Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-20

brother, who is a Lieutenant on the Mar
mora, Of the Western Fleet:
UNITED STATES GUEnoAT MARzORA, OF
MOUTH YAzoo RITERs Nov. 20 1862 }
To-day has been an eventful day with
Us and our little feet Of four vessels. We
left Cairo a week ago tonight for Helena.
We reached Helena BY Tuesday, received
orders there to proceed IN company with
three other gunboats, the CarondOlet, Of
10 guns, Mound City, Of 1s guns, Signal
of guns, Marmors, of 8 guns, 40 in all,
70 open up the YaEoo river if possible
We reached here last evening, laid at an
ehor until 10 o'clock this mOrping, then
hove anchor and started up. The river,
(Yazoo, being low the carOndolet and
Mound City could not GO up, so the Mar
mora and Signal started alone. We wanted
TO find if the rebels had any boats or bat
teries. After proceeding up some 20 miles
we came suddenly upon q large 6 gun bat
terry. After reconnOitering and firing
thirteen shots we came down again. The
rebels have no gunbosts up there. The
battery that We saw is atDrumgoOls Bluff,
20 miles from the mouth of the river. On
the way down the river we were
fred on by guerrillas. Eight shots
went through aud through our ward room,
dsmolishiug things. Afier we came down
went up 10 my room, and such looking
room you never saw. Everything was
knocked endwsys. We captured two Pris-
ouers and three negroes. The way we
knocked down the rebel piekets. tents and
houses, was astonishing. Il is wonderful
how fast and quick they get information.
They knew Of our coming three or four
days in advance. Well, we have had our
frst brush. We are lying ct anchor just
of Yazoo river with our guns all shotted
and ready to run out. On our trip up the
river we shot two rebel piokets. One Of
our Ensigns, Henry H. Walker, Of New
Albany, indiana, was shot last Friday
evening at wilkins Bend by q guerrilla.
A party went ashore to arrest prominent
rebel and just as they landed aparty hred
into them, shooting Mr.. Walker. He is
now doing we'll and my surgeon thinks he
will recover. Walker is Junior Rusign
Of our boat, and good fellow. l tell you
this is a mighty tight place, the guerrillas
shooting every chance they can get. You
can scarcely see any white people along
the river banks. Houses are deserted and
everything looks drear and desolGte. You
can't form any idea Of the desolation along
the Mississippi. As we advanced the reb-
els would burn their cotton. l saw piles
Of corn on the banks burning, set on fire.
We never saw any sign of Union flag af-
ter leaving Helena. No Union sentiment
Of any kind displsyed-all secesh. An
old darkey whom we captured, told me
"psr" Of shoes was worth $l2, and scarce
at that. Along at the plantations you
could see only negroes white people are
of TO the war, except bands Of guerrlllas
prowling along the rivers. l saw Billy
Munday. He is pilot on the steamer Lake
CITY, running from Cairo to Memphis
As we 90 along we destroy every boat
barge, skiff and every thing that can float
l can't tell you how long we will be here
We expect the Admiral along in few days
and then we viii know something definite
of our movements. We are lying here
awaiting orders. We are within ten miles
Of Vicksburg. From information received
through the negro we captured (orin othel
words took in, as we do sll Of the darkies
along the river) We learn that they had nj
boats at Vieksburg, buthesvy fortihcstioui
and guns there. IOU 5hUUi1 sSs tAs ne
proes. How they know ofOur coming is
mystery. One old darkey waited on tbs
river banks two weeks hiding in the bush
es and woods, waiting for Masss Lincoln'i
puuboats. Said /, I" How did you know
we were coming 2" "oh," says he "mass'
[ seed de smoke snd knoWed you was
coming" Another old darkey, that wal
tending lot Of sheep, when he saw u
coming jumped of his horse, left hiu
standing and come running down to th'
river bank haliooing. We took him II
/ and be says be is safe enough now. They
seem to think It is all right when ono
they get aboard.
Our Captain has come back from con
! ference between Flag Officer Walker Of tn
cArondolet, snd we are TO leave at SIX II
the morning for up the river somewhere
will try and finish tomorrow. sn
tired Of writing, having wOked hard si
day. l tell you, nov the shots few to-day
Nv guns crew worked we'll and made som
good shots. have the lst division
guns. But this 6gbtingis awful bushes
The way the shell ring and Whisti
through the sir is 8 caution.
la Yours