Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-07-17

WAR CORRESPONDENCE.
C4srp HALL, July 9th, 1862


glorious. After five OF six days fight
ing. we have succeeded in capturing
: some 10000 prisoners, and routed the
bully army of the North. Mcclellan
was whipped back to his gunboats on
the James River. some % miles from
Richmond. The fight was Il hard
fought one. and both sides suffered
heavily. Its reported that Mcclellan
himself was wounded and taken pfis =
er How true this is, | cannot tell.
Reports ON the subject arc SO various,
that we scarcely know what to believe.
Ii is certain, however, that we routed
them, took all their batteries, and a
large amount of small arms, ammltni
ton, &c. 1t is reported to have been
the greatest fight yet. It's generally
believed that this victory will put an
end to the war shortly. ] hope 50
with all my heart
Eicksburg holds out first rate
Every day some new cannon IS mount
cd it is perfect Gibraltar. Gen.
! Van Dorm says that he wW defcm u
until It IS rcduecH 10 oshcs, dm Hea dcfe"
! lis ashrs 10 Me last lie is q trump
and the boys all have the most u'-
| bounded confidence in him.
The other day, the whole Of the low
cr fleet started before daylight, i'll line
Of battle first, came eight ships
abreast and then u half Of - mile be
hind, some twelve others, and still
further the balance (tllc mortar boats
included The advance of the fleet
passed our lower battery before day
!. We did them little or 10 injury When
they came to our upper battery, 1t
was day The balance Of the fleet
came up opposite the lower battery
at tho same time. There was then
one of The most tremendous firing That
ever was known. Though some eigh-
teen miles from Vicksburg, the ground
fairly quaked under our feet. The adj
vance Of the fleet succeeded in passing
our upper battery, but left their IA
nous ship Brooklyn around the point
as a trophy she sank i'll the middle
of the river. Two others OF THEN
gunboats were in u sinking condition
we had but five guns at that battery,
the upper and the men fought like
tigers. Their guns got SO hot that
they had to pour water on them and
wait for them to cool down The only
gun Of large calibre we had, got out
Of fix at an carly part Of the engage
ment, ono of the balls being rather
too large, got hung in the middle Of
the piece, otherwise, We would have
done more mischief The balance Of
the fleet was whipped back by our
lower battery, and the damage done
them could not be asccrtaincd. He
lave placed at the upper battery four
128 FOUNDERS Had we had them at
first, the whole of the cncmy's fleet
would have been sunk or destroyed.
They fired at us, broadsidc after
broadside of some twenty heavy guns
You may Judge how they sounded.
The city was badly riddlcd; ; but 10
injury was done to oar batteries du
ring five days continual bombardmcni
We lost but nine men. tThrec of
whom were killed by the premature
discharge of one of our guns) and nine
teen wounded The enemy has mounted
a battery opposite the city. They
can level it to the ground but our bat
tcrics are so cli,:atcd that they cannot
do us injury We will not waste our
ammunition ut this battery Us we can
hustle them out Of it whenever we
please. The upper feet has also ar
rived they stand around the point
and shell us every day 1t seems the
Yankees have given up the hope Of
taking Vicksburg. they have press
cd all the slaves in Madison Parish,
and are now building q Rail Road
across the point. They cannot take
lictsbHrg by ia0d as AH m mpo>WbIdy.
We have not less than 1000 light ar
tiIlery, same amount Of cavalry and
10000 infantry. Idsburg IS sajr.
Your brother
O. N.
7. :. I haze just been informed by
Capt sIouton Of the 18th Regiment
that the news have stated before,
arc fully confirmed. We have achicv-
cd u gloriots tietoty, 10000 Of the
enemy were killed anil wounded 5000
prisoners have already reached Rich
mold They lost three Of THEN Sener
ais aud -four briSadicr generals killed
Mcclellan succeeded III making his os
cape to bis Stnrboats It expected
that our victorious army will march
without ,lcFav 10Y 70 WAsu%Grov"