, 1862-05-02
Gen. LoTe1l's Official Dispatches.

glances to lie point Of woods about two miles
down the river, and behind which they could .
already discern the nasts OF the encnays vts-
sels coming up.
AT this moment rcd flag WAS raised over
tie Confederate banner, by way of sigaal to
St. Philip, opposite, that the enemy was ap ]
preaching, and Immediately the blue-crossed, |
whitc-s1aTrea battle nag was TNn up on tile
stalls of both forts.
Meantime the several gunboatslying of the |
forts formed in readiness to take part, if need
were, il, the contest. One Of Ihese went doHn |
on a reconnoitcrlnE expedition, and having
ncarcd the point of woods that Jet hid the | ,
boats Of the enemy from our sighr, returned,
hut not without being honored on her passage
with compliment or two from the guns Of
Commodore Farragut. She accomplished her
return without injury, aud soon 4 black hull
was seen to emerge behind tue woods, and
making her way towards the 1Gft bank Of the
1iver Having attained what she probably con-
edurcd an eligible position tor her purpose, |
she CAME round and presented her broad=lde
10 thetort, being then about TWO miles dis
tant.
A few moments Of eager expectation, and
flash, followed by puff Of smoke, was seen
to issue from one Of her guns aud then there
ca1ne whizzing and hurliug through the dir
heard By all. and seen by many in its COURSE
the first shot ever fred at Fort Jackson. 1t
was q very credltable line shot-a shetland
passed critically near the position OF those
over the fort and fell between its walls and
1he river, smashing small feot-bridge and
1nlkin4 a Formidable splash in the mud aud
Hater 1hereabouts. The next was ained With
about the same degree Of precision, and fell
beyond the walls, within few feet ofthe out
TT pastion, facing thc river. Some portions of
this exploded suell were secured Us the spec
4;:oss Us relics. We have ule We should be
pleased to show any curlou:ly inclined friend.
Some twelve shells in all were beStoHcd
upon us from different positions ia the course
of the afternoon, including one fired fIou the
screen the woods afforded, which We took for
| q mortar shell. This described 4 lofty aerial
| curve, and when in mid air exploded, tue fuse
| bejrg too short to carry it to its desired goal.
! Two OF the shots cInl: in very tngrrou5 !
| proximity to our pretty steamer, which lay at
Lie landing, one passing oye1 the pilot house, |
and the other dropping into the water ju:t
the river, beyond St. Philip, into the prairie,
and others were thrown, but like the rest, all
without accomplishing their hostile intent.
| ALI this ofcourse Was dont Walniy by way
Of getting the range" though it is not to be
doubted that every shot was intended to tell.
from St. Philip come SIX or seven Of the enc
| nly's vessels OF different CLASSES wert plainly
TO be seen, and from J4cksoa the masts of the
flagship Of The heet, with the gridiron hauat.
ing at the peak, we're visible over tie tops Of
the wood.
| There were but three responses made on our
side Il, these repeated compliments Of the cue
my; but these were al! most elegantly turned;
: After the e5uutoat that opened the bal1 had
amused herself Il while i'll this way, 3 seven
inch rihed gun was brought to hear on her,
and, though not rs effectively as desired, get
showed guod practice, and fatterlnsiy pro"
. nLetic Of ''bettcr next time" at Ill events
S ihe eutmy deemed it prudent to retire for the
: | time; and, as he was making bis way across
: | to the point OF woods, to seek ouct 11lore his
: ! 1eafy shelter he Was greeted with two more
q | messengers that very closely nearcd, If, in-
) decd, one # them did nut hit Tim.
: Take if altogether, though but q Eceonnois-
eance on the one side, and aready and prompt
reception on the other, it was . brisk litti''
r at1air, and greatly interested the spectators
l. during The Two hours OF SO II lasted.
