Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-04-03

lHE Ia--Aer rl Pos1 Huuso>.-F let
tors describing the passage by Admiral Far
ugat of the rebel batteries at Port Hudson
we extract the following
The feet designed to operate against Port
Hudson was composed lf the following war vcs-
scis Hartford. Admiral Farrz-ut's da- ship.
Capt Palmer Richmond. Commander Allen :
Mississippi, Commander Smith Mononcshels,
Capt. Nchiuistry Gene-ec. CAPT Mscomb :
A.oatrcSs, Lieut. Commander Hart kineo,
Lieut. Commander Waters. The plan was 10
commence the attack ~ a proper signal, the
'es-els being arranged in this way the Hart
ford with the -Inhoat Alhatrcss fastened q her
port side the Richmond with the Genesce IN
The same position and the Mononrahels with
the kine5 attached to her port SIDE, while the
noble Mississippi was lett 70 bring up the rear
in addition 10 these vessels, the iron-clsd E.sex
with the sunhoat Fochev, sui IA mortar
schooncrs proceeled up the rvsr on Friday
evening within proper sheling distance of the
rebel fortihcations- Commander Caldwell Of the
Essex vas in charge Of the mortar acct.
The Hartford steamed very slowly II the river
closely followed BY the Richmond The other
vessels a-tern, however. dill not 81 aveich very
quickly. Some OF their anchors seemed to have
got foul Of logs brought down BY the force Of
the current The consequence was the Hartford
had 70 hang back, waiting for stracclers. and
the Richmond had to he very careful to AVOID
running into her
signal lights we're scen flashing from the il
re,tion Of the batteries the entire distance along
and were answered from the opposite shore. Rirbt
ahead, tco, lights were seen from the rebei heats
as was afterwards ascertainel Il Was evident
that the rebels were expecting Us and were pre-
pared 10 give Us a warm reception
Hudson side Of the river, little below the town.
This FIRE was kindlel right in front of the most
formidable Of the Qualifications, in order that the
glelm thrown across the river should reveal ev
cry vessel as it passed.. The plan was an admi-
rahle one, and succeeded 10 a charm.
We had lst the mortar boats well astsrn, ~beu
a sulphurous light was seen cleaning On the
shore, On our port side Flashing up for 4 mo
ment, dull explosion fcllowed Ii was evident
y an imperfect rocket. Another was esssvei;
but instead Of ascending, it ran along the surface
Of the river close to the bank. / little further
up third was tired, and with complete success.
II assembled high IN the air, where il burst in the
usual manner lnstantaneously II vss answered (
oy held piece from the opposite shore, aimed [
AT the Hartford. The Admiral was not slow in 1
returning the compliment. Three or four guns /
hred from the flagship in rapid succession testi-
hei 10 the Slacrty With which the wager OF bat
tie was accepted.
The return of the rebel ire ly the Hartford va,
promptly olloWel up by hot fire from the ar
ullery pieces Of the rebels, and quite brisk AZ
,ion ensued between them The scene, A. viewed
from the Richmond was both brilliant and spir-
tei' The flashes Of the guns, both on shore
ma ahoat, were inccssant, while the r,sr Of the
cannon Kept up deafenine and almost incess4ut
ound- Great judgment was her, necessary Il,
PREVENT the Richmond from running into tho
Hartford, and, in f,ct, to keep the war vessels
generally from running into each other.
Inc Essex and the mortar boat, below opeueI
ne anu each vessel IN succession rs she nearel
he rebel batteries.
IL Wa no easy matter, in the mblst Of sueh A
ciisc cloud Of smoke, 10 know wberc 10 po;n,
UT guns L'en the flashes Of the en,inv's Guns
zone ,,'nly through the thick gloom. Several
.u'e tne orltr was given 20 cease fire, 70 a. To-
''" inc smoke 10 clear away; but. rs there Wa
,srrely breath Of wind .tirfin.. tbi, VI.
cry slow pry,cs; sin the crler was ue-,,sN,rv.
B Prrvcnt the several vessels from running int
nm ether IN this respect the rebels hai ,l,-
ae1 aiVaniise over Us; for, while they did MT
ana n asnser # collision. neither was Their 1,
~ apprehension of hiring into their friends :
ne vide river wis before them, snl if they did !;
y nj cur vessel- at each lisihsrgc, tho eoull
" miss At the worst
rue story Socs, that the kichmcnl fired ihrle
o's INTO the Mississippi, and that the shots
ere returned with intcrtst-etch vessel taking
2 vther Tor an enemy. | -ay. emphatic~liv.
at the story l. not true; aud in this assertion p
u borne out by nearly every officer of the Iiel n
Ih'' Inc Mississippi WIS asteru ef ~ The
~ 'iinc when Ne could have opened IN our Ill >,
'ti e"i-'rt Wa when -he got aground aud We \,
a rounded On eur way back; but this theory i. n
hder7i unteirsble fr'm the f,ct that We mu.s !,
We D.ee Tar down when the Mississippi groumI- u
btshie-, We cOull hardly have taken her n
reoei battery on the right bank Of the river. n,
o'ne'us'Ne evidence that the Bichmend could n.