The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-07-22
GLORIOUS CONFEDERATE VICTORY
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
The Eaemy's Fleet Dispersed.


Vicksburg. having attacked the enemy's feet
with impetuous gallantry, disabling and damaging
several vessels and sustaining comparatively slight
iniurv herself The Arkansas is a steamer Of
300 tons. She was built at Memphis, but was
removed from that point in an unfinished condi-
ton. previous to the evacuation by our troops.
She has since been completed in the Iazoo river.
The following is copy Of an official dispatch re-
ceived at the Navy Department yesterday morn
ing:
YIcKsBURG, Miss, July IS, 1862.
To lion. s. Il. Mallory:
We engaged to-day from six to eight a. III. with
the enemy's fleet above Ficksburg, consisting Of
four or more ron-clad vessels two heavy sloops of
war. four gunboats, and seven or eight rams. We
drove one iron-clad vessel ashore, with colors
down and disabled, blew up a ram, burned one
vessel, and damaged several others. Our smoke
stack was 50 shot to pieces that we lost steam and
could not use our vessel as ram. We were
otherwise cut up, as engaged at close quarters.
Loss. ten killed, fifteen wounded, and others with
slight wounds ISAAC n. BROWN,
Lieutenant Commanding
The Government also received the subjoined
dispatch from General Van Dorm, giving some
additional particulars of the victory, and bestow-
ing proper tribute of praise upon the gallant
commander of the Arkansas, her officers and
men:
VIcKsBrRG, July l5.-The sloop-of- war Ark
ansas, under cover Of our batteries, ran gorously
through twelve or thirteen Of the enemy's rams,
guaboats and sloOps- of-war.
Our loss is ten men killed and fifteen wounded.
Captain Brown, her commander and hero, was
slightly wounded in the head.
Smoke-stack of the Arkansas is riddled, other
wise she is not materially damaged, and can
be repaired
Two Of the enemy's boats struck their colors,
and ran ashore to keep from sinking.
Many killed and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. achieve
ment for the Navy, her heroic commander, Off
GERS and men.
One mortar boat disabled and aground, is now
burning up All the enemy's transports aud all
the vessels of war of lower fleet, except sloop-of
war, have gotten up steam and are off to escape
from the Arkansas. EARL NAN-DORN,
Major-General Commanding.
This reminds US Of the first glorious achieve
mcnt of the Confederate steamer Virginia, which
spread CONSERVATION throughout Hankeedom, and.
astonished the most scientific naval officers on the
continent of Europe. The victory will inspire
the people of Nicksburg with renewed confidence
and ZEAL and we hope it will be followed up by
still more powerful blows. Lessons like this will
teach the enemy that his gunboats may be driven
from Southern waters, while the history of the
past four weeks has proved that his boosted land
armies cannot stand before Confederate bullets
and bayonets.
MoRGAN's EXPLoIT-Knoxvie, July 10
On the 9th instant, at Tompkinsvillc, Monroe
county, Kentucky, Colonel Morgan's squadron
surprised and routed the Seventh Pennsylvania
regiment, killing thirty-four, wounding forty and
capturing thirty. Among the prisoners is Major
Thomas Jordan, who was brought to Knoxville
Our loss was two slightly wounded. The whole
~ ! Ill. H., T. ~
hands of Morgan, including 100 head of horses
and mules, 100 rifles, and large quantity Of
ammunition and clothing.
THE SoUTnwEsT-A Northern paper says
.'Eirginia does not entirely absorb public attcn-
ton. The army Of Halcck is said TO have
melted away. 1t is a fact that the Federals have
made no progress in Mississippi or Alabama since
the evacuation of Corinth. The Generals of Hal
leck are scattered. Pope commands on the
SHENANDOAH; Lewis Wallace demands place in
the army Of the Potomac; Mitchell is at Wash
ington; McClernand is at Corinth; Cook Nelson
and Crttenden, entrenched between Huntsville
and Decatur, make no movement; Buell. operates
obscuroly and fruitlessly in East Tennessee and
Grant, almost without soldiers at Memphis, has
not sufficient cavalry to prevent the marauders of
the South from burning cotton within 20 miles Of
the town-that is to say, in his
~--
TIE HEAT AT BERKELEY.-We stated few
days since, upon the authority ola gentleman
quite familiar with Berkeley and its localities,
and particularly that portion of the estate where
McClelan's grand army is encamped, that it is
the hottest place in Virginia. We see by Yam
kcc letter from that point, dated Monday July 9Th,
and published in Bennet's HcraM Of the 11th,
that on the day the letter was written, the Their
mometer was l04 in the %hadc. This is what we
would accept as hot weather in this latitude,
and If the Yankees at Berkeley don't GET scorched
now, we shall be much mistaken. An irreeous
friend suggests that after this they will be bet ter
prepared to encounter those fiery blasts which we
are told are in reserve for all who act wckcdy as
the Yankees have done
k8s@Late reports from abroad bring us ail-
tional and positive testimony that ali the great
lines and routes and places Of American travel in
Europe and in the Vest Indies and Bahamas are
infested with Lincoln tools, sycophants and spies
1t could scarcely be believed, without positive
and conclusive testimony, that people and
Government asserting such puritanicar claims to
high standard in dccency and in liberal institu-
tons, would resort to this despcable means of the
yIIest dcspotlsm; but it is SO. Not only have
detective spies been selected from fitting tools of
the sterner sex, but Linconism and Sewal dism
have even employed Strange women" Of prenos-
sesSlng manners and of seducing arts tc act as de-
tectlves and confidential correspondents. and have
pald them out Of the ''secrct service fund
The CAPTI-RFO ARNSTt :, e.l .