New-York daily tribune., 1863-05-16

ANtN"a4'N"N
ton has been reJsiabshed between Richmond and
Fredericksburg
The Capture of Port Gibson md Grand
GuIf-Romburdmcnt OF Five Hours
seven Transports Pass the Rebel Hat
teries-CrossinR Of the Mississippi by
Grants Army-Engagements with the
Fnemy-Bowcn's Rebel brigade Dis
pcrscd-Dcath OF the Rebel General
Trncy-Bnteresting Narrative.
Ffom The It Louis Democrut, May H.
Rv a gentleman lust arrived from the scene OF
C.n' Grants operation, we have the following in
ere,tirg and in many particulars highly satisfactory
intelligence;
On thursday, April 30, a; O'Clock a. NJ, Admiral
Porter began the bombadmcut upon the enemy
works AT Grand Gulf. His force consisted OF the
five eunboatt-Tuscumbla, Lafayette, Louisville,
Cincinnati aud Benton, the latter the fag-shiP The
action continued for five hours
Admiral Porteri person commanded on the Ben
ton. The scene Is described as maghlhceht one
the Qnnbos,s moving in II circle for an attack upon
the enemy's works, diEoharging their bow guns as
they advanced, giving them a broadsde as they
were passing and firing their stern guns they
wards of the eneny-s batteries. Hy 80 ~, -.
guns Of tie Rebels, except three, were sileneed.
The works defended by brigade in command
Of Gen. John 5. Bowen OF Camp jackson nOtorety,
many OF bis command being well known characters
from this city. The enemy fought gallautly, but
we're well protected behind classmates from shot
and shell. which were showered upon them.
The Benton was pierced III thirteen places-onco
through the plot-housei her boa, cranes were swept
away eight OF ber men were killed an some fifteen
wounded. I'm the whole fleet, only about twenty
were killed and twenty-five were wOunGed-the
casualties on the Benton much exceeding those On
any Of the remaining vessels. The Iuscumbia was
temporarily disabled, in consequence oi shot cut
Iting ler bog-eham, she theu 1oated below out Of
range Of the batteries, the Louisiana shore. BY
lts time she is thoroughly repaired, and prepared
for acton OF the other boats two escaped injury,
the third being slightly damaged.
On board ths httle tug humsey, witnessing the
attack, were Maj.-Ge1. Grant, AdJt.-Gsn. Thomas,
L. ). A., Gen. Grants staff Gov. Richard Yates Of
Illinois and Lis staif. The tug was frequently III
rau ge oil the enemys guns. On Ihursdav nlgh.
Gen. Grant cOnciused TO run the transports-seven
in nuubei-belOw the batteries, under cover Of the
IgunbOats.
o AT durk the guuboas dropped down and renewed
the attack upon the batteries, while the Transports
passed down iu satety. They were loaded with
horses ONLY. Five LOrses were killed on the steam
er Cbeeeeman. and the hull OF the Forest Queen
was penetrated aboys the water line, other
injury ueiug sustained on the transports. The boats
moves three miles below Grand Gull. At III o'clock,
H. H., the gunboate moved below the batteries, the
entire fleet guubOats and transports, moving TO-
ward Rodney and anchored al DfOughlon landing,
ten miles telOw Grand Gulf. III the meantime the
troops mad been passing down to that point Oh tho
Lousiana shore. The transports 1T once began
ierr,ing them 10 the Mss ssipp shore, under cover
of The gunboats, all Of which effected withouC
any opposition. Gen. McClerIand's Amy corps
passed over iirst, moved enthusiastically elgbt
miles, toward Port Gibson, and took pobsetsi0n Ol Il
range OF hills about ten miles distant from that
place. Ihe MAN DOoy iCIoWeu III 'no sanAo uiI0O'
tiOn.
AT 2 O'Clock Saturday morning, the enemy ad-
yauced from Port Gibson m force, ana opened hre
luUon McClernand with artillery. Oar force b
rAssed forward driving the Rebels from their posi-
lion with httle difficulty, aud moved slowly and
cautiously on TO Port Gibson, which the Rebels
! abandoned leaving in our hands Il battery aud Ia
number OF prisoners. When within three miles OF
Port Gibson, severe engagement occurred, the
enemy having planted several batteries at tins
noint While McClerand wIs moving on Port Glib.
,on Mcpherson was advancing on Grand Gull,
yvitbin eight miles OF which lac met Bowens Rebel
brigade, strongly posted.
Aiter d brief period OF skirmishlng, Gen. Jobn a.
Smiths brigade charged the Rebels, capturing 800
,risoners together with two batteries, killing the
Rebel General Tracy and Il large number OF other
ofticers Gen. Bowen's hOrse was shot under nm.
llbe enemy fed 10 the swamps III great dlsorder,
and crossed Bayou Pierfes, swiftly pursued Dy our
At4 o'clock Saturday afternoon our troops moved
10 the bayou, Gen. Logan's division taxing the ad,
vance diminishing with the enemy, VINO had eieo'eu
ors behind which they had placed tileif re-
manning batteries. Iean"hhe, tho hoOei' I "oIo
rnov,g off their traiDs aCen with troops ana stores
fror, Grand Gulf Met lernand's and portion Oi
McPbergon's corps proceeded eight or nine miles
above, where they constructed a bridee over the
bayou, enabling our troops to cross before morning..
On Sunday the enemy's works at Grand Guh were
occupied by our forces, with slght reSlSluhce' VIC
enemy having abandoned tue post, oes1I1yIn 'e
magazine and epIkinQ two siege guns, leaving Two
siege guns uusliked. Al o'cock sonddy moIhlug'
at winch time our informant lett, McClerpa9a Wa1
stll forcing The enemy il the direction OF Vic6sbufs
At Grand Gulf we captured % prisoners "o "a
the abandoned guns found mere h"d oeen taAoi
tie IuGiauola. Our troops also captured four hddi-
uongl siege guns, pOsted ON the bank 0i DlacA
River, about Two miles from its mouth.
TIE lAtest intelligence from below 10 that our
army was still pusii0g on toward Vicks1ufg, 'ne
troops beng 10 the highest spirits, aud conhdeh' OF
victory. Gen. Grant force Is amply s%lcien'' 'ne
suels,h Of tie enemy is approximately known, ana