New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-28
THE INDGANOLA AND THE VICks-
BURG BATTERIES.
The CONSERVATION Caused by tho Monitor
Battery Rebel Communication He
tween vicksburg and Port Hudson
Dcstroycd-C Condition Of the Rebels nj


vicLsburg.
A correspondent describes as follows the running
Of the Rebel gauntlet at Vicksburg by the Monitor
Battery Indianola
BRPoRR VIcKsBuRG Feb. Is. 1861
Early yesterday morning tho gunboat lndianola
passed by the Rebel batteries at and about Vicks-
burg coming to anchor below the mouth Of the
canal near the Queen of the West. 1t had been in
tended 10 send her down the night before, but II
was thick aud foggy, and Admiral Porter delayed
the adventure. Yesterday morning, about O'Clock,
/ WAS awoke by the report OF Rebel gun from
their upper battery. II was very dark and raining;
the moon was down, and the stars were giving q
tri8ing light. Through the darkness we could see
tue flashing Of the Rebel guns, hear tho rushing
sound of their huge projectes aud occasionally see
shell explode In the mir. All this We knew meant
that the best boat Of our navy In these waters was
Running the gauntlet Of the numerous and formid-
ale batteries that obstruct the Mississippi. II was
an undertaking of vast Importance; the failure
would be disaster; success OF the greatest adyan-
tagc. Thousands OF eyee and ears were intent Tor
each fash and report
TIE firing was at irregular intervals, and il could
be plainly seen. all from Rebel batteries. Presently
there came without the customary flash, the roar OF
n heavy gun; instantly another. We knew, then,
TO o certainty, where our gunboat was. She bad
fired the ll-inch gun Of her turret straight INTO the
steamer Vieksburg, and below the landing. As she
passed on down tho river, the firing was kept up,
but without effect. She not struck by either OF
their shots. Judging from their fire, the Rebels
seemed to be confused and bewildered. The water
battery above tue town. aud the redOubt some dis
lance below, were the only ones from which we
could distinguish ANY shots. They did not lire one
fourth the number that they fred ct the Queen Oh
the West They evidently suspected that some
thing wrong was abroad on the waters, but what II
was or where, was mystery they only copjectured
when the huge projectiles tore through their
hev ha G know yledy oil
had happened when they saw in the early morning
a full grown monitor alongside the ram.
The importance Of this success which the navy
has added 10 its laurels is obvious. The ram, when
she ran down and made her trip TO Port Hudson,
wa. no, substantially armed, aud ia not now. al
though she has been armed with 3Opouader Par
rotts, calculated 70 Withstand fire from land bat
ieres Her safety In such encounters lies IN her
heels. To her qualities as swift and powerful
ram, armed with long range rifles, we have now
added one Of the most formidable gunbOats,
with On armament superior in metal and range 70
any rebel gun on the Mississippi Our possetsiln o.
the river from Veksburg TO Port Hudson is perfect.
River communication between the two beleagueIed
posts is completely destroyed The enemy hGs
a considerable number OF steamers on tho ked
Rlyor. which are now at our dispoial. They cannot
defend themselves and must, Therefore, run 20 lar
up stream TO be Of no use In the transportation
OF cattle aud other supplies from Texas, and Will DO
destroyed or captured. 49,
p,
sippi Department. 10 scaled uP, rs far as practical
use is concerned. The route which their blockade-
runners have been pa,fonizirg, from Red RIVER 10
berwick Day, il seriously threstened Although
the North scsns TO attach little importance TO the
achievements Of the expedition, land and naysl,
down the river, there substantial aud valuable
results already attained IL has other and more con-
cluriye blows 10 deal. But the progress already
accom- lisbed is worthy of record, inasmueh as 1T
has been FERROUS blow to the Conederacy, and has
go far added to ,he probabilities OF success.
A few DAYS since / saw deserter from Vicksburg
such he protested to be. His statements contra
die, and disagree totally with those Of the ast lot oi
deserters lie estimates the Rebel force at 1000.
Gen Pembsrton IL in command, Gen. 10. Johnston
having gone TO Middle Tennessee. PeHberton Is a
Northern man by birth, but married Il Southern
Lady, thus wedding himself to the niquites Of Re
bellion. lie represents the troops to DO well sup;
piled with corn meal and sugar. Meat 10 scarce and
of poor quality. The troops are paid very lrrogu-
larry The beat shoes issued to them are OF Engiah
manufacture, for which they charge y %. Flour IS
cold at slOG per barrel. Whisky, which lie only
+" Louisiana rum. villsnous docociOn mado from
sugar-canc. is told at $40 per quart.