Daily national Republican., 1863-05-25

The following dlspatch was recleVed from
Admiral Porter, by the Secretary of the Navy,
about noon
CAIRO, Illinois, May 25, 1868.
Hon. Gideon Wsles, Secretary orae Novyi
The following dispatch has just been re-
celved: A. NJ. PENSooK, Fleet Captain.
Miss. soUAD'N, FLAG SHIP BLACK HAWK,
HAINEs' BLUFF, YAzoo RIVER, Mayo.
Hon. Gideon WslsS, Secretary ofns Navy:
On the morning of the 18th came over to
the Yazoo river to bo ready to cooperate with
General Grant; leaving two of the iron-clnds at
Red River, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage,
three at warrenton, and two in the YAzoo, left
me small force; still l disposed OF them to
the best advantage.
On the 18th, at meridian, firing was heard inJ
the rear of yicksburg, which assured me thAt
General Grant was approaching the city. -
The cannonadlng was kept up furiously for
some time, when by the aid Of glasses dis
cerned company of our artillery advancing,
taking position and driving the rebels before
them. Immediately saw that Gen. sherman's
Division had come in to the left of snyder's
Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had been
cut off from joining the forces in the city.
dispatched the DeKalb, Lieut.. Commanding
Walker, Choclttaw, Lieut.. Commanding Ram
sey; Romo, Petrel, and Forest Rose, all under
command of Lieut.. Commanding Breeze, up
the Yazoo to open communication in that way
with Gems. Grant and Sherman.
This I succeeded in doing, and in three
hours received letters from Gems. Grant, sher-
man and Steele, informing me of their vast
success and asking me to send up provisions,
which was at once done.
In the mean time Lieutenant Commanding
Walker, In the De Kalb, pushed on to Hnines
Bluff, which the enemy commenced evacuatlnG
the day before, and party remained behind In
hopes of taking away or destroying the large
amount of ammunition on hand.
When they saw the gunboats they ran and
left everything in good order, guns forts, tents,
and equlpage of all kinds, which fell into our
hands.
As soon as the capture of Haines' Bluff and
fourteen forts was reported to me, showed up
the gunboats from below Vicksburg to fire on
the hill batteries, which fire was kept up for
two or three hours.
At midnight they moved up TO the town and
opened on 1t for abouSan hour, and continued
at intervals during the night, to annoy the gar
rison.
On the 10Th placed air mortars in position,
with orders to fire night and day, as rapidly as
they could.
The works at Haines's Bluff are very for
mldablc There are fourteen of the heaviest
kind mounted s and 1O-lnch and 7l-iRch rined
guns, with ammunition enough to last long
slcgc.
As the gun carriages might again fall into
the hands Of the enemy, had them burnt,
blew up the magazine, and destroyed the works
generally.
! also burnt up the encAmpments which were
permanently and remarkably well constructed
locking as If the rebels intended to stay fol
some time.
These works and encainpments covered many
acres of ground, and tho fortifcatlons and thu
rife pits proper of HainOs' Bluff extend abou
mile and quarter.
Such network of defence / never saw. Tho
rebels were one year constructing them, ant
all were rendeted useless in an hour
As soon as got through with the destruc
tIon of the magazines and other works, starte'
. Lieut.. Com. Walker up the YazOo river wit
sufficient force to destroy all the enemy's prop
erty in that direction, with orders to retur
Q with all dispatch, and only to proceed as ia
+ as YazoO city, where the rebels have navy
, yard and stpre-housos.
4 In the meantime, Gen. Grant has closely In
r vested Vlcksburg, and has possession Of III
i best commanding point.
: In a very short time a general assault wi
take place, when ! hope to announce thu
!, VickEhurg has fallen after a series of the MOI
:. lbrIniRnt successes that ever attended an arm!
,, There has never been a case during the WI
>, where the rebels have boen 80 sucecssful
beaten at all points, and the patience and eI