New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-29

assault. They are probably provided WIN guns as
no vessels were before; beside the usual compile
ment Of tweniy-six guns, bowitzers are placed III
the tops. Beside lheee there the lroquos, Oneoa,
Verona lvf twelve Runs), Miami, and the sailing
sloop Of. war Portsmouth, which Is towed by ths
Mississippi, who has taken her under her special
care. Then come the gunboats Wissabicop, Ninona,
o wasco, ltasca, Pnola, Kennebec, Scioto, CayugA
Katshdin, and another whose name at this minute
cannot recall
PORTER's MORTAR FLEET
il little armada of itself. These mortar sohooner'
would, however, be very much like an umbrella
without handle, or q how without etrlng, were II
not for the three ferry. boats Clifton Westiield and
jackson. which are doing the State more service
down here than ever they did on the Staten Island
route. One of these feTyboats can tow two or
three of tho mortar vessels at n time.
The mortar fleet is divided into three divisions,
known respectively as the Red, White and Blue.
Tie Harriet Lane is Commodore Poner's flag ship
PASSING TIE BAR.
Before arrived in these waters the feet had be-
gun tie great work of entering the Mlssissppi.
fhose only familiar with the Hudson know little OF
the difficulties Of the task.
The feet entered the river by the Southwest
Pat. There had been come intention OF trying to
reach New. ORLEANS ~ way OF Lake Pontchartran,
but the enemy became pfomatureiy ADVISED OF Tue
plan, and ~ II WAS abandoned, and the South-West
Pass essayed. The Water was 10 shallow that the
larger yGsels could not PASS aud the cannon,
anchors and almost every movable article on board
the Hartford Pensacola, Richmond and Brooklyn,
w.re transferred to light sohooners. The heavy
war vessels thus lighiened sailed tnumphantiy
over the bar, and reshipped their armament higher
up. The Colorado being too heavy, was ieit out
eide. The passing cf the bar occupied some three
weeks the last vessel crossing only the day before
the Connecticut sailed from the mouth oi the
Passes. ln towing the Pensacola over the bar a rad
accident occurred. hawser parted, and IN the re,
coil killed two men, and broke the leg Oh thifd
could not learn their names.
CAPTIEE OF PILOT TOWN.
The fret vessels which passed the bar took pos
session Of tie deferted village Of Pilot Town, which
in the flush days OF Louisiana was fiyorite stes-
INK place the Long Branch Of New'Or ans. The
place was deferted, and tht spacious hotel was at
once occupied hy our surgeons, and fitted up - a
hospital!
HEALTH OF TIE TLrEr.
Happily we have had, a. Yet u,e FOR h0-i i1al
oar men enjoy excellent health.
{. :. NoET,HsCho"asE N"NY"fk FffAkr(
HE,n oP rHF F.sst.,
Hi- ssnTI Ni'Ss, apnl .', l@'.)
TIE FLEET ~ TIE HAD Or 1llE PASSES
/ On the Stn inst. the entire mortar feei, taking
advantage Of a gooa hreel', weighed anchor, and
after q short run between the Te-fy banks OF the
Pass anchored IN = long column close 10 ihe west
shore Of the river, n above the Head oi the is-.es
Tho fri.hte hs--sigQi Hr" tie len-a"oA wcie leit
az Pilot Town, eAi Ius sop 20 follow 10. A. the
/ Head OF the Pasaos Wr found ibo Hartford, II ook
lyu, RichmcId, llairet I..Le, Verona. Chii on,
Wcffeld, fcv-rui gunh. At, Lnd tie IRE. .ch Enn-
boat Milan. Tic iolIOla, Oneida. aud stNcnl
cunbosi., are watching tHe mcN c,neI's oi the
eusuy up he rivur, within i've or iN milr- Of the
forts. II j. s.id t.Gi 'he entire aeet WI intr .
posiio " te $3.50 yri,1 fseFG IEs yssa 40 csisi
CnAlS-rLArfNo.
