The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-25
Oar Special Correspondence.

ooE SpcchhA Correspondence
BEro.E vIcKsBuRs. Miss, July 10, 1862
sest<rday was distinguished in our calendar by the
appearance Of the rebel gunboat Arkansas that for
hong time has lain concealed in the Yazoo river Sc
we're fight ensued, In which of gunboats were
actually destroyed though several severely In
jrcd Unfortunately the rebel gunboat neither de-
sroyed severely injured though appearances indi-
cate that she has been quito seriously cut up Thankful
for our preservation thus far hoping soon to be
able 10 make an end Of this powerful craft and thus
terminals the career OF the rebel navy the great
Mississippi.
rHE cuSBoArs SURVEY THE YAzoo
Day before yesterday the gunboats Carondclst and
Tyler were sent 10 make survey Of tho Yazoo and as
certain the exact position and condition OF the gunboat
Arkansas They arrived the mouth OF tho Yazoo or.
teen mics abevc vicksburg. about seven p. NJ or the
i<th, and lay to rntil morning About daylight yss.er
s>y they tpped their anchors and moved slowly on up
shs Yaxoo.
DEPTH or rHE RIVER.
TINS stream, though narrow, has excellent depth Of
water, in some places showing bottom q line ifty
fsss IN length. The stream Is sluggish. and the waters
are exceedingly dark and of q slightly brack-
ish taste Their color shows strongly In con.
tract with the light yellow OF the Mississippi
and The point Of junction with tho latter stream
10 visible al . considerable distance. There arc
but sw settlements along tho Yazoo an occasional cot
generally high and the bluffs afford excellent positions
for planting batteries and stopping the navigation.
have already gwen you some brior information rea
i've % the engagement this river; but few more de.
islf vin not 10 ny opinion, be out OF place in this
fta.
nU scfSra ALONG TIE RANKS.
Az ihe boat steamed slowly up the river vgilan,
watch was kep, icr any signs Of hostility either on tbs
shcrs or on tho wsirr. An occasional native seen
who ssr Ned At hrst gazed wonderingly at the
"Lrkun gunboa,s until they disappeared from sight In
cne psee the negroes down tho banks and after
ststonng themselves 10 that thsy could not DO seen
fom ths houses 10 tie roar earnestly waved hats ani
branches tees in ,okol Of ,nor delight at our a.
psArancs. One buiternut clad hero stood sharp
pcnt 1hsn The boats passed and shoatng that the
Arkansas was coming down and would meet them soon
retired from sigh and conceded himself 10 q ncghbor
ne osDebfskc some believed his story but most were
nnlnsd doubl his veraciy and look upon the whole
ahins ~ rsbe odaard
tsRsa SIGN. oF nR ARKANSAS.
About niieen niles W the Yazoo the smoke OF steam.
boat Point of land, and The pilot Of the
cATcndsist remarked that Il was caused by wood and
nos by Tho bilamiBous coal usod exclusively by the
boats q our feet No attention was paid TO the
sreUmssance, a known that there were several
boats fosgins ~ and down the Mississippi and Yazoo
AID sons q these might have exhausted their coal and
taken m wool n its place The general course OF the
fsroo much more direct than that OF the Mississippi
thoush has many short and abrupt bends
sHs APPROACHES.
Al the two boat the Tyler ahead were passing one OF
thee bends they observed strange Looking craft short
distance ahead sseamng slowly down the stream II was
a. ai sucted % be one o the foragng tugs bu, It's sic
an tns -.,s o. ils u erser-bi, soon dis".', ,r,,
hsa rhs conclusIOs ws.. .--uy made tha, this was
noHs Other than ae gnboa, Cor which we we're looking
ihe iyf wa> III conditioned for entering engagement
n the strength q the Arkansas but Iieuien
ant ewina ordered the drummer beat 10 quar-
krs and prepare for action.
rmr rrIn
N ons 81 the wooden sunbosis that was 6ed out al Gin
slnn.n thsn year ago, and n designed to be used
psDeiraly police bat along the river. She is altered
fsom ks han q old freight steamer and unprotected
~ pssms any part. she has done excellent SERVES
thns iar ia The var, but 10 unable 20 make much
snes against batteries or heavily AIMED boats
agsrNGas sencx-oFtsrsa 90 rHs rlcHr.
d ,ouk hat fsw get everything in rsadi.
nsss on bsArd the Cacadalel shot was nred across
NE eo~ q IN sss.nss steamer 10 sudsavcr 10 bring
ssr " % make nsr display ner eoors. The sho, was
psomrsJ feplssd - BY suh from the rebel boat the
.hes bsins aimed :. The Tysr and scross her bow,
rae lhs complimentary missile with which the anair
hal been opaned Ths ryler unujurcd BY this pro
~ctie. but her escape exceedingly narrow, as the
bail passed. between the chmneys the boat Just above
The pilelhcrae and struck the water a long distance
sssrp m boas continued approach each other
and the Carondect followed up to tho Tyer a. fs, as
psible doing her best with her feeble power. Several
shs were exchanged between the Tyler the strange
scai IN which each boat was ajured, tho Tyler being
sonsdesably damaged her side. unprotected by
plating whs those of her antagonist appeared almost
smrsrvous shJl and she'll IN ten inmates after me
opcnng hos thc csrobdcct ransed alongside the rebel
brat. Capt. Wake taased the word for the Tyler TO
make an haste beow 30 alarm the feet and have them
rcady for action.
an povsrs .port rHs mKvrry o, mx nEnsr orAyr ms
FrftkD
hwas Dcw certain tbsa lhe pssly appeared craft was