The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-29
where it was. in the centre, and also
at.sither extremity. Nothing Of this
bcrt was attemptei


at either extremity. Nothing Of this
scrt was attempted.
THE CoNrEsr AT NAMES BLUFF. g
Instead, tile iron clad Benton was
dispatched to lombard the batteries at
Haines Bluff, the day previous to the
assault. Her deck plating was
pierced in three places, her command
err killed, and seven men severely
wounded by n single battery. Her
usefulness is not at all impaired. The
attempt was unsastained by any land
force whatever. On the next day.
Monday, the Queen OF the w est franz
wassent up 10 rec"nnoiter the battery
and protect the small boats willie fish
ing up torredoes. The testimony, OF
her officers aas-that there were few
persons visible on Monday aitcrthe at
tack was made, and these were evident
ly Ahmed. 1t is confidently believed
that twenty five hnsdred men could
have siezed the battery, aud thereby
given us q lodgment rom which we
never could have beef, driven, with the
aid OF our gunboats. Such a move
ment would have been prudent rs a
Z distracting force. even if it were fruit
less. The chances are that it would
have led 10 the opening of the Yazoo,
the control of the Big Black, and the
evacuation of Vicksburg.
THE DENOUEMENT-NEw YEARS.
"Wednesday night saw the division
of General Steele embarked upon ten
steamboats,, their destination supposed
TO be up the Yazoo. Not a whistle
was sounded, bell rung, or gun fired.
Early next morning, four gunboats,
Carondelet, Louisville, Mound City
and Pittsburg; two rams, the Queer,
and Lioness, the latter in front, rugged
with machine for tearing loose the
torpedoes, which would he certain to
= result in her destruction or that of The
torpedoes. The bluffs were sighted, a
thick fog arose, the transports could
not navigate without danger of coils
ion. The attempt was abandoned, the
feet returned, the attack postponed,
the failure complete.
MOST LAME AND IMPoTENT CONCLUSION.
What followed is easily told. The
whole at The forces were withdraw
and re em ba;ke,i upon their original
Transports. The conrnissary stores
were DESTROYED. The enemy, getting
wind Cf the movement, came down t."
the bar with ARTILLERY, and fired III our
retrea.ing beats. The gupboats en-
gagged ii.-m, and while the cannon
were booming in their ears a humili
ating retreat, our transports made their
way down To the mouth of the river,
where they now lie.
Gen. McClernand is reported to he
here tn assume command of the army.
without yenturing To speak of his ca
pacities, il is true To say that any
change will be welcomed which re-
lieves MS of Sherman. He is execra
ted and scorned by The men, and cut
by the officers. To him is chargeble
the folly and murder of our attempt.
He has frittered away the magnificent
energy and spirit of the soldiers, de
,stroyed their hopes and blasted their
reputation as far as in him Law. He
can never command the ariiiv witilonl
personal danger. He has resorted To
tricks SO petty and acts So despotic
that he can no longer have the conf
-dence of the public or the esteem of
his coadjut"rs. Away with him to a
iunatic asylum lie has siified every
attempt To give the facts of his cam
paign TO the world. He will not be-
trusted, wherever he is known What
is to be the future of this army is be-
You'd our ken, but it were infinitely
better 1t had never been sent on an ex
ira hazardous service uuder such a
madcap as General Sherman. The
tide OF feeling runs very high against
him at this writing.