Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-05-29

The following IS the official report OF Com
modore Porter's operations in the neighbor-
hood of Vicksburg:
PENNocK FLEET, MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,
FLAG SHIP "BLACK HAWK"
HA1NEs' BLUFF, Yazoo River, May 20. }
To Hon. Gideon Weles, Washington:
Or the morning of the 18th came over to
the YazOo to be roady to cooperate with Gen.
Grant. Leaving two of the iron clads at Red
river, one at Grand Gulf, one at Carthage,
three at Warrenton, and two in the Yazoo,
left me a small force; still disposed of them
to the best advantage. On the 18th, at noon,
firing was heard in the rear of Vicksburg,
which assured me that Gen. Grant was ap-
preaching the city. The cannonading was
kept up furiously for some time, when by the
aid of glasses 1 discovered a company of our
artillery advancing, taking position and dri-
wing the rebels before them. 1 Immediately
saw that Gen. Sherman's division had come on
to the left of Snyder's bluff, and that the reb-
els at that place had been cut off from joining
the forces in the city.
dispatched the Dekalb, Lieut.. Commander
Walker; the Choctaw, Lieut.. Commander
Ramsay; the Romeo, Petrol and Forest Rose,
all under command of Lieut.. Commander
Breez up the Yazoo, to open communication
that way with Generals Grant and Sherman.
This I succeeded in doing; and in three hours
received letters from Generals Grant, Sherman
and Steele, informing me of his vast success
and asking me to send up provisions, which
was at once done. In the meantime, Lieut.
Commander Walker, in the Dekalb, pushed on
| to Haines' bluff, which the enemy had COM
E1enced evacuating the day before, and party
remained behind, in the hopes of destroying or
taking away a large amount of ammunition
on hand. When they saw the gunboats, they
came out and left everything in good order
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 hill bat
teries, which fire was kept up for two or three
hours.
| AT midnight they moved up to the town aud
opened on it for about an hour, and continued
at intervals during the night to annoy the gar
rison.
On the 10Th placed six mortars in position
| with OrOerS W Hre ulSHt duu uay ds Idpluly as
they could. The works at Haines' bluff are
very formidable; there are ffty-four of the
heaviest kind of mounted and l0-inch and
~ inch rifed cannon, with ammunition
enough to last long siege. As the gun car
riages might again fall into the hands of the
enemy, bad them burnt, blew up the maga-
| azine, and destroyed the works generally. 1
also burnt M the encampments, which were
permanently and remarkably well constructed,
looking as if the rebels intended to stay for
some time.
The works and encampments covered many
acres of ground; and the Notifications and rifle
pits proper of Haines' bluff extend about a
mile and quarter. Such strong work OF
defepses never saw. The rebels were year
in constructing them, and all were rendered
useless in an hour.
As soon as l got through with the destruc-
ton of the magazines and other works, 1 start
ed Lieut.. Commander Walker up the Yazoo