The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-18
COMMANDMENT OF VICKSBURG.
THECITY DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION
REBEL GUNBOATs DESTROYED
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN Dwell
LING IN CAVES.
From the Memphis Bulletin, 4,h.

VlckSuUrg, anu oEluSs us iut0HiSeuCo VI tuc
most startling character from that point.
The particulars as we learn them from Capt.
Geo. E. Curry, who was a witness of the
whole affair from on board Commodore
Porter's flag ship Octarora, were as follows:
Our readers are aware that some vessels
from Commodore Porter's feet have once
or twice before visited VIcksburg and ex.
changed some shots with the rebel batteries
at that point. Up to Thursday last, how
ever, there has not been at any time anything
like real bombardment at that place.
About daylight on Thursday, however,
the signal for general attack was given.
The fire was mainly directed against the
fort on the top of the bluff below the town,
which mounted eight guns. The firing con.
tinued all day, the battery replying with
more or less rapidity most of the time AS
evening drew OF, the firing ceased on both
sides.
On Friday morning the attack was re-
sumed and continued till afternoon, when
Commodore Porter signaed to shell the
town itself. which was done for about two
hours-with what effect could not be def.
nitey ascertained. The shells could be dis
tinctly seen to burst above the town, but
the nearer buildings concealed the exact
effect from view.
The batteries On shore replied lightly and
irregular during most of the time. About
four o'clock the signal was given to cease
firing, and the feet drew of. About half an
hour after the cessation of the bombardment
the water batteries suddenly opened upon
the federal mortars which replied until the
batteries ceased firing. No damage was
done to the mortars.
During the engagement the gunboat
Octorora fred number of shots from her
l00-pound riaed gun, which exhibited sur
prisiDg accuracy until the gun became
heated and began to throw high.
Soon after the firing ceased the signal was
given for all the captains of divisions to
report On board the flagship. Here they
received orders to open fire again with the
entire number of mortars at eight o'clock
that night. Accordingly, at the appointed
hour, the entire feet of mortars, twenty 10
number, commenced to hurl their fiery mis-
slles upon the devoted town.
The scene is described as grand and ter.
rible in the extreme. The believing of
the mortars was like a continued peal OF
thunder the glare of the explosions i.Iu.
lightning. The earth fairly shook with the
repeated conclusions, and the huge shells
seemed to hover above the city as if paus.
ing to select place in which to plant their
deadly missiles.
For more than an hour this terrible scene
continued, when the order was given to
withdraw.
On Saturday morning Com. Farragut,
whose feet was then lying about five miles
below the city, got word to the mortars to
open fire upon the batteries at four O'Clock
in the morning, and be would endeavor to
run some of his vessels past the batteries.
Accordingly, the bombardment was recon-
menced at the hour named, and during its
continuance, Farragut succeeded 10 passing
the entire Confederate batteries with eight
vessels, viz: three men-of-war, two sloops.
of war, and three gunboats.
These vessels, it will be remembered, are
all wooden ones, being part of the United
States sea going navy, and Tot iron clad
gunboats, like those belonging to Com.
Foote'S feet.
During the passage, the batteries con>
tiDued to pour shower of shot and shell
upon The passing vessels, but without in
flicting any serious damage and disabling
none.
The fire OF the batteries was generally too
high, and all the vessels had their rigging
considerably cut. The Hartford, Commo-
dore Farragut's flag ship, was struck 10 the
hull twice, one passing through her star.
board buIwarks near the bow, about ten feet
above her water line, and the other about
the same height, near the stern. Otherwise
she was but little damaged. AL the vessels
kept up sharp fire during the entire pass.
age.
Two of these vessels Immediately passed
On to the mouth of the Yazoo river, the rest,
when our informant left, were at anchor
above the town.
The damage to the city in these different
attacks must have been immense. Toppling
houses, tumblipg chimneys, cracking roofs,
confagratons bursting out on every hand,
trees overthrown, and the ground torn up
by bursting shells, present scene which no
pen can depict, and only the most vivid i'm
agination can conceive.
Such is the vengeance which has falleu
oFoH ehS Ivy ~hASu uiSC, ouu oSioiO CtCu
her own State had seeded from the Union,
attempted to assume control of the naviga.
tion of the Mississippi.
1t is asserted, also, that large force of
negroes are being employed under orders
from Major General Butler, in cutting
canal across the bend of the river on which
Vicksburg is situated, which will change
the channel of the river and leave Vicks-
burg an inland town,
Capt. Curry was informed by the people
living along the river that the women and
children had all been removed from the city
previous to the final bOmbardment, and they
are now dwelling along the line Of the Jack.
son railroad, many OF them in holes dug in
the sides of the hills He represents the
distress existing not alone in the neighbour
hood of Vicksburg, but throughout that
entire region, to be terrible. The disturbed
state of the country prevented the planters
from putting in the usual crops, and the
amount of provision taken for the use of the