The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-05-26
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
Washington, Nay %.

- Wesnin8sons LAY 10.
The following was received In Wash.
ing ton this morning: pffa lgq
Oairo, May 49, :
To hon. Gidso. Rslles, Secretsry Of the
Navy:
The following dispatch has just been
received. signed A. M. Pennock, feet
Capt. Miss. Squadron, flag ship Black
Hawk:
Hain-s' Bluff. Yazoo River, May 30
On the morning IT the 18th ! came over
the Yaxoo 70 BE- ieady to cooperate with
Gen. Grant, leaving two Of the iron -clads
at Red River, one u Grand Gulf, one At
Carthage, three ut Warrenton and two In
Yazoo. left me small force. Sill l dis
poscd of them to the best advantage.
On the 18th, a.noon, firing was heard
In the rear Of Vicksburg which assured
me that Gen. Grant was approaching the
city. The cannonading WIS kept up fu-
riousiy for some time, when, by the aid Of
glasses, I discovered . company of our
artillery advancing, taking position and
driving the rebeh before them. imms.
diatsly saw Sherman's division had came
into the left Of Snyder's Bluff end that the
rebels NJ that placs had bssa cat OF from
joining the forces in the city. ] dispatch
ed the DeKslb, Lieut.. Commander Walk
or. Choctaw, Ramsay, Romeo, Petrol and
Forest Rose. al under command of Lieut..
Commander Brs,s. up the Yasoo 70 open
communication in that way with General
Grant and Sherman. They succeeded il
landing, and in three hours received lst.
tiers from Gems. Grant, Sherman asd
Steele informing me Of his vast sac-
cess and asking me TO- send up provi'-
ions which Wss Ut oAce DONE
10 the meantime Lisat. Com. Walker, 10
the DsKaIb, pushed on 70 Hainss' BMa,
which the enemy had commenced svacu-
ating the day before, and = party remained
behiad in hopes Of destroying or taking
away large amount Of ammunition on
hand. When they saw the gunboats they
cauc out and left 10 good order the guns,
fort. tents and equipage OF all kinds,
which fell into our hands. As aeon ~
the capture OF Haines' Bluff aud Ia guns
was reported TO me. | showed up the gun
boats from below vicksburg to FIRE NJ lhs
hill batteries, which was kept up Tor two
or three hours. AT midnight they moved
up to the town and opened on II fol-
about an hour and confined at Intervals
during the night to annoy the garrison
On the 10th placed six mortars in posi-
tion, with orders to IRE night and day n
rapidly - they could. The works q
Haines' Bluff are very formidable. Ther.
are IS OF the heaviest kind Of mounted
aid 10 inch and "A inch ri6ed cannon
with ammunition enough to last = long
seigo. IT, prev NJ the gun carriage'
from sgain i-iane a.o u al, "a thu
enemy, had them buried, blew up lh'
may ssue and desroyed Tho works gsuer
ally. ] also burnt the encampment
which were psrnansntly and remarkabl.
we'll constructed, looking ~ if the rebel
intended TO stay for some time. Th'
works and encampmen,s covered mau.
acres of ground, and the orti6cations snt
rife pits per .Oi Haines Bluff extent
abo.t mix and quarter. sSuch ne
work Of dsfenses never ssw. The reb
els were year In entrsnchins them, ant
all we're rendered uselsss in an hour. A
soon as got through with the destruc
ton of the magazine and other works,
started Lieut.. Comd. Walker up yaxo
river With sufficient force 10 destroy al
the enemy's property in that direction
with orders TO return with all despatch
and only 10 proceed as far q Yasoo City
where the rebels have = navy yard ant
store house 10 The nssantime Gen
Grant has clossly Invested Vicksburs. M.
has possession d the best commandin
points. In very short time genera
assault viii take place, when l hope /
announce that vicksburg has fallen, afts
u Re les OF the most brilliant successes tina
ever attended IN army. There has ney
er been case during the war when th
rebels have been 20 successfully beaten q
I'll points. The patience and endurane
shown by our army and navy for 50 man
months i about being rewarded. 1t is
mere question Of . lew hours, and ther
with the exception Of Port Hudson, whic
viii follow Vioksburg. the MississipE
will Be open il entire length.
rSigned] D. A. PoRrEa,
r. A.. Com. Miss. Squadron.