New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-11
,vpcpr.ScE OF THE POSITION.

hnxfs
TN so muet soon descend the Bluff, and ION my
,otnres once more with tie 9otilla; remark Dg toa'
plovv in consequence Of its situation on the rive r
and the nature of its surrounding country, Is, WIZ
liz. defenses the strongest position on the nlsessPpl.
When the enemy lost it, it was q loss lndeed; ioi
with large garrison he might protect himself neis s
successfully from a force ten times larger 'nan N''
own. , .borsand
men would he need TO garrison 1t prope'iy, on
the South could consent TO leave the fois Os
battle proves the desperation OF ther 9'pv! ss
The direct cause of the evacuation OF T parJ
the evacuation Of Coroth: Hid nov DOC :, Viii
ebay doned hi. position in Misassirpi, ceusl' 'ha
lligue would not have aesapsu on, nv hr orr soro.s.
kGssissppi u,til he driven out py or ~,
lIas,,,,,nsg1a-o Day;s would have compelled hGhs
-; 10 or ten DAYS. But we ar now Vouch-
800 h,on5le,s victory and, though barren OF any
ci rros from guns, supp'ies, or arms gives US
lie contrOl of the Mlss1ppl, WIFI unVoi" '''''i'
~ treasure t, the North.
" W., cornot 100 fully value the Importance OF the
co,I Of Pillow of which, by the by, very correc.
.;av was sent Won in a diagram while we were o.
Island No 10, and we have reason to be thankful
,Le for, is in our hands al so email price.
Before the aotilla went 70 Pillow, we heard that
our gnn end mortar boats wonld have n great ac-
vantage against the Rebels account OF the posi- ION
of the fort. The bluff would enable our forces ~
was said TO throw shells over the Rebel Torks ana
the bombs. striking the high land, would roll down
would probably have been the effect, II the men
who managed the mortars had known the position OF
the fort and the point at which to direct Their shells
But Criighead Point completely intercepted their
view that thew were compelled 10 fire at random,
and hence the gunners and the works escaped VIII
Most Of The National shells were thrown too far,
for we picked mp their fragments more than han "a
nile beyond where they should have algh'ed. rev
at tie Rebels were wounded, and still fewer were
lI..11oJ nrobablv Ierauee the enemy camps anu
harrscks are in positons that shot aud shell could
not reach. Had he comprehended the siaa.loh
thoroughly we could easily have driven the heoeis
from their works. but as 10 was, we were over dong
- Wv NATIONAL FuorrrrA MISSISSIPPI RIVER,
Five Mile. above Memphis. Thursday Night June 1907
/ The oilla left Pillow at one O'Clock tins ailer-
noon the Benton leading off before with the other
four Cunboats, three Of the rams and NUMBER OF
the uortars and moved slowly along through tue
DELIGHTFUL day, and cautiously reconnoltered the
river. When came TO bayou OF cnule, the
Fleet would divide, part going the irregular way,
and mart kecDng the direct course. We passed III
ton and saw nothing Of the Rebel gunboaIs. The
little village was extremely quiet, and hardly any
one was visible. Soon after We steamed by Ran
ldolph and observed the earthworks that once were
mounted but perceived only two OF their guns
CAPTURE OF 4 PRIZE.
Above Island No. 81 we saw q hostile transport
in the distance and our gunboats fred at her several
times. She became alarmed and increased her
speed but we soon overloaded the craft, and, send
log the FREELY after her, she touched the 1ennes-
zee Shore when ler captain mate, and two or tnree
other officers jumped upon the bank and escaped into
the woods.
The remaining officers displayed flag of truce,
and soon the Sovereign was journeylnh down the
Mississippi with tue fleet, having prize crew from
the Benton placed on her. The Sovereign left Menu
mis- on Wednesday night and passed up the river
Tor the purpose of burning whatever cotton she
might fud and of discovering two pilots, John len
pison and Sam Williamson, who had started down
the iiver in that they might reach fariagn,
and assist bin in the ascent OF the MISSISSIPPI foF-
ltnnat-ly we had discovered those two brave ana
patriotic fellows aud had them on the ioilia iree
from danger or from harm.
/, The Sovereign is an old and well-worn steamer,
and has been engaged in carrying Rebel troops Ior
some monbs. she is not worth great deal, but
ran he made OF service TO our cause.
APPEARANCES SNORT.
Along the shore, the river bad a very quiet a!-
pearance as we progressed. 1t seemed as II the Old
Mississippi had observed Thursday, Sunday after
the primitive fashion. The houses and plantation
We passed looked silent and deserted. Some OF
them aserned pleasant, but they were nofeess and
moyeless q corpse.
A few plain peopleand negroes came ont on the bank
and waved their hats as we steamed along. Our
reception, if not cordial, was very gen,ee because
absent OF all demonstration.
DESTRUCTION OF COTTON.
At many poiuts OF the Arkansas aud Tennessee
lines we noticed traces of the destruction OF cotton,
the depOseed Rebel King, who was never anght but
the Kings fool. We saw the smoke Of burning cot
ton IN the fields. We saw cotton whieeniug the
banks. We raw cotton floating IN the water.
So much 20 YVES tins that would have thought
an effort had been made 20 show the Yankees how
the SoutherDers were determined to anrlhiiate the
Univers by dertoying few bales OF cotton Tie
planets would not describe their orbits, the South
thinks without cotton: the laws Of electricity and
:, magnetism would be violated but for cotton. Cot
ton cotton everywhere, and yet misery and ruin tc
the defenders Of the cotton cause.
We marvel-d as we went By that ambitions
buternut discharged his rifle or shotgun at the fleet
as il passed; but he did not. We were treated as il
we were the ancient priests OF Isis descending the
! Nile. We perceived no continuation OF the spirit
that had prompted the Rebels at Pillow 10 overload
their guns, and to build fires under them and point
them up. The with the hope of attracting us
4 by the flames and numbering us III their light.
LIVING ABOVE MEMPHIS.
Still we started in easily, and might readily have
been in Memphis before dark, but about dusk we
cast anchor oil the group of islands known by the
classical title Paddys Hen and Chickens, and we
still living there, have land forces here yet;
T but troops are on the way down, and they VIII
be sent to occupy the city, we shall await action
until they arrive.
We are within five miles Of Memphis, and have
learned that the place ID nearly deserted that all the
cotton, and sugar and tobacco has been burned
that "a number Of houses have been fired ty the
mob, and the city has been eaved with difficulty.
Last night we saw large light in the direction
of Memphis, but we knew not its cause. We are
waiting patiently for the niorow, whea We expect
to place feet upon the trcacnerous soil Of Mem
phis, and give assurance of support 10 the loyal
citizens that have been 80 long dishODored, outraged
and oppressed.
MISSISSIPPI FLoTILLA, OPPOSITE MgxPms,
Friday noon, June o. 1862
The morrow TO which my last letter alluded has
come, and crowned orr entrance into Memphis with
a signal, brilliant, and overwhelming victory.
The great gunboat battle of the fotila has been