, 1863-01-14
LATER
STEAMER SOVEREIGN. OFF TIE MOUTH or
IAzoo RIrEE, NonruW4RD BoEND :

STEAMER SOVEREIGN. OFF TIE MOUTH or1
IAzoo R1rEE, NonruwARD BoCND
January 81, 1861
Iopcn my letter to ndd few Of the most
melancholy details it ever fell to my ito re-
port. After my Last writing We had another
.faseo. This timo before any blood was spilled.
But while write our vessels are safe (e) in
A1illiken's Bend, on the Mississippi, and there
arc indications that the tlotilla will speedily
follow. What all this means transcends the
reasoning Of every one here. There are
strange rumors Of Memphis and Island No.
10 being In danger, but no sane man conceive:
them to be In more danger than Of drunken,
ness and trcachcry.
A SENSIBLE MOVE TuwARTED.
The particulars of our doing since the 1st,
form not IN interesting, but painful page.
On Thursday night the division Of Gen. Steele
was embarked on board twelve steamers.
Bales Of hay placed round the boilers, aud all
ready for steaming at twelve o'clock ut night.
In the meantime, Col. Ellct had submitted a
project for securing the torpcdocs from the
front Of tho batteries at Haines' Bluff by
raft Of timber projecting somc thirty feet
from the PROV Of the Red 1ioness, with rakes
attached SO Us to sweep the torpclocs aside.
Col. Ellet was to command the Lioness In per-
son, most daring and praiscworthy act. Next
morning at three, the Lioncss In the lead,
Of the West, Pittsburg, Mound City, Louis
vile, Tyler, aud others in succession, steamed
slowly up the river, each with his respective
stationer assigned. Not bell, or whistle, or
gun, was to be sounded as to give the alarm.
Tic light Jog which then overspread the river,
grew denser and more denser. By the time
lad gotten up to the vicinity Of Haincs' Bluff,
the Shores were not visible. Four o'clock was
the hour for the transports to move. At that
hour they did not move, nor did they move at
MI until next morning, and then In contrary
direction.
The reasons most generally given arc the
fog, The dnnger Of collision In the river.
This is hardly Sufficient for let the landing be
made so soon as the fog Ia lifted and the condI-
tions arc unchanged. Since the heabandonment,
nc have heard It said that two Of the engineers
from the Rams deserted to the enemy and dis
much truth there Is In this story, but the pre-
sumption is, that as these men volunteered
tor special and hazardous service, they mere
II desired to shun the double danger Of land
batteries on tile one hand aud submarine ones
on the other.
RAISING TIE SIEGE.
We we're surprised to see the balance Of the
army marching In from the front OIL Friday
night and the order tEirsIn ito embark in the
Tie commissary stores in the front had been
burned; 4 load Of picks and shoyels left be-
hind (unburned j barrels Of pork were in
some cases thrown into the river. All night
long the loading went forward. At 0 O'Clock
only two lines Of plckets were out in front
the rest on the bank, cooking and cursing and
hunting their proper boats. Alto clock they
commence moving down stream. The black
smoke ascends in long streak aud the green
waters Of the 9azoo are churned By monster
wheels.
Seven hoats only are left at the upper or
crew Of the Di Vernon aud N0rthcrner, were
astounded to see the pickets fired on, and
presently the bullets began to batter on the
cabins Of the boats themselves. The Mercan-
tile Battery Of Chicago, which was loaded on
the d Vernon, ran uptwopicces upon tho bank.
time in front Of the bayou, lei fly shower ot
canister at the rebels from her bow houitzcr.
| The Tyler and Queen of the West coming down
soon after, nil pitched shells into the woods
aud along the banks Of the bayou for several
minutes. It Was an evident effort to capture
the rebels had any artillery or not. A full
| regiment Of troops were seen BY the Captain
| OF the Tyler. Two Of our men on the North.
erner were killed and two wounded Sew
eral Of their men were seen to fall. The feet
then quietly and in order moved downthc Ia
l
| posite the mouth, md towards night, as
| heavy rain storm set In, tied up in Ntlliken's
| Bend.
| STILL LATER.
| TnASsroRT FLEET. EK ROUTE roRl
NAPOLEON, Jan. 8, 1858. !
The progress Of the fleet. up the river i:
| very slow. The rebels hare either stopped
the supply Of coal or the present movement
| was not anticipated. All the boats are burn
| ing wood, and, as there Is none ready cut or
the banks, VIC are obliged to cut as we 60 OF
take fence rails, which are little better thau
straw, flying in sparks from the chlmneys q
fast rs they can be put into the furnace. w
arc obliged to stop morning and evening tc
+ take ii wood and allow tic men to cook.
| Twenty-Five miles day Is rs: fast as we cau
| more. Our destination IS said to be Napo.
| leon or New Aadrid-or Minnesota!
srrrnEss1os OF TIE NEWS or The DISASTER
Gen. Sherman IL adhering strictly to the
| non-intercousc SYSTEM, He neither allows
| boats to 80 up stream to tsll what Is our sit
uation, nor does he appear to learn what !:
doing above. In fact, one would think he had
! . vital interest In Keeping suppressed all In
| telligence whatever Of his bungling disaster
he has, I aul~ informed On good authority,
| caused the correspondence Of the leading
| Journals in this country to be seized, opened
and read. Woe to the man who attempts to
keep from the anxious public eye the fntelli'
! Ecnce Of the welfare OF nlfare- Of their be.
| loved sons and brothers who arc fighting the
BATTLES Of the common countrys send this
by- private hands. hoping It may e1ude bis
| strict blockade So tenacious and keen is he
! on this point, that he will not eyen allow the
hospital boats to proceed north Even If the
river were blockated above, as some suppose,
surely these sufferers would be allowed to
There are over 1900 sick and wounded on