The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-17
when complete with fnrI armament will

when complete with full armament will
draw nine feet of water. The ram Is 10
be iron-cfad in every port with railroad
iron; the battery is to consist of six
casemated Parrot guns and one swivel
gun on her bow. The cast iron nose
that arms her PROV weighs ls, 900 lbs,
and is attached by iron bolts passing
through eighteen inches Of solid oak.
The Arkansas was run from Mem
phis to prevent its falling into the hands
of Com Davis. The materials neces-
sary for its completion were placed on
board, and carried mp the Yazoo River
as far as the depth of water wonld adj
NIT of; the work has been continued,
and this terrible engine of war is now
reported complete and ready to ami
hilate the entire national fiotlla on the
river. This slight obstruction, how
ever, is in the way; there is not suffi
cicnt water in the Yazoo River to float
her ont. Whether the whole story OF
her completion and reported launch on
sand bar is a rebel lie, intended to
brighten or deceive, does not appear.
EXPEDITION UP YAzoo RIVER.
On Thursday of last week, two rams,
the Monarch and the Lancaster No. 3,
went up the Yazoo River distance of
60 miles. When 40 miles from the
mouth of the river, the rams were
hailed by man on the shore, who de-
sired TO be taken on board. Captain
Ellet, brother of the late Col. Ellet,
sent small boat out to bring the
stranger in. The man proved to be
the carpenter from the Rebel gunboat
Van Dorm, and deserter. He repre-
sented that 20 miles further up the
channel was blockaded by sunken
raft and a chain stretched across the
stream. Below the distractions were
the Van Dorm, three small rams, and
one transport. All three were repre-
scented to be in immediate readiness to-
he burned on the approach of our feet.
The rams proceeded up the river; but
before they came fully in sight of the
enemy, the smoke was seen rising from
the burning steamers. The boats were
cut loose to drift toward our rams !;
these, however, were careful to keep a
safe distance from the frey enemy.
REBEL FORTIFICATIONS ON THE YAZOO.
Within good range above the raft
and chain the enemy had erected a bat
terry of nine guns on the bluff. The
guns were taken up from New Orleans
and placed in position before the gun
boat Arkansas was run mp for safe
! keeping. The distractions had nj
: ready been placed in the river when
, the Van Dorm arrived, and it was
deemed unwise to remove them to al
low her to pass, and she has, therefore,
with her companions, become the last
sacrifice of the greatly Wanted Rebel
, navy on the Western waters.
The guns were taken from these
, boats and placed on board the Arkan-
sas. which the carpenter of the Van
Dorm represents to be still unfinished
, and not aground.
MEETING OF THE TWO FLoTILLAs.
The feet arrived at point three
miles above Vicksburg on Tuesday
morning at 10 O'Clock, when six of
Commodore Farragut's vessels, incud-
ing the flagship, Hartford, were dis,
covered qnietly at anchor. The fleet
from the North came to anchor along
side and in the rear of Farragnt's yes
sells, and conference was had be-
, tween the two commanders on board
the flagship Benton. The command
ers may here pass their greetings, but
the union of the the fleets can occur
only after the fall of Vicksburg.
, ENGAGEMENT AND RUNNING THE REBEL
, BLOCKADE.
2 The fleet below, consisting of seven
, gnnboats, under Farragut, and ten gun
. boats and eighteen mortar boats, i'm
command Of Com. Porter, made an
attack on the enemy's works early on
Saturday morning. The engagement
, lasted about one hour. Six of Farra-
CUTS vessels, including the flagship
Hartford, passed upin trontof the Rebel
> batteries, aud are now above the city.
The fleet several times drove the enc.
my from his guns, and it is reported by
: deserters that the gunners were forced
to their batteries at the point of the
The slaughter of the enemy was ter
!, ble, though the exact number of his
! killed cannot be ascertained. The
= casualties on the feet were six killed
. aud two wounded; one of the latter
e died OF Saturday. The Miami, which
sustained the hottest Of the enrmy's
fire, was several times struck and had
u her masts entirely carried away.
: The battle, though of short duration,
J, was terribly severe, and gave the Mis-
;, sissippians some foretaste of what they
D must expect, when our fleet should once
e attack them with the determination of
: taking their works.
: vICKsBURG.
, The City of Vicksburg is built on a
, bluff, varying in heighth from 200 tn
800 feet above the river. 1t contains
about 5000 inhabitants, and monopo.
Lies the trade of the entire YazoO Val
, ley. one of the most fertile counties in
the South. The annual shipment of
cotton exceeds 100000 bales. 1t con
tains an elegant Court House, six
, churches three Spn,iu nrias ,f LEARNING