Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-28
Official from Farragut's Fleet

The Navy Department has received the fol-
lowing official dispatch, dated U. S. steam sloor
Pensacola, of New Orleans, April 13
"On the morning of the 9th ult., at about
daybreak Admiral Farragui in the Hartford, en-
gagged the batteries at Warrenton, three miles be.
low Vicksburg, and passed below it. Ga the
morning Of the 29th ult, before daylight, the Al
batross having taken full supply Of provisions
from barge which had been foated down the
previous morning by Admiral Porter, also passed
the Wanenton battery and anchored near the
flag ship. 1t was blowing quite heavily from the
North on the morning Of the 29th. About | a,
NJ. the wharf boat Vcksburg having broken
adrit from her moorings at tbe city, foated down
and ran ashore opposite to where the Hartford
and Alblross were anchored. During the day
an officer was sent on board the Ncksburg, who
found that all her machinery had been removed.
She had nothing on board save four muskets and
accou,rements, which probably belonged to the
guard.
While the Admiral was hestating as to the
propriety Of retaining her as a wharf boat, or
rather depot, the rebels came down and in the
night Of the 3O,b burned her. The Switzerland
coal and provisions hoated down by Cen Grant
and Admiral Porter in blrges. and the damages
to the Switzerland being fully repaired, the YES
sell. passed Warrenlon on the morning Of the 3 LIST
ult., aud at daylight the little squadron got under
way and proceeded down The Hyer to Mr.. Iur
ners plantation, where on our passage we had
seen the wreck Of the lndianoa. We found no
traces Of the wreck, but learned that she had
81 ID of into deep water during the late gale.
We anchored at this place and remained until
about G:30 =. NJ. When unle. way proceeded
down and engaged the battery at Grand Cult.
This battery consisted Of some two or three
heavy guns sent down from VlcAsburg. One Of
these guns was mounted upon a steamer which
had been concealed up the Big Black River, The
enemy had also q light field battery. They stucA
the Switzerland twice, doing no damage however.
The Ai5alross was not struck at all. The Hart
ford was struck only once, but this shot struck an
iron hammock stanchon and threw fragment Of
it forward nearly half the length Of the ship, and
killed man named Jones, a andsman. This was
the only casualty. We passed the battery in
about fifteen minutes, and anchored below Grand
Gulf for the night. At daylight on the first inst,
we get under weigh, proceeded to the mouth Of
Ked Ryer where we anchored about suudoWni
destroying in our passage down a large number OF
sAif- and fiat boats. We remained blockading
the Red River at It's mouth until TIE morning OF
the 9TH inst, when We got under weigh at about
$40 a. NJ, and proceeded down to Bayou Sara
where We stopped, seized upon and threw into
the yer about ten thousand sacks Of corn, and
then proceeded On our way TO Port Hudson,
where we anchored about five miles above the
batteries at p. NJ, on the 9th inst.
On the evening Of the 7th inst, at quarter
past eight o'clock, the writer Of this communicl-
ton the secretary Of the Rear Admiral, left the
Hartford and boarded the Richmond off Baton
Rouge about two o'clock on the afternoon Of the
s,h inst. The health of the squadron above is
good.