New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-24

for the time with the sudden sorrow, was soon re-
,sl,.d from il nv bs imperative duties TO tho exct-
ms scenes around him.
Fire p. m.-We are just closing for the ngat Il II
believed to make a close attack in the morning.
NoSDAY, March IL, 1867
SUNDAYS FIRING.
After nv letter of last night was Dispatched the
enemy. for the fret tine during the Gay, replied to
o,, IRE. He sent three shots from the riied gun OF
lis MINER. or water battery, the Tennessee shore.
Tvyo fell short. but the third, tfter screaming
through the air for two miles, dropped into the water
h,,,seen the Cincinnati and transport Rob,
Rov within $50 feet Of the latter. A. she is an Or
binary steamboat, quite unprotected, single she'll
.iriLiup her fairly, woull be likely to snk her; 20
.ne started up the river, ont OF range, win COCO
deal of oeerity. The shot wac au excellent one
I'm, the enemy did not see where 1t struck or nc
vopld nave followed i. mp after obtaining tucl good
range.
4 she'll feom one Of our MORTAR fell IN the midst
of n group of men NJ one Of the Rebel batteries
and exploded, throwing the dirt IN all directions
A. the smoke cleared away, we could re with
onr cle,.es that the men We're running for dear life.
The mortars have not proved very elective tins iai
the ,rnuers do not succoed in Obtaining he rance
accurately: bu, several shots from the two riicd
Gun. Of the Benton have been thrown straight into
the water hattery--two miles distant.
/ The mortars kept up their fire until after dark.
About in the evening we detected Retel sieem-
boat creeping slowly up along the Tennessee shore
TO tber water battery. Capt. Phelps sent bi. COM
plirrents to her in the form OF rihed she'll l. was
2 ]. .. mol f.ffa a.. mai
extinciiisAed or hid all her h,hs and we Jaw moth
( ing more of them during Tho night.
gEBIL STEAMBOAT SUM.
One Of the enemys steamboats, beside the sland
ia ruuk and abandoned; bot whether one q our
,lo.s DID it, or t- Rebel, ibemfe!vos scuiicd her III
l. impossible 70 determine.
THIRD Dn.
This morning il warm and sunny, and the clear
atmosphere giyes the beet view We have Jet
obtained OF the enemyr works. A ooosnliaron OF
tie contains of all the guuboais haf been hold IN the
cabin of the Benton. Thus far the fiag-Ofieer has
proreeded with extreme caution, - II IL the INT use
OF the guuboats IN fighting down stream, aud lie Is
determined to sacgifce no Life needlessly. Bni u i
now decided 70 steam down, directly toward the
urper or water battery, and euaol, IL w.h our bow
gum. IT, ordor to cOme within good range we shai!
be expo,ed 10 the heavy guns OF the batteries below.
/ III, " y. Dina characterizes Gen. Mcclellan ~
90 The Great Unreaiy, and rhe Rebels here probably
bcgu 10 sneak of Com. to0le ia tie same terms bu;
they are likely very soon to lad ont her error.
PREPARATIONS FOR TIE GtNboAT ATTACK.
/ Eileen q. fa.-Tbe noriars have opened a slow
IRE upon the Island. Tie hammocSs age brought
down from our upper deck and placed in font d he
boilers; the bose is attached 10 reservoirs OF hot
water which can be thlown with great force and
volume 10 close conflict; and the surgeon once more
ominously looks his instruments and gives direc
tions 10 hs assistants. We arc shl at anchor, but
the Cincinnati " being ashed 70 us on The left sdo |
and the 81. Louis on the right that we may move
down toward the battery together.
Tpeire m.-Our three boa,s, made fest 70 each |
other are slowly moving down near tho cart bank,
with the Caroudelet, Pittsburgh, and Mound City |
following in the rear
THE COMMANDMENT
Irenty minute past One j. m.-Ono Of our rhel |
guns opens the fire upon the upper water battery
at mile and II half Ai.er dropping down lightly, |
we approach the Shore where there ia little current
and our wheels are kept in motion enough TO hold
ur steadily in position. The gun-boas on each sde
Of us al.o commence firing rapidly, and those in the
rear and the mortars Join in the chorus From the
bows Of the Benton, Cincinnati and St Louis
which form floating battery Of ten guns. are fred
81 shots in lleen minutes, while the other boats and
the moriars fire at least an equal number, piercing
tho air with seven reports per minute. Standing
upon the deck, we can see our sh0s as they fy
through the air and, when the urid smoke does not
obscure the view, follow them until they explode in
the water battery strike the ground in front Of il,
The enemy shows no signs Of life, except rom his
steamboats,, tho chimnoys Of which orc just yifible
moving along behind the island.
RESPONSE OF THE ENEMY
Ten minutes past tr0-The Rebels opened upon
us with two of iheir guns from the head Of the
Island, but the shots fell half mile short Then
they try their second battery, and the ball comes
over our heads, and falls in the woods
behind us Their upper, or water battery, which
we fred on yesterday, has hitherto been silept but
now it also opens with good deal Of accuracy.
Tucaty minutes yast tro.--A shot strikes the bows
If the st. Louis Just below the waier-mark. Another
,asses over our heads and drops in the water within
wenty feet Of our rudder. Our principal annoy
nee is from tho water battery. Standing upon the
eck we see the cloud Of smoke curling up from il.
Iome one shouts, =" There comes another" and we
ROUGH down upon our faces behind the iron-plated
dollhouse, to hear first the report and then the
shot, which sometimes falls short, but
sually passes oyer our headr, and drops INTO the
ga.er or tho woode.