The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-01-09
MEnrHis. January, 2,

BY the gunboat Rather, we ore in posses
sion Of additional particulars of the great
fight for the possession OF that city. The
Rattler left Vicksburg on Monday morning.
A the time she left, terrific fight had been
in progress for FIVE days. The attack was
made on Wednesday. Up to Monday morn :
ing Sherman had succeeded in possessing g
three lines Of the enemy's works. The FIR
ing on the fourth and last line Of delenses,
on the Jackson and Vicksburg railroad, had
ceased, and the indications were that it had
been surrendered. This last line of defen.
ses from the rear; was just two miles from
Vicksburg. The impression OF the officers
OF the Rattler is that there is no doubt Of the
fall OF Vicksbutg before this time.
Previous 10 General Sherman taking the
fortificatlone, he sent one brigade TO cut of
the communication with the city by the
Shreveport railroad, and it was reported to
the Admiral that the work had been accom-.
plished. On last Sunday General Sherman
captured ten OF the enemy's guns and 700
prisoners. On Sunday night the Rather
was ordered to make a reconnaissance down
to Vicksburg, TO see il the gunboat Essex,
which was expected from below, had made
her appearance. The Rather went to
Vlcksburg aud under the upper batteries,
but could see nothing of the Essex and re-
tired. The enemy did no. fire upon her,
The gunboats Black Hawk, Benton, Baron
DeKalb and Louisville, with FIVE light
draught boats, were engaging the enemy S
batteries near Yazoo city. This was the
place where the att ck commenced and pro.
gressed, while Gen. Sherman landed his
forces at the mouth of Id yer from sixty
nine transports. Sherman was reinforced
V q D0O man f,nun Gau.raI cYant,s a,,nu n ,
Sunday night, and the greatest enthusiasm
is said to have prevailed among our troops.
Six miles below Napoleon the Rather came
across one Of the coal barges captured from
the steamer Blue Wing.
II had been run ashore and scuttled in
three feet of water. 1t had q stick with an
under-skirt floating from 1t as flag Of
truce, while tine rebels worked away at ia.
king the coal out of it. The object being
II is understood. to get out the fuel for the
COniederate.gunboat, Lizzie Simmons. The
Rather stopped and took offthe barge about
hIty tuns OF coal Tor her own use. The un-
der skirt was captured by one of the crew.
Near MIllkensvllle, in the bend OF that
name, the Rattler hailed the ammunition
boat, Judge Torrence, on Monday, for mail
matter. The Touence made known that
Mllllkensvllle was bad place, and asked
the Rather TO wait till sue passei it,
While passing, two shots were fired at the
Torrence, and immediately the Rather COM
menced shelling the village. Seventy. six
rounds of shell were poured into the place.
Many houses were set on FIRE and consumed,
and The principal portion of the town was
destroyed.
The Rather met the Tigress, with General
McClerland on board. just above Napoleon
The Tigress was conveyed by the ram Lam
caster. The Captain OF the Lancaster had
stopped at Cypress Bend, with The view Of
capturing a battery alleged to have been
planted there. and to burn the nearest set
tlement, but 1t was asceitained that the
Blue Wing and Gladiator had been cap
tured, not by battery, but by a fied-piece
which hao been planiel on the river bank, 4,
so no attempt was made to disturb the peo-
pie living in the neightoshood.