The Portland daily press., 1863-01-27
wIrHpRAwAL OF THE oUNpoArs.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE GUNBoATs.
We had silenced half of the guns working
against US, and had as yet received no serious
damage, when signals were displayed from the
flagship to withdraw from the action. 1t was
soon known throughout the squadron that it
had been previously agreed between the naval
and army commanders that at certain hour
the navy should withdraw, and the land forces
would make all assault But for some unex-
planned reason the army did not come to
time.
SUNDAY MORNING.
Sunday morning at daylight our gunboats
resumed the cannonade. For one hour the
cannonading was equal TO that of the previous
day. The enemy had, during the night, re-
placed the gun We had dismounted the previ.
GUS evening, and also had supplied gunners
for the other gun silenced, so that their whole
battery was In play. The army on the shore
had already, on their left wing, entered an ex-
tensive abatis, and were forcing their way up
to the rifle pits of the enemy against a contin-
uous volley Of musketry, while the right of
our line was held in check by the shots of our
gunboats. Light artillery was planted by
Gen. Sherman in a commanding position, to
shell the rebel position from inland, which
drew responses not only from field artillery,
but from the main fort, two guns of which
bore directly upon our assaultng columns.
THE GUNBoATS AND THE FORT.
Till ten o'clock the duel between the gum
boats and the fort had been barren of results.
About this time shell exploded directly over
and close to 100-pounder Parrott dsa-
bling every man engaged in working the gun.
Not man was left to work the gun, and
throughout the rest of the engagement it was
not again fired. With the silencing of this
immense piece, which seems to have been their
main reliance, the fire of the enemy began to
slacken, as if their forces had become disheart-
ened. But still the other guns were worked
with some animation. Finally the last came.
The ground became too hot for them. One of
the remaining guns on the eastern parapet was
abandoned, the gunnNs flying in confusion.
The example was speedily followed by those
employed on the south parapet, and the fort
was silenced
AFURIoUs ASSAULT BY THE ARMY.
Then commenced most furious assault by
the land forces. Those upon the left, com
prising, as / am informed, the divisions of
Gems. Steele and David Stewart - formerly
Morgan l.. Smiths crossed the enemy's
abatis, under heavy fire from their rife pits,
and put the rebels to utter rout, driving them
out in the direction OF the road leading to
Little Rock. Here they were headed off by
the division that had crossed from the White
river, and desperate engagement ensued. OF
this engagement have but little information,
as was not present to witness it, and have
had no opportunity of conversing with those
who were. am informed that, on emerging
from the fire Of our forces on the left, the reb-
els formed in line of battle, and attempted to
break our right wing with a view of escaping;
but being repulsed, after heavy slaughter a
cessation OF hostilities occurred. During this
cessation reinforcements were sent round
from our left to the right to such an extent
that when the enemy again attempted the
task OF breaking through, they were again re-
pulsed after very brief engagement, their
forces breaking in confusion and demoraliza-
tion. Soon after, the rebel commander sent
out flag of truce proposing a capituation.
The answer returned was that the only capit-
ulation that could be made would be one
based on an unconditional surrender This
reply was doubtless expected, for after a short
delay it was accepted, and at r. NJ, we be-
came possessors of this famous position, with
its heavy armament, all its garrison, light ar
tiiiery, small arms. camp equipage, ammuni-
tion. stores, DC. Col. Huntington, late of the
United States navy, commandant of the fort,
requested to surrender to the navy, and Ad-
miral Porter received his sword
RESULTS OF THE BATTLE
The results Of our victory are nearly 1000
prisoners, and a fortified point guarding
the navigation of the Arkansas river, and
shutting out its commerce from the Mississippi.
We can now ascend without interruption to
Little Rock, and take full possession of the
Arkansas capital. With higher stage of wa
ter in that river, we can communicate with
Gems. Blunt and Heron, and save them the
transport of supplies over the long route from
Rolla. With but few more well-directed
blows the whole rebel strength in the State
will be overthrown, aud the power Of the gov
ernment again fully restored. Artillery and
ordnance stores to an enormous extent have
come into our possession, and several thous-
and stand of arms make for US an exhibition
of no mean Importance. Transportation for
the rugged roads OF Arkansas has become
ours, and with a new stock Of commissary
stores, we are ready to move in any direction
by land.-tCor. n. Y. Herald