The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-08
BOMBARDMENT OF IvIcKsBURG
-TURN4NG THE CHANNEL OF
THE RIVER.

-TURN4NG THE CHANNEL OF
THE RIVER.
We had the privilege on Sunday night of
copying the following from an extra Union
Appeal, issued in Memphis on the evening
of the Sd inst, and brought to this city by
a passenger on the Lady Pike, which reach.
ed here at IL O'Clock P. NJ, of the 9Th instl
1t will be read with great interest by all:
The Monarch arrived from Vicksburg to-
day and brings the following startling
news, detailed to Us by Capt. George E.,
Curry, an eye witness of the whole on Com
modore Porter's flag ship Victoria, at
Vicksburg.
On Thursday last the bombardment of
Vicksburg was commenced by Com. Por-
ter's mortar fleet, at about daylight in the
morning. The shells were directed against
the upper Fort below the town, which
mounted eight guns. The bombardmeut
continued on that Fort all day without re-
suit. -F - ~
On Friday morning the firing was open
ed and continued until the afternoon, at
which time Porter signalled to shell the
town itself, which was done with deiibera-
ton end great accuracy. The effect of the
shell could not be well discerned from the
Octorors, then anchored in the stream
about two miles above the town. The
shells could all be seen to burst, but the
effect of the bursting was hidden by the
buildings in front. This continued till
about o'clock when the feet was signaled
to cease firing, which it did. The batteries
on shore replied very lightly and at long
and irregular intervals, firing very in
accurately. About half an hour after the
cessation of this bombardment the water
battery opened on the mortars, which re-
piled till the battery ceased firing. During
the same time the Oetorora fred ten shot
from her 100-pound rife, almost every one
of which was directed with surprising accu-
raey- till the gun heated, when it began to
throw high and need depressing. -s.,.=
When the firing ceased, at P. NJ, the
Captains of divisions were signalled to re-
port on board the flagship, where an or
der was issued to open fire With the entire
feet upon the town at eight o'clock that
night.
At O'Clock, therefore, the entire mortar
feet vomited very rain of shells upon
the devoted city, the round missiles SEEM
ing to be first to strike, and the last fred
often outstrippiug It's predecessor. This
terrible FIRE lasted about an an hour, when
an order was issued to cease firing.
1t appears that an order came from Com,
Farragut, whose feet was then five miles
below the town, in the bend, to again she'll
the town at 4 clock next morning (Satur-
day) when portion of his feet would run
past the rebel batteries. This order was
obeyed, aud again the sky was shaken by
the bursting of bombs and the explosion of
mortars. At ab6at O'clock that morning,
as the sun was shining. FarragHrs feet
came up, and eight of them passed the bat
teries, pouring broadsides into the town and
batteries These eight vessels consisted of
three men-of-war, two sloops- of-war, and
three gun6oats. During this daring pass
age, the rebel batteries poured an iron hail
on the feet, scarce damaging any of the
boats, aud disabling none. ~ s~-
The firing from the batteries was high,
and cut much rigging. The flagship, the
Hartford, was struck on the starboard side
twice one shot near the stern, the other
near the bow. These shots struck some ten
feet above the water line, passing through
the buIwaFks. Two of this feet, passed
above the mouth of the Yazoo, the others
anchored in the stream, where they re-
manned when our informant left. The dam
age sustained by the city must have been