The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-04
Official from Admir- Porter.
The following was received the Navy De-
partment Wednesday Afternoon

Flag Ship Black Hk, May 90.
SIn On the evening of thels | received a
communication from Gen. Gran informing me
that he intended to attack th whole of the
rebel works at 10 o'clock A. M.he next day,
acd asked me 10 shell the batteri, from $3.50 I'M
til 1890, and to annoy the garrisc | kept SIX
mortars playing rapidly on the wks and toN n
all night, and sent the Benton, MQd City and
Carondelet up to shell the water batteries and
other places where troops might bresting dur
ing the night At o'clock in theuornng the
Mound City proceeded across the rhr and made
an attack Cd the hill batteries Oppose the canal.
At O'Clock found her in compaE with the
Benton, Tuscumbia and Carondelet. All these
vessels opened on the hill batteries ar finally 81.
fenced them, though the main work the bat
terry, containing the heavy rfed gun, Us done by
the Mound City, Lieut.. Commanding iron Will
son. then pushed the Benton, Noun City ard
Carondelet up to the water batteries, living the
Tuscumbia, which is still out CT repair,to keep
the bill batteries from firing on our vesls after
they passed. The three gunboa;s passe up slow
y, owing to the strong current, the Moud City
leading, the Benton following, and the C,ondelet
asteru. The water batteries opened ironsly,
supported by hill battery on the starbosd beam
of the vessels. The vessels advanced tt within
$40 yards Thy our marks,) and returned he fire
for two hours without Cessation, the enery's fire
being very accurate and incessaut. Findig that
the till batteries were silenced, orderetup the
Tuscumbia to within 500 yards of the batteries,
but her turret was soon made unterbe, not
standing the enemy's shot, and nadeher drop
down. had been engaged with the ftts an hour
longer than Gen. Grant asked The vessels had
all received severe shots under water, which we
could not stop while in motio; ,nd not knowing
what might have delayed the mSemeat of the
army, ordered the vessels to drp out of fire,
which they did in cool, handsome manner.
This was the hottest fire the gunba,s have ever
been under, but owing to the waite batteries be-
ing more on level with them tim usual, the
gunboats threw in their shells so fast that thu
aim Of the enemy was not very goo The enemy
hit our vessels a number OF times, but fighting
bow on, the shot did but little damage Not
man was killed, and only few wounded. hat
only enough ammunition for a few uoment
| longer, and set all hands Ia work 70 fill up from
our depot below.
After dropping back | found that NE enem,
had taken possession again o! one of the lave
hill batteries, and was endeavorng TO remove hi
guns, and bad mounted 22-pounder field piec
to FIRE at Gen. McArthur's troops, w1ch haC
landed short time before at Warrentol. sen
the Mound City and Corondelet to driv. him oil
which they did in few moments,
| beg leave to enclose letter from Gen. Nc
Arthur, explaining why he did not (tc use hi
own expresson) take advantage of tb results
gained by the gunboats
| have since learned through Gen. Grnt, thai
the army did assault at the right time aid vgor
ously. In the noise and smoke We could net SCI
or hear it. The gunboats were therefore st
fighting when the assault had proved ulsuccess
full.
The army had terrible work before then, ant
are fighting as we'll as soldiers ever fought before
but the works are stronger than any OF u dream
ed of. Gen. Grant and his soldiers are Dntiden
that the brave and energetic generals IN the arm
will IN overcome all obstacles and Gerry tn
works. DAVID ID. Porter,
Acting Rear Admr,l, &C.
Tho Courao IS he NJ. IL