New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-21
THE FIRST DAYS FIGHT.

/ The progress OF Com. FOOTE'S expedition and the
frs, d.ys fight are thus sketched by the correspond
ept OF The Ciacianotl Commercial;
STRENGTH OF TIE TLyEf.
The fleet which left Caro- uLder command o.
Commodore Foo'e icay morning, March ~,
consisted Of the following veeses:
GuxsoArs-Flss .hip Benton Lieut. Phelps, setting Tss
Captain; cuc,al,i CO Ha,nder N s.emS,, C.Iohdosi
,ill-. Commander Dove; Psbrrzh LsU: Thompson com
rsudng 81. Louis Lie ut Paulcng msutig touesogs,
Lieut. Bodge'i COMMUNICATES only boat In The feet not
MosTin FIrsr.-YO. 5. Cspt T.1rel Hoffman; No, :.
10 20 c,pt jobn sprr No. a. Cspt T. Bos der No Is
Capt Ambrose fSoen.ie- No. o. Capt James DoaIhsry
no ss Capt. yas McCIeseI No 20, Capt Bo';on Weaver
Two seditoDsI hsyirs been lef. At couubu' ny Few
days since tslen IN TOW from that point By the Lac
Tci-l sunbost', 10; uor.a.. boats i2-ssre.as.
Each mortar boa, ideranated numerically bears
mortar weighing II 1874 pounds, disehsIging ronnd
shell weighing zl5 pounds without 10 contents, the
mortar being charged with - pounds Of powder.
They viii carry from two TO three miles. The NOR
tar boats were in tow Of the steamers ammitt, VIII
son, Pike, Wisconsin No. 2, and Lake Enc No. z.
The trimming crew" Of the mortsrboats consist Of
one captain and two osrsmen--fiat-boat men. The
mortars proper are worked in action as follows:
One CAPTAIN to each brace OF motsrs and one lieu
tenant or eecond masters, aud twelve men 10 each
boat
srcEssIoSIsT PILOT.
While under WY, it was charged that Secesh
pilot wes a. the wheel Of the mortar t0w-boat VIII
son. We OF course felt interested in tho pilot W ho
poided one of brace Of boats, and, on inquiiog
Ias informed that ince the break ng ont OF the
bellion he had openly sympa,hized with the Rebels,
bat owing 10 recent Union victories, had concluded
tha, Secesh was about played ou', and suddenly
became very loyal II ii stated that be ut first re-
fused TO pilot our boas fearing 1t would injufe
BUSINESS reputation down South" but now that
the bright star of tho Union WIS once moro visible
along the Lower Mississippi, deemed 1T prudent 70
define his position by again taking the wheel >
The other pilots felt that they were outraged, and
expressbd their opinions openly and sbovcboard.
appears ths the party who secnrcd his services did
not inquire into his character or sentiments. polt
caliy His name 10 Thomas Collins, and he bai!s
from Louisville.
/ ARRIVAL AT HIcRyAs--THR UsIosIsTs.
Between sod o clock p. IN, the feet rounded
to, landed At Hickman, Kentucky. Tho reception
was not very cordial, however, although number
Of Union Ladies' appeared at the doors and Window
of their dwellings,, and waved their handkerchief.
while the men cheered the old flag. The town had
been partially deserted.
al tho upper end Of tho town, We hoard 3 shril
whisile--toot toot, toot which proved to be I'll,
locomotive lust in from Union City, used exclusvely
for Rebel military purposes. Az soon ~ tbs engi
nesr discovered his nistske-thsi Hickman was &C
cupied BY Unionis,s--he reversed his engine, sot
Nth lightning speed. A few musket shots wer,
fred after him, but he wss soon out Of range, AND
back to his hole in Union City for auSht we know
We conversed with q number Of citizens, boil
LOYAL and rebel. One old gentleman, Mr.. Freeley
miller, introduced 10 Us by Cspt. Mcmillan Of III,
Silver Wave, was almost overcome with joy. ii,
hailed the old flag with tremulous and fearful emo
tion. "AhW he says, "you don't know. can't i'm
agne, how and wba. we've suffered. But, thani
God, there's the cid flag know it would como
Yes, know II would comet We gave him lat.
Cineinnati Commercial and told him of tho ovscua
ton of Manassas, iefeat Of Price, &c. lie replied
pointing TO the paper, "Ths Ia the best treat I've
had for many day." We asked him for a let'
Memphis or other Southern paper. lie said, Nv.
have none seldom them, o. only few are struck
of owing to the scarcity Of paper" Wo were intro
duced to several ladies' whose husbands and fathers
were in the North. and from whom they had re-
ceavsd no tdipgs since the breaking out Of tho rebel
hon. We communicated TO Que lady and her dsugh
ter, from New.York, the intelligence that hor hug
bsnd, Mr.. Spencer, was in Cairo, the Master Armo-
rer IN the Government machine-shop.
| ON THE WAY AGAIN
On Saturday, the 18th inst, at q. m. the expo
diion left Hickman for Island No. 10, tho weather
being cold, and raining, with high wind Here your
correspondent left the Hammitt and bosrdod the
Unhed States gunboat Cincinnati, Commander r. N.
Stemtsl, in anticipation Of witnessing an engage.
mont with the enemy. just below the foot OF Islsd
No. ~ miles below hickmsn) tho Rebel euuboat
Granpus, observing our feet approaching. Toapdsd
down from the Kentucky shore In Q hurry. beins
some two miles ahead OF the flagship Benton. the
latter sending couple Of rifle lpounders after her
both shots falling abort.
In the mean time, the Gampus scudded oG down
the river ut her best speed, be- steam whistle shriek
Jog and screaming incetsantt u order 10 warn ,be