Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-30


On the next attack OF the gunboats when General
Grant opened all bis batteries for six hours the river bat
eries all deserted and the gDboats moved up and
down without having shot fired at them showing the
moral effect the first attack had.
The attack Of the Cincinnati, Lieut. Commander Bache
the water battery will long BE- ranked among the most
gaan ns Of this aud, though Lieut. Bache had
the misfortune tn have his vessel sunk under him. he well
dseryes the handsome commentators bestowed upon him
by the Department.
To Lieut. Comm nder Ramsay, of the Choctaw was as
signed the management Of three heavy guns placed on
and anchoe ed in position that commanded the
town and water batteries Every gun the enemy could
bring ba these beats fired necessarily at Them
but without moments cessation Of fire the part Of
seamen though the enemys shot and shell fell like hail
among them. This battery completely euiaded the bat
tories and rifle pits in ront OF Gen Sherman, aud made
| tn. IN untenabe.
The mortar boats under charge of Gunner Eugene
Mack who for thirty days stood ut bis post tho firing con
tnuing night and day He pes formed his duty We'll and
merits approval The labor remedy hsrj and
ry The motss laid up with sickness, owing to
excessive labor. After Mr.. Ma was taken i'll Ensign
Miller took charge and conducted the firing with marked
ability. We know that nothing cunduced to the end
Of the siege than the mortar firing which demoaz-d the
rebels killed and wounded number of persons killed The
cattle destroyed property Of all kinds and set The city on
fire. On the last two days enabled to reach the
oater works Ct he enemy by firing heavy charges of
wentyx pounds Of powder the distance was three miles,
and the falling Of shells very annoying to the rebs
to the words of rebel officer, our shells ntruded
every where"
Lieut. Com Breese has been very efficient in relieving
me Of vast amount Of duty, experimenting personally
all the requirements made the navy, ard facilitating
the operations If the army ia every way that laid in his
power In every instance where it at all possible to
bring the Black Hawk into action against The enemys
batteries he has not hetated to do though she not
fortified exactly for such purpose His lengrarge guns
have done most excellent service at different times
beg leave to mention the different commanders Of the
light drafts, who have carried out my orders promptly,
aided in keeping guerrlas from the river conveyed trans
ports safely and kept their vessels in good condition for
service, viz: Acting Vol. Lieut. Geo. w. Brown com
49, UatV
commanding Signal Acting Vol Lieut. j. Hurd,
commanding Covlngton; Ensign VIM G landlord, com
maDdng Robb; Acting Master j. G. Bunner command
ing New Era; Acting Vol Lieut. J. " Johnsione, COM
man ding Romeo Acting Vol Lieut.. John Pierce COM
maDdng Petrol; Acting Master w. f. Fentress, com
maDdng Rather; Acting Vol LIEUT.. I. Smith, COM
maDing Linden; Acting Vol. Lieut. T. G. Brennand,
CON handing Prairie Bird Acting Vol. Lieut. j. Candy,
commanding Queen City. There others who deserve
com nendaon but there seem to me the most prominent
The action of the 4th of July at Helena wherein the
Tylr participated largely, has already been reported
to the Department There doubt left the minds
of any but that the Tyler saved Helena for though Gen
Prentiss fought with skill aud daring not exceled III
this war, his little force of thirtyfve hundred
fast being ovrrpowered by the enemy wit eighteen thou
sand men, when the Tyler took position and changed
the fortunes Of the day.
must not omit to mention Acting Vol Leus. Hamil-
ton and Richardson, OF the powder vessels Gre Western
and Judge Terrence. They were unremttng in their
attention to their duties during the siege supplying with
out delay every requlsiiion made them by army and
navy and yoluntee. ing for any tervice.
When the army call the navy for siege guns, de
tailed what officers and men could spare to and
work the batteries. Lieut. Com Sc fridge had command
of the naval battery the right wing, Gen. Shermans
corps. This battery worked with marked ability,
and ELECTED the warmest praises from the Commanding
General One thousand shells were red into the enemys
works from Lieut.. Com Selfrdge's guns His services
being required up the river relieved him few days be-
fore the surrender, and Lieut. Com. Walker supplied his
place and conducted the firing with the ability.
Acting Master Charles B Dahlgren ordered to re-
port to Gen Mcpherson for duy, and assigned the
management Of two nneinch guns, which were admira
bed served.
Acting Master Reed of the Benton had charge of the
batteries at Fort Benton named by General Heron in
honor Of the occasion Gen. Heron aenprnu-y acknow
lodged the services Of those sent him, which communi
cation enclose with this report
have endeavored to do Justice to all who were mme-
datey engaged in the struggle for the mastery OF the Mis-
sissipp To the army do we immediate thanks for
the capture Of vicksbnrs but the army much aci
atd by the navy which ready at all times to coope
rate. This has been no small undertaking The late in
vestent aud capture of Vcksburg will be characterized
OF the greatest military achievements ever known
The conception Of the idea originated solely with General
Grant, who adopted in which great labor was
performed great battles fought aud great
run. A single mistake would have involved in Difficult
ty; but well al the plans matured, well were
all the movements timed and rapid were the evluons
performed that not mi take has occurred from the pas
sage Of the Vcksbug and the passage of the army
the river up to the present time SO conf tent
othe ability Of Gen Grsnt to carry out bis paus when be
explained them to that hesiated to change my
position from above to below Vicksburg The work was
hard the fighting severe the blows struck we're con-
slant.
Ia forty FIVE days after army was landed rebel
army Of G0000 had been captured kill d. and wound
ed, scattered to their homes perfectly demorazed
while loss has been only about 900 killed. wounded
and prisoners, and the temporary loss Of one gunboat
The Notifications and defences Of the city exceed any
thing that has been built in mojern tmes and douby
unsssaabe from their immense height above the bed Of
the river
The foil Of Vicasburg insured the fall Of Port Hudson
and the opening Of the ssssppi river, which am hap
py 10 say be trayersed from its to it's mouth
without apparent i'm oedmsnt the first time during the
war.
take this opportunity to give 10 Mr.. Fendal and Mr.
Sauz assistants in the coast survey the full credit they
deserve for their indefagsbe industry Since they have
been attached to the squadron they have been cted
with amos every expedition that has been undertaken
they have kept both army and navy supplied wi charts
when they could otherwise be obtained they were
found ready at all times to 60 any where any thing
required Of them, whether it on gunboat expedition
the trenches before Vcksburg engineering when the
General Command ng led for volunteers from the navy
They have added TO collection Of maps many geo
graphical corrections which are valuable and they have
proved to that squsdron can operate effectively
a.