, 1863-04-16

running her aground, and all on board escaped.
Capt Davis, Of the Wissdhiek0R, being of the
opinion that the vessel could not be saved, set
her on fire -rn..... ...ff.r.s
- New YoRk, March 80.
semi-oficial report of the naval engagement
at Port Hudson, says q signal for the advance
was made at halEpast on the night Of the 14th.
The Har.torG, with the Albatross in the lead,
successfully passed; the Richmond and Genesee
followed, the former exposed to the FIRE Of oil
the batteries. She received shot through her
steam drum, which obliged her to fall back out
Of range. Her losses were 8 killed and Z
wounded, including Lieutenant. Commanding
Cummings, mortaly He died at New Orleans
on the 18th. The MOnOnOGheLa and Kincko
went up next, the latter under severe fire for
some time. Her rigging was badly cut and
her rudder post shot awav, she became unman.
agcable and was obliged eventually to drop back
The MOnongahslG was obliged to fall back with
q loss Of killed and 81 wounded. The side
wheel gunboat Genesee was somewhat damaged,
and also fell back. Itappears that the MisHssippi
was the last in the line Of the feet which at
tempted to pass Port Hudson on the night Of
the l4th. On going up she was struck three or
four times and only slightly damaged, but when
near the centre range Of batteries the smoke
and steam Of the vessels In advance, and the
smoke Of the batteries 80 envelDped the ship
that the pilot lost his bearings and she grounded
on the right bank of the river. For 40 minutes
she was exposed to terrific fire from all the
batteries. During this TIME she fred $50 rounds
but her guns became nearly oil dsmOunted; all
her PORTFOLIOS on the starboard side were
knocked into one. and from 25 to 80 men killed
aud four wounded Capt. Smith ordered her to
be abandoned. Many jumped overheard, some
Of whom were drowned others to the number
OI 80 were picked up by the Essen. When the
crew were all of, Capt Smith sprinkled her
decks with turpcntne and fired her. The flames
soon reached the magazine, when she blew up.
A Hilton Head letter Of the 25th says the
Monitors Passaie, PatGpscO, WeehaWken, Nahdnt
RddtNEiU, Nantucket, NOntaWk, ReOkpk, and
irigate IrOnSiiss, together with several gunboats
and steamers, bad left tnat port. Another letter
Of the same date announces the arrival Of the
Ericsson. with tlDating machine to clear the
expedition against Charleston had been delayed
in consequence Of the delay in the arrival Of this
machine.
A Fortress Monroe letter If the 2sth, reports
an extensive fire IN Richmond. Nearly 100000
bushels Of corn were destroyed
The steamer BrUnapick, from New Orleans
the 23d, had arrived. Gen. Growers expedition
had returned to the vicinity Of Baton Rouge.
with large quantity Of sugar, mOlasscs and
cotton. Five rebel officers were also captured,
one Of whom reports that the rebels have large
force IN reserve, which can readily be thrown
into Vicksburg or Port Hudson either.
Gen. Banks announces that the results are
entirely satisfactory; and the movement It il
believed, was merely diversion to enable Far
ragut's fleet 70 pass the batteries The rebel
force at Port Hudson Is said to number 10000.
CAIRO, March 80.
Gen. Hnrlburt has issued an order that the
negro camps at Columbus aud Cairo be broken
up, and that oil negroes, women and children in
cludc, not actually in service, be sent to Island
No. 10, and put at work tilling the soil.
Adiuta t.GeneraI Thomas reviewed the troops
to-day, aud made speech to them. He said
the policy Of receiving negroes into the lines
and organizing them as soldiers will be faithfully
carried out hereafter. -
The Mockading Of Galveston il still rigid.
The Harriet Lane is still in the harbor. sue.
cessful cavalry expedition, under Capt Perkins,
had been made from Brashcar City considers.
bic distance into the reboI lines. lie engaged
the rebel force aud had brilliant fight, charging
them with sabres aud chasing them eight miles,
killing TO- wOunding 20 and capturing IA horses
with equipments, without losing man.
Several schooners had arrived at New Orleans
from across the lake with n large quantity Of
cotton. A number Of passengers were com.
PEELED to come in order to get something to eat
They relate that great destitution and suffering
exists among the rebels. They also state that
q merciless conscriptiOn was enforced, and q
reign Of terror and want prevails.
The Picdyune Of the Goth reports that the
NOnongaheLd, whose machinery was uninjured
during the fight, his repaired the damage to her
woodwork, aud is now In good order again.
a.. NEw YoRk, March 81.
An attack by cavalry, 100 strong. was made
yesterday on our cavalry patrol on the road be-
tween Dumfries and Occoquan. Eight Of our
men were captured.
The news from Savannah Of the cath, states
that the people are suffering oil kinds Of priva.
tons. Even the sick have only bacon and corn
bread for nourishnent. An who are able are
working on the fOrttcatiOns.
A rebel force had been driven from their orig.
inal position or 8 miles by the darkies. Skir.
mlshes were frequent U.s.. .....-. ...r.r
CAIRO, March 81.
Memphis papers say that on Wednesday morn.
ing the rams Lancaster aud Scitserldnd under.
took to run past the batteries at Vicks5urg but
as soon as they came within range, the Confed.
crates opened upon them tremendous FIRE. The
Lancaster was struck 80 times, and her entire
how shot away, causing her to take water so
rapidly that she sunk Immediately, turning a
complete somersault as she went OWN. All
her crew, except two, escaped IN small boats.
The Sohseriand was more fortunate, but was
finally disabled by 64.pound ball penetrating
her steam-drum. She hoated down below the
city, the batteries still keeping up the fire, striking
her repeatedly. Finally the A'JdtrOsS from
Farraguts fleet, ran alongside and towed her to
the mouth Of the canal, wacre she was lying at
last accounts. The rams were intended to rein
force Farragut, who had been below Warrenton
ever since he ran past Port Hudson.
At Grand Gulf on the way up, the Hartford
and ALbatross encountered a more formidable
battery than Port Hudson. The former vessel