The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-06-04
admiral Por.er,s OmeinI Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The following was
at Washington this morning:
NUMBER 50.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-The following was
received at Washington this morning:
FLAGSHIP BLAcKHAwK, HAMS BLUE, )
- YAzoo RIVER, May 20 1858. g.
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary OF the
Navy, Washington:
On the morning of Friday, the 10Th, came
over to the Yazoo to be ready to cooperate
with Gen. Grant. The OBTAINING of two OF
the iron-clads at Red River, and at Grand
Cult, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton,
and two in the Yazoo, left me a small force 4;
still | disposed of them to the best advantage.
On Monday, the 18th, at noon, firing was
heard in the rear of Vicksburg, which assur-
ed me that Gen. Grant was approaching the
city. The cannonading was kept up f%uriously
for some time, when, by the aid Of glasses, ]
discovered a company Of our artillery advanc-
ing, taking position and driving the rebels be-
fore them.
l Immediately saw that General Sherman's
division had come on to the left of Snyder's
Bluffs, and that the rebels at that place hao
been cut off fromjoining the forces inthe city.
[ dispatched the DeKalb, Lieut.. Command
ing Walker, Choctaw, Lieut.. Commanding
Ramsay, Romeo, Petrol and Forrest Rose, all
under command of Lieutenant Commanding
Breese, up the Yazoo to open communication
in that way with Gems. Grant and Sherman.
They succeeded in landing, and three hours
later | received letters from Generals Grant
Sherman and Steel, informing me of his vast
success, and asking me to send up provisions,
which was at once done.
nthe meantime Lieut.. Commanding Walk
er in the DeKaIb pushed on to Haines' Bluff,
which the enemy had commenced evacuating
A. H. Loforo op1 q yaptu rnOlaInpd behind
in the hopes of destroying or taking away a
large quantity of ammunition on hand.
When they saw the gunboats they came
hastily out, and left in good order the guns,
fort, tents and equipage of all kinds, which
fell into our hands.
As soon as the capture of Haines' Bluff and
fourteen guns was reported to me, | showed
up the gunboats from below Vicksburg to fire
| at the ILL 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 intervals, du-
ring the night, to annoy the garrison.
On Tuesday, the 18th, l placed SIX mortars
in position with orders to fire night and day
as rapidly as they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are very torml-
dable. There were fourteen Of the heaviest
KIM OF 9uDS mOuuIeu-C dLlA 4O-hAN o'AAN : 2
inch rihed cannon-with ammunition enough
to last a long siege. As the gun carriages
might again fall into the hands Of the enemy,
| had them burnt, blew up the magazine, and
DESTROYED the works generally. | also burnt
I'D the e~ncampments which were permanent
" and remarkably well C INSTRUCTED, look
ING as if the rebels intended to stay for some
time. The works and encampments covered
many acres, of ground, and the tortlilcatlons
and rifle pits proper of Haines' Bluff, extend
ed about a mile and a quarter. Such a net
work of defences | never saw. The rebels
were a year i'll constructing them, ana all are
rendered useless IN an hour. crs
AS soon as | got through with the destruc-
ton of the magazines and other works. start
ed Lieut.. Conrad Walker up the 1azoo River,
with sufficient force to destroy all the enemy's
property in that direction, with orders to re-
turn with all dispatch, and only proceed as tar
as Yazoo City, where the rebels nave a navy
yard, and s~torehOuses.
In the meantime Gen. Grant has closely IN
vested Vicksburg, and has possession OF the
best commanding points. In a very snort
time a general assault will take place, when
[ hope to announce that Vicksburg has fallen
after series of the most brilliant successes
that ever attended an army.
There has never been a case during the war
where the rebels have been so successfully
beaten at all points, and the patience and en-
durance shown by our army and navy for 50
many months is about being rewarded. 1t Is
a mere question Of a few hours, and then with
the exception of Port Hudson, which will fol-
low Vicksburg, the Mississippi will be open
its entire length.
(Signed.) u. u. PORTER,
Admiral Com'dg Miss. Squadron.