Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-28
THE NAVY AT VICKSBURG.
CAPTURE OF HAINES' BLUFF AND DESTRUC-
TON OF THE REBEL FORTIFICATIONs.


FLAG SHIP BLocKHAM, HAINEs' BLUFF,
Yazoo Riper, May 20, (p.a Cairo 25th>
Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary of the Navy.
SIR On the morning of the 18th came to Yazoo
river to be ready 10 cooperate with Gen Grant leaving
two of the iron clads Red river and at Grand Gulf and
at Carthage three at Warrenon and two in the Yazoo
which left small force still disposed Of them 10
the best advantage.
On the 18th, at meridian, firing heard in the Of
Vicksburg, which assured me that Gen. Grant sp-
preaching the city The cannonadDg kept up furously
for some time when by the aid of gases discovered
company OF artillery advancing, taking position and
driving the rebels before them. Immediately that
Gen. Shermans DIVISION had into the left of Snyders
Bluff and that the rebels at that place had been off
from joining the forces in the city
dispatched the De Kalb Lieut.. Commander Walker !;
Choctaw, Lieut.. Commander Ramsay; Linden, Romeo
Petrol and Forest Rose all under command of Lieut. Com
mander Breese, up the Yazoo, to open communication in
that way with Generals Grant and Sherman This
ceeded in DOING and in three hours received letters from
Generals Grant Sherman and STEELE informing of this
last success and asking to send PROVISIONS which
was at once done.
In the time Lieut.. Commanding Walker on the
DeKalb pushed to Haines's Bluff which the enemy
commenced evscuang the day before and party
behind 10 hopes of taking away destroying the
the gubboats they and left every thing good order
guns forts tents, and equipage of all kinds, which fell
| into hsnds
Soon the capture of Hainess Bluff and fourteen forts
reported to me- showed up the gunboats from below
vcksburg to fire at the Hill batteries, which FIRE WIS
kept up for two three hours At midnight they moved
to the town and opened it for about hour and
continued at intervals during the night to annoy thu gar
rison On the 10 placed six mortsrs position, with
orders to fire night and day, rapidly they could
The works Haines's Buff are very formidable There
fourteen Of the heaviest kind of guns mounted and
l0nch and "a red guns, with ammunition enough to last
loDg siege. As the gun-carrages might sgan fall into
the hands Of The enemy had them burnt blew up tie
magazine, and destroyed the works generally also burnt
up the encampmeus, which permanently and remark
ably well constructed looking if The rebels intended to
stay there for some time.
These works and encsmpmen's covered many acres of
ground and the Notifications and rHe-pits proper Of
Haines's u extend about mile and quarter such
network Of deience never The rebels year
constructing them, and ali were rendered useless in an
hour
As soon as got through with the destruction of the
magazines and other works, started Lieut. Com Walker
up the Yzoo river with sufficient force to destroy all the
enemys property that direction with orders return
with all dispatch and only proceed up far Ys1oo
city, where the rebels have navy yard and store houses
In the mean time Gen Grant has closely invested ycks-
burg and has possession Of the best commanding points
In very short time general assault will take place,
when hope to that vcksburg has falen after
series Of the brilliant that attended
an army. There has been case during the war
when the rebels have been successfully beaten at all
points, and the patience and endurance shown by army
and navy for many months about to be rewarded 1t
question of few hours, and then, with the exec
ton Of Port Hudson, which will follow vicksburR
the Mississippi will be open it's entire length.
/ am, cir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID D. PORTER