The Portland daily press., 1863-04-11

aim at our men. The Admiral sent dispatch
back to Gen. Sherman stating the condition of
affairs, and the 9th and Sth Missouri, and 10th
Illinois, of the 1st brigade, under Col. Giles A.
smith, were at once sent to the relief of the
gun boats, and to assist in getting them
through. They made forced march, skirm-
ishing part Of the way, and reaching the
gunboats before night of the 22d, distance
| of twenty-one miles, over terrible road.
During the day the enemy had been largely
reinforced from the Yazoo and now unmasked
some 5000 men-infantry, cavalry, and artil-
lery. The boats were surrounded with rebels,
who had felled trees before aud behind them,
and were moving upartillery, making every
exertion to cut off our retreat and capture our
boats. Col. Smith at once established a patrol
for distance of seven miles along Deer
Creek, behind the boats, with chain of SEN
tinels outside of them, to prevent the telling of
trees. Further progress was impossible. For
mile and half to Rolling Fork the creek
was full of distractions. Heavy batteries
were on its bank, supported by large force
To advance was impossible; to retreat seemed
almost hopeless. The gunboats had their
ports all closed, and preparations all made to
resist boarders. The mortar boats were all
ready for fire and explosion.
Our lines were so close to each other that
rebel officers wandered into our lines in the
dark and were captured. 1t was the second
nigh. WITHOUT sieep aooara snip, anu the IMAM
uy had marchea twenty-one miles without
~: ~. 49, III s"I c 'a.'lu, -, WV. 'nei eneI
sc'ie leauei' neps sueeessiui wa'cn anu "aIu
en1 ouas. @ anu tnen a',, at.lnery; AT
eo.n qua. nioanS , sliie @.uI' zen, oher-
.p'a ,au i,a,s1a af pc., sae huiiai, oy
along through the rebel lines in the night
stating his perlous condition. Leaving dis
patch for Gen. Stuart, who was bringing up
iow Nm Iii ,hs ron,e;naar % .ha 49,. ~ io,-
Can Sharasan ~ arna na.a,oa 'm ';.,. .'a -;
hr;naao ;an. CT p;aa on,,.,,d;., va; .ie "a
a. IS,I' ra,.,,I'. "a ,,a.,, II,:..s s - = anu
hr;,.aSa O. s.,,.,he... ~ IN. vi 1nc is'
hond ~ ,ba osaal a. ,hroa -. IN ~
Ist hr;oaaa had hoa,, hro,,rh, :; anS " 'io
ros;,n naar ,ha hoa,s ~, o., r;in u ~
a rebel battery of tifteen o,,ns was in from,
at RolIing Fork The craei was h.ra,v ,ha
width of = pnnboatHtbe boa,s wers y 60 close .me
up that only one bow gun apiece Of four could
be used, and then at an inconvenient angle
IN fact In only one posltion-and the broad
sides of several were useless on account OF the
BANK. Our Immense superiority OF metal was
Z tnus rendered almost useless Tor the purpose OF
engaging an enemy that was endeavoring to
encircle the Admirafs boats. If his rear was
gained, their superior numbers could board
the first or the last boat, and. having captured
her, use her guns with fearful effect on the
others.
About midday the enemy commenced NOV
ing upon US, with the purpose OF reaching
the bank oi the creek below the gunboats and
below the Infantry. Gen. Sherman was some
SIX miles distant Ihe rebels are believed 10
have advanced with about 1000 men. 1t must
be borne In mind that our troops were on
belt oil land which forms the bank OF the
creek, of not great width. back Of which the
la ! w ~ "a al IfTrrs .IA
The rebels came down with the intention of
turning thier right and reaching the creek be-
bw. The gunboats and four mortars opened
upon them as soon as they discovered them
selves in bodies. This firing embarrassed
their movements and considerably retarded
them. They debouched through the wood
and became engaged with the skirmshers of
the 9th. The fight was beginning 70 be in
earnest, but the rebels were gaining ground.
The object was not battle, but to pass by
Smith. The first firing Of the gunboats was
.... " I.o,, ~" ..s.'. s'S
.ae'oi ~ =, se1 l,0sp n's s.uop9 81 ..t
se, au ao r,,,a:s h ;.,e si
aa..,....S - .,.;..s;..s. -. - 49, 80.
~, - ,.h ma '.aI'', ~ e,ao '..i,;.h ~
wy u,i ';.I VII '"1 p''''eu " 'ne 'o'se "A'0A
enSaseu s,;an,.n o,n. - 49, A., ,
..,ad a.,,,;,a J;sno.eas,a, hn ,h4, nev,,ae,a3
.,,oa,. s,,,,,.s ar,o., -, =. .a,o ma
o. c,,a,s nrassad ,han dr;,;ns ,San, hact
.ui &c n '.s, ."en o"N
s.,".'aS ,,,',',s 49,, I.a,'....., ~, -
,.s o,,rs rha ra,,a,s 20, ,raa,.d and ,ha rn,
ho.,s nor. saved for ,ha, A. onr Loss sas
-, .;,,aS - 80 .s.y5.a T.n - :,
,ha rat,,Is ,.as ha.n,, Tha ,,.,,a,;s,,, go -
...;at sns az ,,,, ~. pa haIs upoi
C.d G;vans r. mas L;lled anS lie ,s;c,
S.a.,,;r,,l ,.,,,,,,an 49, aiss L;iad h,, s,oI,
,,h;is III, - ;n ,ba a,osa o. shai, 1a,,,
,nnr,ar L;ii,sa ,wa,,,S-six as ,hav ,a,,. raIl,N
;n, as 20 sh;r,,,;shars Ana,har ~ ss,.,sd - ~,
rislad ana s.n.,naaa e,r,, ,orsons Thav sne
earad varv rnnch' hnt as we All No, a,;an,n,
~ s,ao,,n,, ,Ia ,,aia !, oanna, ho asoa.,s;r'pa
49, n,,,ch A. n,r,har asvanoa .as =,
nra.,;calla tho heats a, once comme,cea
p,,a,;n, haota.rd and n,.Ia s.rarai ,,,i,ss'
thai EVENING
The next effort of the rebels WAS IN mass
arouud onr limos in the af,ernoo, aud nis,ht
ara ,hrov, ,he;r ,ybola oor.a s,;li S,r,ber ha'
Low ms Cen Stewart with four REGIMENTS
of Ewinc's bripade marched on Hill,s nlan,a-
tion the same morning. having run his trans
norts in the n;ght and imno,iiatelv advanced
the 4tb VIRGINIA regiment nm Deer Greek and
another the 5Qtb Ohio stjIl further 10 the
r;ght Tho rehels who wore making n circnit
ahout Cen sherman ,hus fnnnd The whole
line oecunied and abandoned The a,temnt IN
cnt otr tia o,,nboa,s for that dav Dpripg the
afternoon the troons and gunboats iii arrived
at U;Irs nlanta,;nn ReheI scouts foIlowed
them within two miles ~ the division beaa-
Col Lieber, which was on picket about one
hal mi w a Eld ~ af