The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-18

Ssiut new orleans packets, and numerous sn,.l,e
"..' na-. ine unfinished ram Arkansas and the Van
Dorn' are reported to be up the Yazoo Anon,
the Doa's in good condition are named the A i
Cotton Gen. Quitman, Louisville Natcbsz. VIcks
enfg, City Of Memphis, Kennett, Prince of Wales
Magnolia. Magenta. and a number of smaller boo /.
IN ali there are about twenty-five vessels ali n
which with but little repair could be made service
atie. ''''
THE RAM ARKANSAS
Though the Southern people are exec edpalv fonf
OF telling great stories concerning things unseen
ard love to magnify the importance anil ouerr...
the power of muntion untried, they seem Ia 6,ys,
with especial emphasis the construction snd
prowess of their unfinished gunboet ram Ark kanv,r
This vessel was partially built at Memphis: ii i,
81 feet in length 3S feet beam and IN var h,,
prcpelers Of feet diameter, and when co,nnjste
with fun armament will draw feet wafer THE
ram Is TO be ironclad in every par. with railroad
Iron; the battery ia to consist of easemsted par
roft guns and swive! gun the bow The ,as.
iron nose that arms her Prov weighs Is 600 pounds
ana is attached by iron bolts passing through Nc
inches Of solid OAK -
The Arkansas was run stom Memphis 10 urevep,
Its falling into the hands OF Com Davis The
materials necessary for its completion were placed
on board. and carried up the Yazoo river as far as
the depth OF water would admit of; the work has
been continued, and this terrible engine of war Is
now reported complete, and ready to annihilse the
enure haflonai hoila on the river. This siirhi oh.
strncuon, however, is in the way there ia not srf.
hcient water in the Yazoo river 10 float her out
whether the whole story Of her completion. and
reported launch On sand b.f is aresel lie intend.
ed 70 frighten Or deceive, does not appear
EXPEDITION UP YAZoo RIVER. =
On Thursday Of last week two rams The Non.
arch and the Lancaster No. g. went up the Yazoo
river distance Of 90 miles. When 40 miles from
tne mouth of tho river the rams were hailed bv a
man on ehe shore, who desired 10 be taken on board
captain Eet brother Of the late Col. Eilst sent a
small boat ont 70 bring the stranger ip The man
proved 10 be the carpenter from the rebel gurboat
Van Dorm, and deserter. He represented tta. 90
miles farther up the channel was blockaded by a
suhkeh rait ana chain stretched across the
stream. Below the distractions were the Van
Dorn three small rams and one transnort Al!
these were represented to be in Immediate readi
ness to be burned on the approach Of our feet.-
The rams proceeded up the river, bu, before thew
came fully In sight of the enerDy the smoke was
seen rising from the burning steamers The boa,s
were cut loose 70 drift toward our rams; these.
however, Were careful 70 keep safe distance from
the fiery enemy
kKBEL FoRTIFICATIons on THE YAzoo.
Within good range above the raft and chain the
enemy mas erected battery of nine guns on the
binf The guns were taken up from New Orleans
and placed in position before the gunboat Arkansas
was runup for safe keeping The obstruct;ous had
already been placed in the river when the Van
Dorm arrived, and il was deemed unvyise to remoye
them to allow hev to pass and she has therefore
with her companions, become the last sacrifice of
the greatly vauIted reoe navy on the Western " a.
tiers.
The guns We're taken from .hese boats and placed
on ocaEd the Arkansas, hich The carpenter of the
Van Dorm represents TO be still unfinished and not
aground.
MEETING OF THE TWO FLoTIILAS
The fleet arrived ut point three miles asove
ieksburg On Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock when
six of Commodore Farraguts vessels, including the
at anchor. The fleet from the North came to si,i,
ehor along side and in the rear of Farragut's YES.
sels, and a conference wa, had between, the two
commanders on board the flagship Benton. The
commanders may here pass their greetings. but the
nnion of the fleets only after the fall of
Nicksburg.
ENGAGEMENT ASD RUNNING THE REBEL BLOCH
ADE
tAe aeet below, consisting of So ven suuboa.s
under Earragut. and 10 gunbeats and IL mortar
ooats in command or Com. Porter, made IN attack
on the enelnys works early Saturday morning.
