New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-18
The Capture OF Grand Gulf ard Port t'2b-
son-A short but Important Sob--Tke
Last Auack on Vioi.sburR.


OPrLoUsss, May >, 1863.
From a participant in the fight, WHO arrived at
this phase early his morning, gather the follow.
inc uarti, ulaa of the bOmhLtdment oi GBud the
Gulf batteries, and the movements Of the army o.
Gen. Grant:
Admiral Porter, with seven punb0ats, the same
that pls,ed and snclled Nickshgrg On the night OF
The l6'h April attacked the batteries NJ Graud
Cult gu the 18Th ult, Tor the purpose attracting al
tentiOn from the movements OF Gen. Grant. Amer
h. uibarding tbs place for more thGn FIVE hours and
uutl Geu. Grau. had crossed hls troops aud got IN
ttsir rear, Inc withdrew
Gen. Grant hal landed at the mouth OF Bayou
Pierre and advanced TO Union Church, where he
came upon 1909 II b,ls s short, sharp fight took
rl,ce here, which lesulted in the capture OF 80
Rebels. aud the ra,ii retreat Of the remainder Of
them toward Port Gibson, Were they had force OF
1909 more. rapidly pursued oy our forces.
Our advance, under Gen Os,erhans, pursued, and
o., eued on them al sight, and another ho,, though
short fight followed. Alter losing Bugadier-tien-
er,l ana Chief Of Artillery tie Rebels reIeaed in
the direction of Jacksou.
oar advance had followed them 30 closely that
the guard 81 the Rebtls had not Time To destroy
tue bridge which the read rom Port Gibson to
Grand Gulf passes tho fight might have been more
severe tul our men.
Nv informant s,ad with Admiral Porter, so that
could not learn anything of Gen. Grants move
mens IN the direction Of Jackson further than that
lac wa. capturing prisoners in large numbers. Some
that w,re brougat into Grand Gulf SAID he had sur
rounded and taken one whole brigade.
In the mean time, The fleet had returned 10 COM
plete the reduction OF the Grand Calf Notifications
They advanced rapidly on the batteries III line OF
battle aud az tue forward oues came III range opened
fire WIN shell. But no response could they get TO
their death-dealing mishiies thus tlme-Grand
Gulf was evacuated, ana 10 defenders departed Tor
more cougenlgl attitudes
When my informant left, some iOO prisoners had
been sent back by Con. Grant.
A. the brigade OF ten. Osterhaus neared Port
Gibson they were met 10y hundreds OF fugitive
families from the interior o. Mississippi, Tying from
the Illinois cavalry. They were going 10 Port GIo-
ron as the only place OF safety from the Yankees
aud II must have been amusing TO witness thel coa-
sarnatOn and terror ut running into still larger
force.
The Rebels evidently intended making Port Glib
ron grand stand point, they were erecting torti-
hcatlons Of tho strongest description there. IL was
fortunate that the 1000 men at Port Gibson had
been called away from the route taken by the Hi
nos boys few days before. or tho latter might not
have escuped 70 easily. This was a daring Thing.
When the fleet passed Vicksburg, the officers who
commanded tho batteries wero At ball, aud not
shot was hfed until boats commenced the attack
1hoy steamed down very slowly until thoy had
passed tie upper batteries, and were opposite the
Town and theu deliberate and regular tire was
kept up until tie boats We're out OF range.
The Rebels ret ire TO house 10 give light 10
shoot by, but such was their confusion aud dismay
at being surprised, they fired wildly and no damage
of consequence was sustained by the boats.
Wherever n light appeared broadside would DO
sent, and the crash OF falling bricks and the shouts
and cnes Of afnghted people made Yicksblrg ,eem
IL paudeL .onaiu.
At one lime the gunboat Benton ran up close TO
the shote aud the Rebels thought she was disabled
and Lad run aground TO keep from sinking. They
tee up wild halloo and rushed 70 tbs river bank.
with ll1uks their shoulders to board her, at she
same time shouting out; "Come On shore-come on