The New York herald., 1863-01-25
OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY.

stusilauecusly with the first shot from the gunboats
oNrfy in the army electrified by touch from
eanc battery and read, for the beginning Of the
ba,'c. few minutes more, and one Of Shermans bat
torres opened. The gunboars and this battery had thus
irVron tho fort Ia the commencement. General
stuart rode up General McClernand shook hands and
dashed on 10 the tune Of "Gve it 10 them" The cannon.
adas all sides-from gunboats on tho river and
ffon, the Iand-connued and Increased.
For time tho enemy did not reply. An aid from Gene
Morgan, on ihc left announced that he was moving
up that general commanding might rest assured
tnst every hing would be right He said shat General A.
j. ssmth could attack with only six regiments,
the Of the ground and that the othe
regiments would be held in The skirmshers
beginning TO advance in front, aud an Occa.
sio,a muset shot heard. AT the sound of tho fst
skc aid had come from Gen. SherAan TO inquire IL
thai from the gunboas. He was informed That u
was, and told TO tell Gen. Sherman TO forward.
EXALTED, -, 2s ae
Iicut. Caldwell, one OF Gen. NcCiernand,s aids, now
assembled lofty tree In front Of the fort from which he
coud observe all the movements reporting TO the Gene
raj momcntariy the progress Of the dgh,. He Of
infinite service; he is good and gallant. though
modest officer and the general commanding would show
appreciation Of sterling by seeing that he is suta
bly, rewarded for his services.
COMMENCEMENT xusxErRr
A, nafpast O'Clock tho rebel infantry opened on
advancing lines. The rattle OF tho musketry mingled
with the heavy reverberatng sound Of the tremendous
canonadc infantry presently replied to The battle had
begun earnest Our lines advancing in the centre
tho signal for general cheer Our troops continued
10 forward through the brush and gradually
gaining ground At two O'Clock great cheering was heard
from Sherman troops, and explosive noise fol
iowod by a column Of white smoke ascending from the
fort At first believed that the magazine had been
blown up but it afterwards ascerained that only
casscn bad exploded. AS the lines moved forward and
the re increased number OF straggers were soon seen
streaming back Steele driving the rebels inside their
works, the firing sharp the voices OF commanders
distinctly heard above the rattle Of the musketry.
Another battery opened right, and the second
ine OF infantry advancing to support the hrst. If
necessary, little further to the left Shortly after
two O'Clock the lieutenant in the tree top announced
that the gunboas close to the fort An officer
oame from General Sherman with the suggestion that
Burbridges brigade, of A. j. smiths division, In Nor
gan's corps should be pushed forward so as to form
ont.nuous line from Slermyu's left Colonel Parsons
despatched to hasten Morgan, and presently returned
with the reply from Morgan that Burbridge had already
goLc forward and that the remainder OF the corps was
moving Sherman's extreme right was working around,
firing went TO stke the river if possible, and
thus completely surround the fort Az haifpast two,
whi.e Siuarts division advancing in the centre,
OF Stccies the right, made an attempt to storm
tho parape front OF the prairie land ard werc within
two hundred yards Of the breastwork but when the
tue volleys Of muskstry cleared away, they
werc seen back few hundred yards, in the spot from
which they had advanced tN
MORGAN MOVING
Al twenty minutes past two o'clock column of our
moving up the open ground along the river bank
attracted artillery and muskery re from the fort The
column consisted Of Of Morgans men moving up in
Iron, OF Fashioned work. Two minutes more and the
gunboats had sepced the last heavy gun in that formita
bic fort The lieutenant In the at tho same time re-
ported that of the gunboats had passed beyond tho
fort Con McCeruand sent Col Parsons again to General
Morgan requesting him 10 push forward Ills command SO
TO complete tho work before sundown. just then
fearful fire Of muskery burst out on our right our troops
running and close to the rebel works
lew moments afterwards tho fleet reported sailing
past Post the gunboats sheng the woods above and
beyond tho tort. Al halfpast two heavy volley firing
broke out the right again; il was from both sides
for troops attempted to advance, the rebels
endeavored drive them back Al this time Steele was
pressed pretty hard, and needed support the left. II
should be stated that Osterhaus division Of Morgans
corps detached Lndsays brigade being across the
river and De Courceys detailed to guard the transport
boats Intelligence brought from Sherman that the
hrins very severe Steee's division and that the
troops cooperating corps should be advanced the
left. Word nstantancousytent to Morgan that he
push his command forward vigorously e tho sup
port OF Shcrmans left This being done, however,
although the heavy timber rendered Morgan movements
invisible for time. His advance had already com
meuced skirmshng, and his guns were being placed in
position onihc right and left Five minutes before three
O'Clock infantry engaged and the sound Of his
heavy Parrot guns told that he had opened his
tilery on left Presently the aid returned from Nor
gan who had requested him to say that General A. J.
SmthT division pressing forward vigorously, and
that General ostcrhaus experimenting the serving o.
four pieces Of heavy artillery which was raking every
thing before them.
rnoorYss or THE RATrrR.
The troops III 'front.' were row sharply engaging tho
tels their works. whc artillery, and their field
pieces behind the brcastwork the fort, were blazing
away each other with great rapidy In instance
the rebels gnoped the horses up to the parapet with
gun when the wheeled with In order that
might be placed position infantry fire ried all
the horses traces and the arterists scamperod
"a an instant and eft their gun. Alta shst from Of
our rarro guns which knocked Of the tmbers from
the breastworg at least hundred rebels away from
behind the ntrenchment into the Fashioned fort Our
cassons coming from the front for animuni'
ZION. ten minutes past three most Of Morgans men
iu ne and the remainder were forming In columns
In tho In Ave minutes more they were advancing
with vigor. sharp musketry and artillery firing was
ahcavy column of Morgans moving
up the left u the line, tho bank. Il uas
arpt supposed tina, might be s,orming rushing
on the works at double quick, TOR Is ~c known that
whcn Morgan moves be moves with vigor; but tho next
20 knew the snsng column, envclopcd in clouds Of
smoke, had halted II vas not a stormns column II
was body that was moving quickly 70 tho frert 10
extend the advancing line.
The time now was 1ftcep minutes past three The fight
anita eexere On both sides Although beavv
ems 10 tho tort were .enced the aeld pieces tns
sniss,ry behind the parspet with great determination
cestinsed TO resist vigorous advance Our line ex
tended from the the le round IN front Of the
fcvi and to the bayou the right. Ths eugagensn
was general along ts whole Morgan sent word
.h., his left advancing steadily and the gunboats
commanded the river he had sent for Lndsays brigade
70 rsturn from the other side
srRRs>psR