The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-04
GUERRILLAs AT TRENTON, ARKANSAS.
$4,000 CoNFEDERATES AT VICKsBURG

The Monarch arrived from Vieksburg to-
day and brings the following startling news,
detailed to us by Capt. Geo. E. Curry, an eye
witness of the whole on Commodore Porter's
flag ship Victoria, at Vicksburg:
On Thursday last the bombsrdment OF
Vicksburg was commenced BY Com. Porter's
mortar feet ST about light in the morning.
The shells were directed against the upper
! fort below the town, which mounted eight
guns. The bombardment continued on that
fort all day without result.
On Friday morning the firing was odensd
in the afternoon, at which time Porter signal
lied to shell the town itself, which was done
with deliberation and great accuracy. The
effect of the shell could not be well discerned
from the Octorora, then anchored in the stream
about two miles below the town. The shells
could all be seen to burst; but the effect of the
bursting was hidden by the buildings in front.
This continued till about four, when the feet
was sigualled to cease firing, which it did. The
batteries on shore replied very lightly and at
long and irregular intervals, firing very in
accurately. About half an hour after the ces-
sation of this commandment the water battery
opened on the mortars which replied till the
battery ceased firing. During the whole time
| the Octorora fired ten shot from her one hun
dred psund rifle, almost every one of which
was directed with surprising accuracy, till the
gun heated, when it began to throw high, and
need depression.
When the firing ceased at P. N. the Cap
tains Of divisions were signaled to report on
Flagship, where an order was issued TO open
fire with the entire Feet upon the town at
o'clock that night.
/ At 8 o'clock, therefore, the entire mortar
/ feet vomitad very rain OF shells upon the
devoted city, the round missiles seeming to be
eager first to strike, and tha last fred often
outstripping its predecessor. This terrible FIRE
cotinued about one hour whsn an order was
issued to cease firing.
1t appears that an order came from Com.
Farragut, whose feet was then five miles be-
low the town in the bend, to again shell the
town at o'clock next morning (Saturdayl
when portion of his feet would run past the
rebel batteries. This order was obeyed, and
again the sky was shaken by the bursting of
bombs and the explosion of mortars AZ about
5 o clock .hat morning, as the sun was shining
Farragut's feet came up and eight of them
passed the batteries, pouring broadsides into
the town and batteries. These eight vessels
consisted of three men-of-war, two sleeps of
war and three gunboats. During this daring
passage the rebel batteries poured an iron hail
on the feet, scarce damaging any of the feet,
and disabling none.
The firing from the batteries was high and
cut much rigging. The flag ship, the Hart
ford was struck on the starboard side twice,
one shot near the stern, the other near the
bow. These shots struck some ten feet above
water line, passing through the bulwarks.
Two OF this feet passed above the mouth of
Yazoo, the others anchored in the stream where
they remained when our informant left.
The damage sustained by the city must have
been very..great, topping houses, falling chin
neys, and crashing roofs, with here and there
slight coEfagration, present to the imagiua-
ton picture beyond all power or pen
painting.
Captain Curry was informed by refugees
from the conscript along the shore, that thu
women and children had been removed &c
some distance from Vicksburg, and were on
the line Of the jackson railroad, dwelling n
J holes dug along the billy rise there, in most
AFFECT state of distress. Not only through the
, immediate range about Vickburg, but through
all Mississippi hunger and starvation are rife
, and the Captain asserts that many runawayc
whom he saw looked like skeletons covered
with pallid skin, within which their bones
, seemed to rattle. So in Arkansas, along tht
f White river. The Captain was informed tina
Hindman ordered no trading with Yankees
, ON PAIN OF DEATH, save for ammunition o.
D salt.
YAzoo RIyER.-Lieut.-Col. Ellet, of tn,
ram fleet, made reconnaissance up Yazot
river yesterday week, and proceeded upwart
: for sixty miles, when he discovered some bat
teries on the shore on his right. At these bat
teries heavy raft INSTRUCTED the passage 0
the river, while in front of the raft La,
three gunbosts and transport, the old Mears
The gunboats wsre the vanDorn, the Polk