The New York herald., 1862-03-21

The fleet at ship Island is as follow-sloops ofwm
Pensacola and Hartford gunboats Harriet Lane, Wssa-
hickon Kines Kennebeck, Calhoun PInola and Scota;
supply ship Fearnousht schooner gunboat kttatnny;
prize schooner Cora ps North America, Idaho Ocean
Pearl Undauned and Black Prince shooner Eliza s. Pot
ter, Edward, Lee Heart; also frigats Mississippi
The Fulton brings Ave sieerage passengers.
Our Snip Island Correspondence.
SHIP ISLAND, March L., 1862
Reconnaissance and an Attack by the Rebels.
Owing to the large increase of troops at Ship Island
and the meagre facilities for encamping them, General
Phelps determined to send officer to reconnoitrs Mis-
ssspp City, with view to establishing camp at that
point An order procured from the senior officer or
ths ship Island squadron Captain Jamss Alden, Of the
sloopofwar Richmond for the gunboat Calhoun Captain
f. j. Dc Haven to proceed to Mississippi City Under or
dsrs Of Colonel E. f. Jones' OF the Twenty sixth Massa.
chussts who had been assigned the command Of the
petition by General Phelps On Saturday the 8th inst,
st two O'Clock NJ, fifty men each from Companies and
], Massachusetts, Twenty sixth embarked board the
Calhoun. with forty rounds OF cartridges and days
tions. Company commanded by Captain Z. S
Clark and First Lieutenant William H. Lamson and Com
pany by Captain John Pickering First Lisutenant
c. Z. Drew. A cutter from the Richmond with eleven
armed sailors, commanded by Masters Mate r. r Swan,
Of the Yncennes but temporarily attached TO tho Rich
mond, accompanied the Calhoun. A few officers from
the Richmond, Captain Howes, OF the ack frnce, and
your correspondent the only guests. We also had
prisoner from New Orleans who to bs landed at Mis-
sissipp City and allowed return New Orleans
After the embarkation Of the troops a
siderable delay occurred in getting up steam.
80 that it halfpast three
got under way. In about an hour We arrived a. our
destination and the draght of the Calhoun being only
six feet and . half, able TO directly up 10
the wharf AS We approached tho village we saw man
on horseback riding rapidly away from the place.
Excepting two three other persons whom could
see, the place seemed utterly deserted. Tho two
paniss Immediately landed and the march up tho
wharf-which was three-qrarters of a mile long and
eight feet wds-commenced. When about third of
the way the shore found the panks torn IN for
about thirty yards The cross ties left standing,
but in some instances nearly through. few
detailed t. Up the outside planls and lay
them along the ties: and in fifteen minutes had
twelve inch walk the gap. We INST otter OBJ
struction until we nearly TO the end Of the pier
when suddenly wo discovered another GAP than
the first. The piles which the pier stood had been
cut away for sixty feet, and the end OF the
plank walk hac dropped into the water eight or ten
feet below, while the nner, shore end hung the
maHder OF the pier by Searching two small
houses the wharf found three short fights of
steps, which we lashed to board and lowered TO the
broken pier and passing tightly down the steps and
Mississippi City. Everything seemed as QUOT as the
grave, and anticipating NJ dsnger the moskets Of the
soldiers loaded.
The spot where landed Is about q milo and half
above Mississippi City, towards Biloxi Like most Of the
Gull towns OF Mississippi, 1t is of very little consequence
except resort for the wealthy citizens of New Orleans
In summer. The houses stretched along the beach,
and some Of them are fine residences
In straight line from Harrison's wharf (vhere de-
Oarked) broad sawdEst read up through tho VII
lAge TO Hansboro', town two miles distant. istc
less than quarter Of mile up this road gentle ac
K
TENDS further back than can say The why am
unable to speak definitely on this point VII! appear IN
Accompanied by Captain Clark and his C ,mpony. we
marched up the beach TO the right Of the wharf and
visited several houses but with one exception we fond
no one with whom VIC could exchange word. The |
abandoned We finally found Irishnan and his Whole
family and the rshnan told US there sonstLiag Of
forcc at Hansooro' consisting Of cavalry and
tiery. Beyond this, the exceedingly reticent.
We then returned 70 tho head of tho wharf and
told by Captain Pickering that there were evidences
Pickering TO leave half of his company a the |
wharf. and depoy the other half the beach to
20 tho left Captain Clark was ordered to deploy
half OF his c,mpany up the road and march up with
us toward the woods with the other half We had gone
but half dozen rods when in the woods about
dozen horsemen wheeling position and Colonel
caught glimpse OF the ammunition box OF a cass ~.
and called in the piatoons thai were depoy cd to be
front and left flank. The retrcated good order
and formed in line at the wharf. They we o then or
dered to retreat in plaoons to the Calhoun All
last platoon had left the shore the wharf
when we heard the report OF gun, and in a moment
canister shot was rafting around like hail. The
last platoon then moved toward the wharf in side step
TO prevent the enemy from discovering retreat a.
soores all were the pier CoDe Jones the order
for the oube-quick-steady We all started on |
quick run but progress impeded by the breaks
in the wharf, though-Owing to the prudent thoughtful
and foresight OF Mr.. p. Swan, commanding the
Richmond scutter-our passage over the outer gap
Cured to Mr. Sawn that might be some hurry g. |
return; 80, without waiting for orders he
to lay extra planks over the gap Mr. swans con.
crcditabe. u luot fail
20 thank him for his prudence While pier
enemy fred six times at with canister and round shot
but not man was injured, though struck Ia
tho thigh with a spent canister shot, which made q |
slight abrasure Of the skin aud then fell into his boot.
he did not stop to remove the ball but carried to the
steamer in his boot.
The shot fell directly around us and one charge of
canister scattered the dirt all Colonel Jones II
tho enemy had thrown shell as wol they threw
very few of us would have been left have told the
story Just before we reached the Calhoun Mr.. swan
fred shell At the rebels from the 2ipounder Parrot on
the steamers after deck and alter board we
threw two or three more Shells OF which sppea
To burst right the piece Of where the battery
was planted We could not OF course what damage
done by the shsll.
The men behaved thoroughly well. There was no con
fusion and Colonel Jonos only complaint s that hs could
not hurry them enough In crossing the broken places
IN the pier there no pushing disorder kind
The only regret OF the men that they liged
for prudential reasons TO retreat without getting
chance TO hre at the enemy, while, al the
they unanimous in their praise OF their commander
OF Colonel Jones conduct can speak decidedly, and Of
Throughout the whole sfair no was perfectly cool and
collected Not an excited word escaped his HIS. Until
the last platoon hid moved Upwards the wharf stood on
the shore trying discern the movements OF the rebels
through bis glass and when all had left no followed at
the He tho last pier and the
last man 10 get aboard the Calhoun.
The New Orleans papers. with their usual conscientious
reglrd for the truth win probably have account Of a
splendid battle at Mississippi CITY which several hum
drcd will be sad 10 have been killed the Union side
and General Butler will be 70 be reported having
been present The smpo truth Is this:-wc went for
the single purpose o reccnnotering and Suddenly catch
ing sign. o. battery masked in Tho woods, aad hight
rapidly drawing Coione Jones old the only thing
" be done under the circumstances We could form no
idea d the force Of the rebcs only knew that tbev
were using two guns and had IN the very worst pos
tion. II they had dared % Suddenly out on tho
woods and plant their pieces NJ the a the road he
Tore VIC commenced the retreat they could have enadd
ug fnpN Ntngu dor iisa au~tc