The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-09

despatches:--
FLAGSHIP BEsros, Below GRAND GcLS, Miss,
April 30, 1868. J
Hon. GIDEON WElIEs Secretary Of the Navy
Ihave tho honor 10 inform you that. by an arrange
mcnt with General Grant, attacked the batteries at
Grand Gulf this morning, which very for
midablc. After a fight OF FIVE hours and thirty
minutes We silenced the lower batteries, but
failed to silence tho upper one, which was
high strongly built, had gus OF very heavy call.
bve and tho unmanageaoe in the heavy cur
rent II fired but feeby toward the last and the vessels
all aii by and enfadcd II while won't up short dis
lance 70 communicate with General Grant, wbo con.
Guided to land tho troops and march to point two
miles below Grand Gulf. l Gent the Lafayette
back 10 engage the upper batteries, which she
dM. and drove tho persons out Of IL, a. II did not
respond after few fires. tsx p. NJ attacked The
batteries again ana under cover tho nre all the
ports passed by good condition. The Benton, ruscum
ba Pttsbufg much cut up, having twenty four
killed and Atty ak wouudod ou. they all ready for
service. asm
We land The army Inc morning ,he other side and
march on vcksnura. tpn st', rsf
DAVID D. rOkTrA, Asslss nsas Aanwai
YiAssmP BESrox, Gaixp GrD, Miss, Nay 8, 1858
Hon. Grsss wuass, Secretary OF tho Navy
AH-I have the honor 70 report tina. got under way
this morning with the lafayette Carondelct Mound City
Pssbury and proceeded W 70 the forts Al Grand
Gulf for the purpose attacking ihem agaio they had
been abandoned. The enemy he'd LEFT before got
up blowing up their ammunition spikng their large guns
and bury ing taking away the lighter ones. This arma
CONSISTED Of thirteen guns In ALL The works Of
tho moe. extensive kind, and would seem 70 aefy thu
ensrs u much heavier the which sienced
them The forts literally torn 10 pieces by tho
sscy OF FIRE. Colonel Wade the commandant OF tho
batteries killed. also his chief Of star. Eleven
were killed that know Of, aud our Informant says
that many wounded, and that no permitted
TO 90 inside the forts asr The action except those DO.
longing there.
We had Dght for these FORTS and II 10 with great
pleasure that report Mat the navy holds tho do 10
vicksburg Grand Gulf s tho strongest place tho Mis-.
sssipJi Had the enemy succeeded In finishing the forth
ac,tions no feet could have taken them
have been all tho works and found them as fol-
Iows-Onc fort on pont OF rocks seventy feet
calculated sg six guns mounting two sevoninch
rnes and eigbtneh and Parrott gun on wheeR,
which carried on On the left of this woras TRAN
Ruar work calculated 10 mount heavy sup. These
works are connected with another fort by covered
way aud double rigo pits extending one'qnarter Of
mile with much labor and showing great ski
on The part of tho constructor The third fort Commands
tho river In all directions II mounted one splendid
Biakey hundred FOUNDER, one eightinch and two
thirty Founders The latter lying bursed cr broken
OIL The ground.
The nboats had covered up everything with earth
that impossible 70 see at nrst what was there,
with the exception Of the guns that dsmounei or
broken.
Every gym that fell into our hands Ia good cond
ton, ard We found large quantity o. Ammunition.
These are BY Car the most extensively bull, works with
tho exception Of those at Wick burg have seen ye and
! am happy 10 say that wo h"ld them.
lam dsmoun,ing The gur.s aud getting on board the
ammunition.
Since making tho above examination new forv have
been passed nearly nnbhcd They had but were
complete Of the kiad regards position and lad heavy
Geld pieces In them.
DAVID q. POINTER, Acting Rear Admiral,
Comnanding N iaslsippI Squadron.