very close quarters,
the loss on shore must have been heavy. There
was no casualty on tie steamer.
The names of Porter and Essex have already
passed into history in a former generation, and the
EXPLOITS If the gallant old freate in the waters OF
the Pacific have been tie animated theme Of Dis
course around millions of American hearthstoues.
This generation can now, too, boast Of Porter the
soo Of the gallant sailor who shed much lusier
upon the United States Navy; and The Essex, too, q
craft of bis own invention, named after the famous
cruiser and like her distinguished for being almost
without rival In her line Of service.