. But though the enemy did not pay any fur
thtr attention to the forts during the day, ht
), was not idle Captain Mul1en's company o1
+. ! sharpshooters were annoyingly about anong
, | thu1 long reach Of woods to which we have re
). fcrJed IS sEirting Tie river below the fort
u | Ru1nor reached us in the course OF the day
al | Tia! an cpaulcted Federal had been picket
of by the rifle Of one Of those bushwhackcrs
to whom the officer presented . tempting
Of the vessels. And this may be tic reason
~ Why, al intervals for several hours, there We
4 cannonading kept up bT the cncmy's, gnn
I'd | boass upon the woods. The grape and can
II mister were freely distributed among til
-. -. trees and underbrush, but, We fancy, with bu
l'9 little effect.
be When VIC left, on our return to the city
11 the ere prevalent impression in both forts
l
'se fair was probably but the prelude, might cos1
RI mcrcc in earnest any da|-Fcstcrday, to-da
so | OF Tomorrow but undoubtedly in tile cours
h. OF the current wcek. The strong impressio
=. left upon our minds bE the manner in whic
u.s. Fort jackson deported herself on the occ:
sion Of her first fight, and by the convictio
that her cousort over the river, when the tin
of sAsul1 come, wa, that tie enemy, Il h3 FIJI
- ttat euuutlet successfully, will have to max
ul' i ii. tter fight than VT think he will OF can,
| tuiJ fr11u ~ n3rftr1,fArS
If | tu the force, the armaments, &c, at For
=, Jackson ard s.. Phillip. 1t is enough for o'
~ p1e5tn: IErpoe to say that We believe tue
'as 10 he a14undantly sufficient for the wurk til
lies before them.
the OFFICIAL REBEL CORRESPONDENCE REGAE
nix ING TIE HoMBARnMEs1o OF FORT JACKSON.
wa. {E; Telegraph to the Norfolk Day Book, april q
~ The following official dispatch is from N
~ | jJr General Lowell TO B1igatiicr General Du
ID can, commanding at Fort Jackson:
NEW ORLEANS. april %
"Say to your officers and men that their /
ST. | ror turtit11de in enduring one Of tile me
rks terrific bombardments ever known, and t
;u7 | courage which they haze cyinced, Will SUIT
As" enable them to crush the enemy whenever
are da1es come from under c0Fer Their gala
,rn- conduct attracts the admiration Of all, aud
re- bc recorded in history as splendid examples
| patriots and soldiers. Anxious but conlIdt
KY fauIilr5 and friends are watching them y"
ate firm reliance, based on their gallant exhi
the ton thus far made Of udomitaeie coura
~. and great military skill The enemy will
| yuur powers of endurance, but We believe *
no better success than already experienced
M. LOWELL,
e;da "aIojor General Commanding
- ~ "To Brig. Gen. j. Z. Duncan, command
J - Fort Jackson"
L a. Gen. Dupcan's reply to Major General L
VIC | eli rms Tins:
,sted Four JACKSON, April 2
uted have to report this mornIng same n
,;ved | sane, The bombardment Is still going
e.o,n fu,jously- They have kept it up furiously
lfoin rclIefE Of three divisions One of their tt
ua$ktd gunhoats, painted gray, came 81
| tLc point this morning, hui WAS struck,
It. = | retrcstcd. We are hopeful, in good spi
a., ana I cannot speak III too high praise Q
o1. nv officers and men. No further casua
jority ti1udc, and We will not disgrace tnem.
some. j. K. DUNCAN, Br:gadier Gener
''us' To Major General Mansfield Lowell,
citing ,,,.na,,'o y" % - nrmrtmcnt OF Louisiana
eall OF TIE DoMARDMENT.
1srecial D;snstch to the Norfolk Dsg Book
NEW ORLEANS, April
tied to | Eat Jackson 1o-da7:
: time "Heavy and continued omoardmen en-
Of the pight and SUI progressing ~ n3ad an,aaai
2e nas il certainly proteefiug n. We are etlll
fni, and we have @ a. abiding ialta ,la,s, n our
j. who IS ne can oo1 palnftts w goma & ~ 10
zen ap- 80 az f;,nes
nccced tsThe health Of the troops continues
enera TwentytEe thonsana ~ enamT one 18th tho
port at ns,s ,;rh III iii in lie tort. They must
exhanst themselves; ii not, we can stan
long IS they can. na.1
ned the "brlg: :Ha;nr Generad; Fnrt jscks
81 aud N.---e
Wilson nou vo,l- F5ynino Ebst of
tue vA- x1:.,t Warden.
We are glad to learn thsl the injuries
t-al,sot nftErer. though very severe, q
.cted In Ei.t.l.. ~ ss.n,x;re h{s country OF his
Davis, | services ne viii enexpe, We are toll