Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-01
OFFICIAL FROM FAKRAGUTS FLEEr.

OFFICIAL FROM FAKRAGUT'S FLEET. }
The Navy Department has received the
following official, dated United States steam
sloop Pensacola, off New Orleans, April Is
"On the morning OF the 9th ult., at bout
daybreak, Admiral Farragut, in the Hartford,
engaged the batteries at Warrenton, three
miles below Nicksburg, and passed below it,
On the morning OF the goth ult. before day
light, the Albatross, having taken a full sup
ply of provisions from II barge which had
been toated down the previous morning by
Admiral Porter, also passed the Warrenton
battery aud anchored near the flag ship
It was blowing quite heavily from the North
on the morning OF the 29th. About one a.
m. the wharf boat Nioksburgh having brok-
en- sdrft from her moorngs at the city, float
ed down and ran ashore opposite to where
the Hartford and Aibatross were anchored
During the day an officer was sent on board
the VicksbuTg, who found that all her ma
chinery had been removed. She had nothing
on board save four muskets and accuutre-
ments, which probably belonged to the guard
While the Admiral was hesitating as to
the Rropriety of retaining her as a wharf boat,
or rather depot, the rebels came down and in
the night Of the 30th burned her The Swift
zerland, Hartford and Albatross being ali i'll
led up with coal and provisions Aoated down
by Gen. Grant and Admiral Porter in barges,
and the damages to the Switzerland being
fully repaired, the vessels passed Warrenton
on the morning OF the 3lst ult., and at day
light the little squadron got under way, and
proceeded down the river to Mr. Turner's
plantatioH where on our passage we had
seen the wreck Of the lndianola. We found
no traces Of the wreck, but learned that she
had slid of into deep water during the late
gale.
We anchored at this place and remained
until $50 p. m. When under way proceeded
down aud engaged the battery at Grand Gulf
This battery csnsisted OF some two OF three
heavy guns sent down from Yicksburg One
OF these guns was mounted upon steamer
which had been concealed upon the Big Black
River The enemy had also light field bat
terry. They struck the Switzerland twice,
doing no damage however. The Albatross
was not struck at all. The Hartford was
struck only once, but this shot struck an iron
hammock stanehion and threw a fragment Of
It forward nearly hAlf the length Of the ship,
and killed man named Jones, a landsman.
This was the only casualty We passed the
battery in about fifteen minutes, and anchor
ed below Grand Gulf for the night AT day-
light, on the first, we got under way ana pro-
ceeded to the mouth of Red River, where we
anchored about sundown, destroying in oui
passage down large number Of shfs and
fiat boats. We remained blockading the
Red River at its mouth until the morning of
the 9th inst, when we got under way at
about 4.40 a. m, and proceeded down to
Bayou Sara where we stopped, siezed upon
and threw into the river about ten thousand
sacks OF corn, and then proceeded on our
way TO Port Hudson, where we anchored
about five miles above the batteries at 3 p. N
on the 9th inst"
On the evening Of the 7th inst, at quarter
pat eight o'clock, the winter of this commu-
nication, the Secretary Of the Rear Admiral
left the Hartford and boarded the Richmond
off Baton Rouge about two o'clock on the nf-
teiooon OF the 8lh inst.