, 1862-06-07

dispatched gig to the point On q rcconnois-
sance. The men returned with confirmation
Of the story, at least they supposed the Fort
to be deserted.
At SIX O'Clock, however, as the mortar
boats were being withdrawn from their posi-
tion for the night, our ears were saluted with
the reports Of several rebel mortars and guns
from the works they fred in rapid success
sion, apparently giving the lie to the story OF
the deserter, which had BY this time become
current In the fleet, Several shells were seen
to explode directly over the beach, opposite
Flower Island, and their fragments sent up q
column Of spray as they struck the WATER
This certainly did not look like evacuation. In
about half an hour, however, the firing had
ceased, and presently black smoke was seen
to ascend from the bluff On which tho tort was
situated,
It was at first supposed tc come from the
chimneys of some rebel steamer, but finally
grew to too great volume for that. It
gradually overspread the horizon. Another
column and yet another column broke out in
different spot, but still in the vicinity Of the
fort. They were soon joined in one black,
murky cloud, which enyelopcd the sky IS
pail. Then it was that color Of truth was
lent to the etory ofthe deserter.
Com. Davis immediately dispatched Can't.
Phelps in tug with orders to ascertain if pos
sible the truth Of the report and the cause of
the contlagration. It was dark before he re-
turned to the Benton, Lut he brought full
confirmation OF the story Of evacuation, and a
statement that the fort was actually on fire.
The cotton breastworks, the barracks and the
gun carriages were burning. This fire vas
reflected red in the sky until O'Clock in the
evening, when it died away.
A consultation between Com, Davis and
Col. Fitch. renresent;np the land and n,v,1
| forcac too,- r1sco late, ~ +,,a o,,an;.1. .. =.
'o'ees' tooA plaee 1a'cf LII Ioe esenlnS' III
which it was decided to move the fleet early
| this morning. The orders vera eonscoucnt1v
|
leoaeo' anu 10 "11le lnes are oclns poL LII
force, having commenced at hltpast five.
The gunboats, with one exception, (the Pitts
| hnro6 ha-o ,of. +hair r,aar,,rs o,a 49,,
ou'sh,} nave ie1t tnelr nloo1lnss ana arc
stcamlng around the point, and the rams hare
followed, The TRANSPORTS. carrying the inf,,,
tr ora o1eo ~ ~ - 11r. - -, >l
80 ~ @A4oo " VI sne .Ao'e' "e sAalA all soon
~ e -" S"~e oeAoeA uAt1el1ea u EoFt
| Pillow. It is the opinion Of some that the
| Federals 1nav vct moot , conceo1ad.ffoa 49,
-s. ~ :. - ~0~''Aso 'o0' *'ho
sel niAte ~ p'41l1e ior Inc possession Of The
fort, but there is hardly probability Of that
Scouts who came in ]ast even;,c -n,,,r,
to7' tue =. feoels burned thelr Pontoon bridge:
We the Aatchee River in the rear Of thc
fort. to nrcyent aeeess tn thar nos;t;on TIA,
a,eo s+.ta +1ot 49, ~a1..,s - t,s-aI: ..e,
14so a,a'e 'na' 1Ae teoeis were lnfo"lng snel
i lu'o lHc ''tnoef al ene pacA VI LIZ oiun upof
the Federal cavalry, which they said were il
position.
w. ,ho1,coo
VIC eh1u Sec
To the Associated Prcea.1
CAIRO, June 6.-There is yet some doub'
that the ficet has passed Fort Randolph, whert
era ro1orea sI.u fro ~ n'i pi1a wlcI
1at1 a.. AZ g. nnne ~ rart pi,o, 10y ~ lspel
r;arcs Of which were hurnci "' 'NAS ~<AA
One of their 1arre ,nortars had axp1oded
vorEs With 5rc1e nf t7reaf strenoth % o1,5 +G1i
nronerlv nanned conld haTe snccsssfni1r ii.su "a
P.n1-c.T Inn 6.o, Nob,o rr;t, II. ~,
tire command. arc under narchinp nrders fa
down the river, and leave tomorrow. Lieut.
Col. Olncy, Of the 9Th cara1ry, is ROW com
manag5 in nN. q .n1s Fosi: MoTe troops T. are com
o,!crs. leave for the military nrson s II pisf 81
Louis tomorrow. Troops are pushing for
ward after The rebels below Corinth. Twt
RicImond sre9 to.daT anI saos 3ha nath
They report four hundrcd Of the same req;
| ment on the way. Memphis, Forts Pillow
n1. haaoolRn ano n1lgnt nave oeen taken oy On
ba1e nGsa; u e nefe Is g1Eas se5oat1ng @ mere. n
Tie Tiot IeiT 1',4t tua. ~ gane IS ~
eai LEY. .; 10y ~ ne%lese success Capl. Ho1er
peeh 10 lo'oes 1iais u IaoueaA.
CAIRO, June Cit is reported that til
ram queen G1t} arrived at fofs fl4oW troi
doinh tra1ra 1n;;as ht1oW hnd bt.t hao. nhat r
doned By the rebels, md that our gunboat
were On the1r" way down the river
"AsntSaroS, June e.-Ihe following Ws
received to-day at the Navy Department:
: CAIRO, June 6, 1862
~ -, 11on u" "ei1ss' secfe.afs Oh tne Navy:
amS ~ ooA p;1oM ~ 7a an ns ~ lcpur,s u
j !