Tie engagement lasted about one hour Six Of
FarragUts vessels Including the flag ship Hartford,
passed up in front OF the rebel batteries, and are
now above the city. The aeet several times drove
the enemy from his guns, and i: is reported by de-.
seEters that the gUuners forced back to their
batteries at the point of the bayonet
The slaughter of the enemy was terrible, though
tho exact number OF his killed cannot he ascer.
tanned. Tie casualties on the flee. We're six killed
and two wounded; one of the latter died on Satur
day. The Miami, which sustained the hottest of
the enemy hre, was several times struck and had
her masts entirely carried away.
The batsif, though OF short duration, vas terri.
bly, severe, and gave the Missss;ppians some fore.
taste OF what they must expect, when our dee,
should once attack them with the determination of
taking their works
vICKsBURG.
The City OF V;cksburg is built on Il bluff. vary.
ing III height from POO 10 $50 feet above the river
II contains about 5000 inh abiants and monopolizes
The trade Of the entire Yazoo Valley one of the
most fertile counties iu the South The annual
shipment OF cotton exceeds 100000 bales 1t con
lains an elegant Court House, six churches three
seminarles OF learning and three newspaper estab.
IiShments.
THE REBEL F0RTIFICarIONS.
The enemys works consist of two eparate forti-
hcations; one above ard the other below the CITY
though both are 70 Immediately adjoining the place
that will be impossible 10 shell the works without
destroying the city In the attempt TO take IT, The
situation is such that the upper fortiticatior can
beg attacked to best advantage from above. and
the lower more adyantegeousiy from below the
city. Eacn fortiica'ion consists of two lines OF
batteries. The lower lines are come thirty feet
above the present watec lae and form an irregular
line Of batteries, both in elevation and front
The upper lines are series of earthworks SINH
lar 10 those 6elT, and are somewhat similarly sit
uated though more extensive, stronger and mount
more and heavier guns. 1t is impossible accurate.
point of observation occupied by oar forces The
number Of guns is variousiy reported 10 be from 80
to 80, and tho infantry force Is believed - be
about IL, coo strong.
vIcKSBURG TO BE DRIED UP.
The bend in the river and the location of yicks.
burg are such as to make 1t practicable 10 draw the
Mississippi three miles from the city, and allow YES.
sels to pass at that distance from the batteries
through cutoff of three-fouIths of q mile IN
length. Commodore Farragut has placed five or
six hundred contrabands TO work with picks end
snovels, and in few days hence the channel of the
river may he turned from its present course and
about seven miles
The military purpose OF the new channel will
be served, but the effect the city of Vicks
burg may be nothing less than total annihilation
Of her commerce, and the sweeping away of her
chief source of wealth.
The merry negroes at work the cutoff enjoy
the escape from the plantation amazingly snd say
de boys is mighty glad 10 work 70. yOus ALL
FROM MISsOURi-EEEECrO OF THE NEWS OF MCtEL.
LAN's RETREAT.
Especial Correspondence Of the N. Y, Tribune
ST. Louis, July !, 1862.
If bomb-sLeil had fallen in the middle O; town
It could not have produced greeter sensation than
the news which reached this city on Thursday last
that Mcclellan had Saen forced to retire u miles
lcsin. lis siege gUns and only saving his army from
by the fortunate cooperation Of the
gunboats. What rendered the reception of this
news worse here than elsewhere was the fact that
on Wednesday there were vague reports tom Mem
pills. and rumor from Fortress Monroe that Rich
mond had been taken
The news Of the retreat from the Chickahominy
gave sssat JOY to the rebel sympathizers who still
haunt this city, and although they made no public
it was easy to perceive u deep un.
der-current of pleasure in their feelings whenever
Richmond was mentioned. Indoors they doubtless
celebrate the occasion heartily 1t was notised
shat the evening of the Sd celebrated In front
of nearly every prominent rebel dwelling in town.
by putting off tire-Craekers, burning gunpowder.
of n tOnf
tory while appearing to prepare for the 4th of July
Gen. Haileck was expected to arrive here on 81.
turday His old apartments as the Planters Hotel
were prepared for him that day, but he came