The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-05-28

ADMIRAL Porter's Ct5ctdt Report.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-the follow
ing was received at Washington this
morning:
FLAGSHIP BLAcKHAwk, HsNEs' BLUR,
YAzoo RIVER. May 20, 1868.
To Hon. Gideon wslles, Secretary Of the Navy,
Washington: S
On the morning of Friday, the 10th,
/ came over to the Yazoo, to be ready
to cooperate with Gen. Grant.
OBTAINING of two of the iron clans at
Red River, one at Grand Gulf, one at
Carthage, three at Waterloo, and two
in the Yazoo, left me small force !;
still disposed of them to the best adj
vantage. On Monday, the 18th, at
noon, firing was heard in the rear of
Vicksburg, which assured me that Gen.
Grant was approaching the city. The
cannonading was kept up turiously for
some time, when, by the aid of glasses,
! discovered company of our artillery
advancing, taking possession and driv-
ing the rebels before them. 'na gs
Immediately saw that Gen. Sher-
mans division had come on to the left
Of Snyder Bluffs, and that the rebels
at that place had been cut of from
joining the forces in the city. ia.s -
dispatched the DeKalb, Lieutenant
Commanding Walker, Choctaw, Lieut..
Commanding Ramsay, Romeo, Petrel
and Forest Rose, all under command
of Lieutenant Commanding Breese, up
the Yazoo to open communication in
that way with Gems. Grant and Sher-
man. ..-.it ,,-r.- ..sfg.. --tr
They succeeded in landing, and three
hours later received letters from Gems.
Grant, Sherman and Steel, informing
me of bis vast success, and asking me
to send up provisions, which was at
once done. .
In the meantime Lieut.. Commanding
Walker in the DeKalb pushed on to
Haines' Bluff, which the enemy had
commenced. to evacuate the day before,
and a party remained behind in the
hope of destroying or taking away a
large quantity of ammunition on hand.
When they saw the gupboats they
came hastily out and left in good order
the guns, fort, tents and equipments of
all kinds, which fell into our hands.
AS soon as the capture of Haines'
Bluff and fourteen guns were reported
to me, showed up the gunboats from
below Vicksburg to fire at the hill bat
teries, which fire was kept up for two
or three hours. At midnight they
moved up to the town and opened on
it for about an hour, and continued at
Intervals during the night, to annoy
the garrison. :,
On Tuesday, the 18th, / placed six
mortars in position with orders to fire
night and day as rapidly as they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are very
formidable. There were fourteen of
the heaviest kind of guns mounted-s
and lO.inch and d inch rifled cannon
with ammunition enough to last a
long siege. As the gun carriages
might again fall into the hands of the
enemy, had them burnt, blew up the
magazine, land destroyed the works gen.
orally. / also burnt up the encamp
ments which were permanently and re.
markably well constructed, looking as
if the rebels intended to stay there foI
some time. The works and encamp
menis covered many acres of ground
and the Notifications and rifle pits prop
er of Haines' Bluff, extended about a
mile and quarter. Such net work
of defenses 1 never saw. The rebels
were year in constructing them, and
all are rendered useless in an hour.
As soon as | got through with the
destruction of the magazines and other
works, / started Lieut. Conrad Walker
uPkthe Yazoo River, with sufficient
force to destroy all the enemy's prop
erty in that direction, with orders to re-
turn with all dispatch, and only proceed
as far as Yazoo City, where the rebels
have navy yard and storehouses.
In the meantime Gen. Grant had
closely invested Vicksburg, and ha.
possession of. the. best commanding
points. In avery short time genera
assault will take place, when hope tc
announce that ;Vicksburg has fallen
after series of the most brilliant sue
cess that ever attended an army.
There has never been case during
the war where the rebels have been sc
successfully beaten at all points, ano
the patience and endurance shown BY
our army and navy for so many months
is about being rewarded. 1t is mere
question Of few hours, and then will
the exception of Port Hudson, which
will follow Vicksburg, the Mississippi
will be open its entire length.