Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-05-29
WHAT ADMIRAL PORTER IS DOING.


CAIRO, May 25
7 The following dispatch has just been re
ceived. signed A. N. Renwck, Fleet Captain
Mississippi Squadron:
II FLAo SHIP BLACK HAVE, HAfxns' BLrrr,l
Yssoo River, May ~. I
To Hon. Gideon Wellss, Secretary Of the Ma.
! cy, Washington
On the morning of the 10Th, we came over
to the Yazoo to be ready to cooperate with
Gen. Grant. leaving two of the iron clads in
the Red River, one at Grand Gulf, one at
Carthage, three at Warrenton, and two in
the Yazoo. Left with a small force still, I
disposed Of them to the best advantage.
On the 18th, at noon, firing was heard in
the rear Of Vicksburg, which assured me that
General Grant was approaching the city
The cannonading was kept up furiously for
some time, when by the aid Of glasses dis
covered company Of our artillery advanc.
ing, taking position and driving the rebels
before them. l Immediately saw that Ger.
Sherman's Division had come on to the left
of Snyder's Bluff, and that the rebels at that
place had been cut off from joining the
forces in the city. dispatched the De Kalb
Lieutenant Commanding Walker, Chocktaw
Lieut.. Command Ramsey, Romeo, Petral,
and Forest Rose-all under command Of
Lieutenant Commanding Breeze--up the
Yazoo to open communication in that way
with Generals Grant and Sherman. They
succeeded in landing and in three hours re-
ceived letters from Generals Grant Sherman
and Steele, informing me of his vast success,
and asking me to send up some provisions
which was at once done.
In the meantime Lient. Commanding
Walker. in the De KaIb pushed on to Haines
Bluff which the enemy had commenced ev-
acuating the day before, but party had
remained behind in the hope::of destroying or
taking away large lot Of ammunition. On
seeing the gunboats, they came out and left
in good order Guns and fort, tents, and
equipage Of all kinds, fell into our hands
As soon as the capture of Haines' Bluff, and
fourteen guns were reported to me, ordered
up the gunboats from below Vicksburg, to
fire on the hill batteries, which fire was kept
up for two or three hours. At midnight
they moved up to the town, and opened on
it for about an hour, and continued at inter-
walls during the night, to annoy the garrison.
On the 18th placed six mortars in position
with orders to fire night and ady as rapidly
as they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are very for.
midable. There were IA of the heaviest kind
of mounted 8 to 10-inch and 71-inch rifled
cannon, with ammunition enough to last
long siege. AS the gun carriages might again
fall into the hands Of the enemy, had them
burned, blew up the magazine, and destroyed
the works generally. also burned up the
encampments which were permanently and
remarkably well constructed, looking as if the
rebels intended to stay for some time. The
works and encampments cover MANY acres
of ground and the Notifications and rihepits
proper to Haines' Bluff extend about mile
and quarter. Such a network of defense
never saw. The rebels were year in con-
structing them, and all was rendered useless
in an hour. As soon as got through with
the destruction of the magazine and other
works started Lieut.. Commanding Walker
up the Yazoo River with sufficient force to
destroy oil the enemy's property in that d.
rection, with orders to return with all dispatch
and only proceed as far as Yazoo City, where
the rebels have Navy Yard and store
houses. In the meantime Gen. Grant has
closely invested Vicksburg. and has possess
ion of the best commanding points.
In short time general assault will take
place, when hope to announce that Vicks-
burg has fallen. .a.
After series of the most brilliant success
es that ever attended an army, there has new
er been a case during the war where the reb-
els have been so successfully beaten at all
points, and the patience and endurance
shown by our army and navy Departments
for so many months is about being reward.
ed. 1t is mere question Of a few hours !;
and then, with the exception of Port Hudson,
which will follow Vicksburg, the Mississippi
will be opened its entire length. -
90 (signsd) a D. D. PORTER,
X. A. Commanding. Mississippi Squadron
WHAT FARRAGUT is ABOUT. $50.
The same Department also this, forenoon
received official information that Admiral
Farraguts feet is actively engaged in bonn
harding Port Hudson. -.-as .....
The New York Times correspondent, L.
l.: Crounsc, writing from the headquarters
Of the Potomac army this morning, says
news was received yesterday at headquarters
from the enemy's lines that PembertOn had
been defeated between Jackson and Vicks-
burg, with heavy loss Of killed and wound
ed and 5000 prisoners, as we'll as one divis-
ion cut OFT and retreating in southerly d.
rection.
We also learn from the same source that
Grant having left small force in jackson,
was moving on Vicksburg when Johnston
attacked the force in Jackson, and it retreat
ed upon the main body. Pemberton also at.
tackled Grant, his intention being to whip
him in detail, but he was himself whipped
and retreated upon Vicksburg. This is all
contained in dispatch from Pemberton to
Lee, and it may be considered entirely au.
thentic. .. .r|
ADJUTANT General Thomas reports, it is
said, that ten negro regiments are already Or
ganized and full, in General Grants Depart
ment, and that tho business of recruiting is
still going on with the best prospects for ten
more within short time. That is pleasant
news to us and to all who desire the rebellion
to be suppressed. Wesuppose the rebels are
not gratified by it any more than are the
Copperheads. Both of these classes are be.
ginning to find out that the negroes are both
able and willing to fight when they have