The Richmond and tie Ova.co. gui-Losis hsve
been pfjo.ed all over with Eud-ce'ored pint 10
order 10 pre.ont "a ess di-tingnishable mark 10 The
Rebel Qui,ners. The RichncLd Hartford hnd
Prooklvn have received novel kind Of ifon-pl4t-
iup Ii Is made oi the heaviest cham cahci Whl'h
hangs down the sides, and 10 spiked Oh hrrniy ono
ros oi links toucLing and dove-iailing With Tie
next This arInor reaches from the Dori' 10 below
the water-lne and protects the boilers. Ihese YES.
-els IS well ~ the Mis,-lppi, carry two iE-iound
bowzers in their fore and mnla tops for opt raions
aguinst infantry and .oi tring Into rartes wherc
/ the banks are high. The Hoquois II slso cham
plated.
PLAN OF ATTACK.
Gen Butler and his Stsf were or board the Hart
ford on the 7ih inst. They came from Sup leland
in the Wis,ahickon gunboat, and returned by the
Saxon. No troops have ~ yet made Their aPpehI-
ance in these part- Among tie lans under dlscIs-
sion is the following: Instead of taking all Tie
troors up the Pass accompany the feet in ia at
tack, TO land portion Of them above Fort Philip
in its rear u is said that vessels running IN Back
Bay when close to the shore, only 3. miles from
Fort Philip; and that the lace could be stormed
with but little opposition on It's northern face. The
troops will probably he transported IN Mississippi
,teainboats. There are several Of them at Slip
island, with three decs highpreesure engines. two
smoke-stacks rising from the bowe, and capable OF
carrying several hundred passengers apiece. IL Is
said thai the troops have suriboas capable OF land
| ing ], 500 at once. mis- plan, If well earned out
would make the capture Of Fort Phillip an easy
! ihing.
Fort Jackson is the stronger fortihcalion, and
more likely TO make determined resistance. There
IL poiIt OF land Just below Fort jackson, which
will afford some protection to the mortar vessels.
while they throw their shells over 1t into Rebel
works. This point was once thickly wooded, but
the trees have for the most part been cut away.
Up THE RWTR.
On the 5ih inst the lroquois the Wh'aihckon
and another gunboat, steamed ny the nyer toward
the for;s until they discovered five or. s& Rebel
pfeamere advancing TO meet them. Several shots
were exchanged, one Of which pG.sed over tie
W-sahickon. The lookout at ths masthead dlscoy-
cred "A pondescript craft among the Rebel boats
which il supposed TO have ben Holiins'. pet ram.
On the Sth INST, the gunboat NinOna WIS ordered
TO take ia tow the captain o' he Milan, avery prey
French Qunbont which IL lying here. Monsieur
proposed TO make yih TO the forts in biz .. When
within five u.let OF the forts the frenchuin thought
that bis neutrality was cOuIromred by hN belhS IN
tow Of vessel whose crow was standing ~ the guh'
ready Tor action So be LEI 90 hnd proceeded up 'ie
current with & pte2dy breeze. Commander fo Camp
of al, IroQuOi, then boarded the Nlnon", hol"'ed II
gap Of truce and followed the French captain ~ tho
river until he was brought 10 h. II bia4k cmuldSe
from tie Rebel guns.
The chain, stretching across tie ryer ON seven
scLoouers and "a rift, was visible. Eiehi o. i'h
ro.r yere di,coyclod al author abOy, .he chain.
/ Two OF the steamers passed below the cham ana
steamed down under flags q truce. One Il thein
was lie Defiance, mouniiug ore gdu. The c.ntf
wa nained 1ounessce and aiI'and 10 be - side-
wheel soa stoamer, converted ini0a VA Nef-'' i"'
FcIel cjiicers tlen boarded the W'rcaa. "nd $50.
| rn..ivod y. lanl ID. lanu In the cabin. Nhe =.