, 1862-05-28

ouse, rattle, massasauga, and black.
THE OBJECT.
I may as well Indicate here the object Of
bis 'SW1Inp march, Your readers have
doubtless discovered, from the numerous
,aps published in the TRIBUNE, the situation
+ Crafghead Point, and the relation it bears
2 Fer Pillow; Our Plan was 70 march
iger about tour miles below Fort Pillow;
Id from thence to follow up the river on the
Arkansas ehore, and make careful special
econnoissance of the enemy's batteries on
he Tennessee shore opposite, to ascertain |
be number of guns in, position It. possible, |
s1aJ Of the land," with reference to the in |
luguration u q morement which, presume, |
Tlu be deemed improper tor publication at |
his junct1lre, Int which promises Immediate
nd satisfactory results, Your readers, if they
~ill follow NE in my description, will agree
With me that this was the most gallant, reck- |
ess, and Important reconnaissance Of the
Fnr, as exhibited in this latitude gallant
or the numbers engaged, reckless Tor the
:ieks encountered, and important for the
Ealuab1e information obtained.
TIE REcoSSo1ssAScE.
We arrived st the tsLauier Farm about one
o'clock and dismounting, and leaving our
aoEsts in charge Of q sergeant, Colonels Fitch
nd Hogg, md the two <:Bohemlans" accom-
panying the expedition, attended, By file Of
twenty infantry, started for the reconnoIs-
plantation. and visited the deserted mansion.
The owner Vas an uncompromislng rebel,
and had committed his cotton and steam saw
mill to the flames upon our approach We
struck the river just below the 1euse, and
our steps cautiously and carefully
three miles, and sending the infantry to skirt
the timber back Of the levee, with instruct BUS
to drive in the enemg's pickets if they en-
connteFtd them, We arrived about t~o miles
below Fort Pillow, opposite the little town Of
FULTON.
Casting our eyes down the river, VIC discov-
cred Randolph, and with the aid Of strong
glass could see the rebel encanpment, and
The guns i'll position there. Here there Was
transport aud gnnboat, but the distance
was TOO great to make out anything decisive
AT Fulton, directly opposite, Tue view was OK
ce1lent. The river is here but about three
quarters Of mile wide, and with the mixed
eye We could see every movement OF the enc
my. We counted twenty seven tents and four
brass field pieces, besides formidable earth-
work behind whose e1nbrl: e at intervals
could be seen the grim dogs Of war, staring
open 1nouthed upon u7. An appearance of
quietude and Gstlessness, rested oEer the
whole scene. We crept to the extreme edge
ofthe river, aud seated on log examined til.
rebels at our leisure. Groups Of men, dressed
in gray and butte1nut, were lounging about
boisterously. Four men were setting asrrlde
the caisson Of one Of the guns, engaging III
friendly game Of t1sticutts- while Occasionally
soldier who WIS evidently doing sentinel
duty-walktd backwards and forwards
On the edge Of the bluff E ght
gnnt9soa's% boa % wers lying ~ Under s;hae thg gans
port. We could see tho officers setting on
the hurricane deck in their shirt sleeves, with
their feet elevated on the taf1ral1, smokin :
their cigars as 1eisurly as if the Yankees were
4 thousand miles away. AL Of the boats were
side and stern Whcc1ers and river craft, except
one which had walking beam. This cr1ft is
one Of the boats formerly running in the New
Orleans and Galveston line, and appears to be
steamer Of great strength and capacity She
carried two guns, fore and aft, and was pierced
for several In her sides. Tie exact number
VIC ceuld not determine as the port holes were
closed. The whole fleet WAS painted 8 ding5y
brown color and appeared to be iron-plated
amid ships and c'fr}ing each two guns upon
her bow. Haying made this reconnaissance to
our satisfaction, We move on towards Fort
Pillow, first sending detail back to where the
cavalry we're stationed, and ordering them to
return 10 the Landing. When passing the
1evce opposite tie upper portion Of the rebel
1icet, We crossed q field OF eighty acres, where
While within easy g1ape range We were first
discovered BY their look ont, and Immediately
we scattered along the levee at a distance O
five PAGES, SO as to present no considerable
target for rebel practice. Directly aftcrward:
the doctor Oh one Of the gunboats begun tt
raiEe steam, huge volumes o1 black smoke roll
ed from the chimneys, and presently We hcArt
the long drawn sough Of the steamer indi
eating that wcrc pursued This Increased rap
idly, al she diminished the distance between
us, and pr, sent}v we heard her laud Oh tn
Arl ansas shore. Meantime the scouts Wer
hurried forward in double quick, and whe1
her crew reached The levcc We we're L half mil
ia advance. By this time We were within til
range OF our morta1s, who kept up continue
bo1nbardment over our heads, aud the steame
dared to co1ue no further. We were imtnedi
attl} at the point over which our shell an
those sent by the fort came Kissing and surg
irg each on its deadly mission. We we're mo-
opposite the far famed rebel fortificatlon,
PORT PILLOW.
& Behind the point Of Flower Island we halte
and examined the fort. The face Of BLUFF
which contrary to my prcconcciycd opinion
! rise nearly pelpendicularlY a hundred 1et
shove Tie river, Is covered with dense ore
| growth 0f oak, and discovered no batteries
our point Of observation. Upon the crest I
the bluffs are the earthworks, th
ground apparently z}opiDg baek"eE q
could see the guns pointing over the Poil
in the direction Of our n1oEtars, and had 8 fin
view Of those recently mounted. to reply
| them. There were three OF these in the bcgil
ming manufactured at Ringgold, Georeia,a
Tennessee iron, and lately placed in position
| We learn that one Of thesc recently burst, or
ing to imperfect construction OF some flaw
the castings. The others arc doing good Sc
vice. We have witnessed some beautiful sp
cinens of<nortar practice. Of the five shel
fired in the direction Of tue fort, while =
were looking on, three burst directly With
the embanhn nent and evidently accompl9ht
desirable execution, judging from the c1out
1kas now getting Ia e and We hurried on, 81
after i brisk walk Of an hour, rounded Il
point and came upon the mortars. Just
we were in sight, while in the edge Of the til
her, 9 rebel shell came singing aud hissli
over our heads, fell a hundred lcet in advanc
and exploded with a terrible report, crashil
the trees and scattering fragments Of shell
every direction Presently volume Of smo]
appeared on one Of the riffs juss in front, Al
then VIC heard the report and hum, and
the distance, directly over the fort, we disco
! ered spiral wreath Of heecy smoke, indis
| ting the point Of contu tioD.aud esplo :ic
The concussion was terribie-we were fail
lifted off our feet, and some Of Us thrown hea
long to the ground Subsequently,, Capts
Alaynadier fired q shell TO show its effect VIII
! standlpg on the boat. By placing orrsels
On tiptoc and holding with both hands
railing running around the top OF The mort
. ! we Withstood the conclusion very comtu
| ably.
We arriyed at the Landing at dark, well s
isfed with the result Of our scout, Which
here considered as establishing the entire ?
ncrablity Of the enemy, and forming the ba
, for important demon strations, Of which J
: will hear more in my next--
t THE FAILURE.