The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-03
OPERATIONS ON THE YAz00.
BATTLE OF FORT GREENWOOD.
Desperate Effort to Reduce the
Fort.
Stubborn Resistance of the Rebels.

-
Stubborn Resistance Of the Rebels.
YARoo PASS EXPEDITION, NEAR GREEN
WOOD. MISSISSIPPI, March live arrived
at this point about O'Clock this morning
Here we are ten miles above Greenwood,
and but two and half miles from the
rebel works. Just below our position the
river turns to the eastward, and after de-
scribing a wide horseshoe bend, again re-
sumes its southerly course at point nearly
south of this. The neck formed by this
bend, or rather, the base of the peninsula,
is something less than mile across. Di-
rectly in this neck the rebels have thrown
up their Notifications. These are not so
formidable in themselves as might be sup
posed. They consist of single line OF
breastworks composed of cotton bales and
earth, facing westerly, and tlanked on the
right by quite heavy battery fronting the
river and mounting three siege guns. Be
sides these they seem to have several small
field pieces in position. Directly on the
right flank of this line of defense they
have constructed a raft of logs as a block
ade of the river, to prevent our boats from
running by their batteries.
The ground upon which these works are
built is as high as any to be found in this
region. 1t is probably elevated above any
possible overflow; but with the river as
high as it is at present, it is but two or
three feet above the water level.
IN FRONT AID BELOW THE WORKS.
Directly in front of their line Of breast
works there is quite deep slough extend
ing across the neck, and admirably serv-
ing the purpose Of the ditch usually dug
around Notifications. The slough is close
to the base of their works at the upper
end, but gradually recedes from them I'M
til at the lower end it is several hun
dred feet removed. Still behind this
slough there is all almost ilnpenetrable and
very extensive canebrake, with deep for
est reaching far back into the country
About six miles below this fertilization,
ana directly il the arc OF the bend, is the
confluence OF the Iallobusha and Talla-
hatchie rivers, and from that point down
to the Mississippi the joint stream takes
the name OF the IaZoO river. The little
village or settlement of La Flora lies di
rectly at the junction Of the two streams.
Greenwood lies upon the Iazoo, four miles
below.
WHY TIE WORKS WERE so LOCATED.
The object OF the peculiar location Of
this fertilization will now be apparent. The
purpose was unquestionably not merely to
defend Greenwood, which is a point of no
considerable Importance, nor yet merely
to prevent our passing below, as the de-
feuses Of Iazoo City are susceptible of be-
ing made infinitely stronger than anything
they could build here. Grenada islocated
on the Iallabu-ha river, about one hundred
and ten miles above its mouth. The rebels
consider this one of their most important
points in Northern Mississippi, and mani
fest a determination t" hold it at all odds.
Besides this, they have number of steam
ers concealed in this and other streams
tributary to the Yazoo, which they have
no desire to destroy or lose possession of.
1t was probably with Il view of defending
the entrance to this stream that the rebel
works were located as they are.
RECONNAISSANCE.
Immediately on arriving at this point
this morning, two recOnnossances were
started out. One was made down the river
by the gunboat Chillicothe, Lieut.. Com
mander Foster commanding. Acting Com
inOdore Smith and Gen. Ross accompanied
the Chillicothe. They ran down to within
quarter OF Il mile of the rebel battery, ex-
changing several shots with it. The Chilli
cothe was struck four times in this affair,
once in her square hull and twice in her
h., 1>,1l Il;
deep indentation in her three and half
inch iron, plainly marking the unmistakable
stamp OF steel-ponted sixty -four FOUNDER
shot propelle! from rihed pieces. No pieces
of larger calibre than this were disclosed by
the enemy. The C!illicothe returned from
the reconnaissance without having sus-
tanned the slightest injury.
MOVEMENTS OF THE MILITARY FORCES.
At the same time detachments of the
4Gth and 47th Indiana infantry were sent
out to feel the enemy's position on the land
side. They came upon quite large body
Of rebel skirmishers ON the westerly side
of the slough, about mile from our point
of debarkation, and after a short skirmish
drove them across the slough. Our party
then advanced down the slough short
distance and commenced fording it, when
the enemy again sailed out to resist them,
and quite spirited engagement followed,
resulting in a second repulse of the enemy,
when they finally retired within their forti-
fications. Our forces were then withdrawn
across the bayou, and now hold their posi-
ton. Our casualties in this affair were
but two men wounded.
CURIOUS ACCIDENTAL SHOT.
This afternoon the ChillicOthe was again
ordered down to engage the rebel battery
She moved down promptly, and soon her
heavy eleven-inch guns were heard, to
which the enemy made brisk response.
The Chillicothe fired directly into the enc
my's works with good effect. At this
juncture she met with most unfortunate
and disastrous accident. Her men were
just loading her port gun, the charger being
engaged at the moment in cutting the fuse
of the shell, which had already been placed
in the muzzle of the gun, when sixty-four
pound shell from the rebels struck directly
in her half-open port, throwing apart and
unshipping the heavy iron port shutters,
one of which was thrown Overheard. and.