Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-30

have noby sustained the reputation Of your ship and Ae
Mississippi Squadron
Congrntuating you, Captain the combined sucssss
OF the army and navy Ia reducing this 6ebastopo Of tho
rebels remain, very truly, yours;
X. j. HEBRON, Major General.
To Capt j. H. GREER. Comm'dg Benton.
United States Steamer ConestoQa.
Mississippi RiUer, July 8, 1863.
Sir have the honor to present the following report
Of the naval battery consisting OF two 6nch columbads
whilst under my command.
Acting under your orders Of June lst, reported to
Gen Sherman who located the battery nearly the
reme right not far from the river After many delays
succeeded Ia getting one gun in position the night OF june
4lh Fire opened from it the next morning, and the
next NIGHT the other was got in position Opposed to
was IN luch coumbiad six hundred yards defiant, and
~ FOUNDER, one thousand yards distant.
me c0umbiad disabled by fire the second day.
and no further made of 1t the 32pounder also
ell ctnay silencsd There nothing lett at which to
direct our hire but rfepits Upon These kept up slow
ana STEADY hre at different intervals during the day. Ope
rating upon earth works it impossible to know the
damage inflicted Deserters report however that our Are
was 8" accurate as to the battery to be greatly fear
cd aud that had done them much harm On June 25tb
aereeaby to your orders turned my command over to
Capt Walker.
1t gives pleasure to bear testimony to the good con-
duct OF my ofhcefs and men. The labor imposed upon
them was very Misunderstanding their guns under hot
and frequently employed half the ne bit repairing the
damage ilf cted during the day.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
THOS j. SELFRIDGE, Lieut. comm,dr
Actirg X Admiral DAVID d. PORTER
Comul'dg Mississippi Squadron.
Headquarters E1prditionary Arms.
Back Rirer, July A, 1863
Admiral D. ID Porter, Commanding Fleet.
DEAR ADMIRAL; No event in my life could have qiyen
me more personal pride pleasure than to have met you
to-day on the wharf at Vcksbnrga Fourth Of July 20
eloquent IN events as to need words stmuans to
elevate its Importance
appreciate the intense satisfaction you must feel
at lying before the very monster that has defed US with
such deep and malignant hate and seeing your once DIS
united feet again unit and better still the chain that
made an enclosed of lux in the great river broken
forever. 10 magnificent resut stop not to count
who did it. 1t is done AMI tbs day Of naton'a birth
is consecrated and baptized victory won BY The
united Navy and Army OF our Country uod grant that
the harmony and mutual respect that exists between our
respective Commanders and shared by all the true Of
the joint service may continue forever and elevate
national character. threatened with shipwreck Thus
muse as sit in my solitary camp out in the wood far
from the point for which have nty strven long
and WELL and though personal curiosity would tempt me
to and the rownng batteries and suken pits that
have deed long, and cent to their silent graves 20
of early comrades in the enterprise feel that other
tasks lie before me, and must not bs lost Without
casting anchor and despite the the dust and the
drought must again into the bowels Of the land to make
the conquest of Veksbnrg fulfil all the conditions it should
10 the progress of this Whether success attend nv
efforts not know that Admiral Porter will ever accord
to me the exh bon of pure and unsefsh zeal in the
service Of our country.
Il does that Port Hudson without facilities
for supplies or interior mmunication, soon follow
the fate Of Vcksburg and leave the river Free to YOU
the task Of preventing any Ycksburgs or Port Hud
sons on the bank of the great inland sea-
Though farther apart the navy and army will stl act in
concert and assure you shall reach the banks of
the river gunboat but will think Of Admiral Por
ter Capt Breese aud the many elegant and accomplished
gentlemen it has been my good urune to ON armed
or unarned decks of the Mississippi Squadron Congratu
ating you aud the officers and OF your command az
the great result 10 which you have borne conspicuous
part,
remain, as ever, your friend and servant
w. Il. SHERMAN, Major General