Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-25
ApERFEcT NETWORK OF REBEL DEFENcEs
A NAVAL FORCE SENT Up THE YAzoO RIVER
TO YAZOO, CITY TO DESTROY THE
REBEL NAVY YARD AND REBEL
VESSELS THERE.

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAa.sH BLOCK
HAM, Hainss' BlnF, Ydsoo Rirer, May 20, (via
Cairo, a5th May.)-Hon. Gideon WcIes, Secre-
tary Of the Nary: Sir-On the morning of the
18th I came over to Yazoo river to be ready to
cooperate with Gen. Grant, leaving two of
the iron-clads at Red river, and at Grand
Gulf and at Carthage, three at Warrenton and
two in the Yazoo, which left me small force;
still disposed of them to the best ad antage.
On the 18th at meridian, firing was heard i'll
the rear of Eicksburg, which assured me that
Gen. Grant was approaching the city. The
cannonading was kept up furiously for some
time, when by the aid OF glasses I discovered a
company of our artillery advancing, taking
position and driving the rebels before them.
Immediately saw that Gen. Sherman's d-
vision had come into the left of Snyder's Bluff,
and that the rebels at that place had been cut
oil from Joining the forces in the city. dis
patched the DE kalb, Lieut.. Commander
Walker; Choctaw, Lieut.. Commander Ramsay;
Linden, Romeo, Petrol, and Forest Rose all
under command of Lieut.. Commander Breese,
UP the Yazoo, to open communication in that
way with Gems. Grant and Sherman. This
l succeeded in doing. and in three hours re-
Steele, informing, me OF this last success, and
asking me to send up provisions, which was
at on &c done.
IN the meantime, Lieut. Comd'g. Walker, on
the lekaIo, pushed on 10 IIanes' Bluff, which
the enemy commenced eyaeuating the day be-
fore aud 4 party remained behind in hopes OF
tlkins away or destroying, the large amount
OF ammunition on hand--when they saw the
gunbcats, they ran and eft every thing in good
Crder-guns. forts, tents, and equipage of ali
kinds, which fell into our hands. Soon as the
capture OF Haines Blnh and fourteen fort. was
reported to me, l showed up the gunboats from
below Eicksburg, 10 fire 1t the Hill batteries,
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 garri-
On the 10Th, placed six mortars III posi-
ton with orders to fire night and day, as
rapidly as they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are very formi-
dable There are fourteen OF the heaviest kind
of guns mounted, and 10-inch, and u. ri1ied
guns, with ammunition enough to last long
siege AS the gun carriages might again fall
into the hands of the enemy, had them burnt,
blew up the ma gaines and destroyed the works
generally. 1 also burnt up the encampments.
which were permanently and remarkably we'll
constructed. locking as il the rebels intended
to stay there for some time.
These works and encampments covered many
acres OF ground, and the Notifications and the
rihe-pits proper of Haines' Bluff extend about
a mile and quarter. Such a network OF de-
fences L never saw. The rebels were a year
constructing them, and all were rendered USE
less in an hour.
As soon as got through with the destruc-
ton OF the magazines and other works, I
started Lieut.. Commander Walker up the
YaZoo river, with sufficient force to destroy
all the enemy's property in that direction,
with orders to return with all dispatch. and
the rebels have navy yard and store houses.
In the meantime, Gen. Grant has closely in
vested Vicksbnrg, and has possession of the
best commanding points. In very short time
a general assault will take place, when hope
to announce that Vicksburg has fallen, after q
series OF the most brilliant successes that ever
attended an army. There has never been u
case during the war when the rebels have been
SO successfully beaten at all points, and the
patience and endurance shown by our Army
ard Navy for many months is about to be re-
Iarded. II is mere question of few hours,
and then, with the exception of Port Hudson,
which will soon follow Vicksburg, the Mis-
sissippi will be open its entire length.
l am, sir, respectfully, your obedient SER
want, DAVID u. PORTER,
Acting Rear Admiral, Cong Miss. Squadron.