Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-28
Cairo, ILL.,, Nav 25,
Flagship Black Hawk,
Haynes Bluff, Yazoo River,
Nav %.

10 lion. ", Welles '-pn the morning
of the 18th | came over to the Yazoo to
be ready to cooperate with Gen. Grant,
leaving two of the iron clads at Red Riv-
er, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage,
three at Warrenton, and two in the Yazoo,
which lett me small force, still dispos-
ed of them to the best advantage.
On the 18th at meridian, firing was
heard in the rear of Vicksburg which as
sured me that Grant was approaching the
city.
The cannonading was kept up furiously
for some time, when by the aid of glasses
| discerned company Of our artillery ad-
vancing, taking position and driving the
rebels before them, then ] Immediately
saw that Sherman's division had come on
to the left of Snyders Bluff and that the
rebels had been cut off from joining the
forces in the city.
| dispatched the Dekalb, Lieut. Com
mander Walker, Choctaw, Lieut. Com
.mander Ramsey, Romeo, Petral and For
est Rose, all under command of Lieut.
Commander Breeze, up the Yazoo to open
communication in that way with Gems.
Grant and Sherman. This | succeeded
in doing, and in three hours received let
tiers from Gems. Grant, Sherman and
Steele, informing me of this vast success,
and asking me to send up provisions
which was at once done,
In the mean time, Lieut.. Commander
Walker, in the DeKalb, pushed on to
Haine's Bluff, which the enemy had com
menced evacuating the day before, and
party renamed behind ia the hope of des-
troying or taking away a large amount of
ammunition on hand.
When they saw the gun boats, they
came out and left everything in good or
der-guns, fort, tents and equipage of all
kinds--which fell into our hands.
As soon as the capture of Hane's
Bluff and fourteen Forts was reported to
me, showed up the gun boats from below
Vlcksburg, to fire at 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 garrison.
On the 10Th, place six mortars in po-
sitlon, with orders to fire night and day as
rapidly as they could.
The works at Haine's Bluff are very
formidable.
There are fourteen of the heaviest kind
of mounted eight and ten inch, and seven
and twelve inch rihed guns, with a mmn
milton enough to last long seige. AS the
gun carriages might again fall into the
hands of the enemy, had them burnt,
b.ew up the magazine, and destroyed the
works generally. ! also burnt up the en-
campments, which were permanently and
remarkably we'll constructed, looking as
If the rebels intended to stay for some
time.
These works and encampments covered
many acres of ground, and the fortifca-
tons and rife pits of Haines Bluff proper
extend about mile and quarter Such
a network of defenses | never saw. The
rebels were year constructing them, and
all We're rendered useless in an hour.
AS soon as | got through with the de-
struction of the magazines and other
works, started Lieutenant 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 only to proceed as
far as Yazoo City, where the rebels have
navy yard and store houses.
In the meantime Grant has closely in
vested Vic.k.sburg and has possession of
the best commanding points.
In a very short time a general assault
will take place when | hope to announce
that Vicksburg has fallen after series
of the most brill ant successes that ever
attended an army.
There has never been a case during the
war where the rebels have been so success
fully beaten at all points and the patience
and endurance shown by our army and
navy for so many moths is about being
rewarded.
1t is a mere question Of few hours,
and then with the exception of Port Hud-
son, which will follow Vlcksburg, the
Mississippi will be open its entire length.
DAVID ID. PORTER,
ID Con,noandipo