Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-07
PrORreSx of the War.

| F, ON Vacksburg-1he Yankee Gunbonts Running The
| Gauntlet illumination Of the River Erclttn g
| Scenes burning of a Yankee Transport etc.
From tn Vcksburg Wing Ct April II h, we extract
the follow graphic account of the recent passage OF
portion OF Yankee feet BY the Confederate batteries
at Viclis,u
Last 80 about eleven o'clock the rapid firing OF the
pickets he city admonished all that the enemy
boats iy ncpg In short time black object was
visible arg down the river, and it came in
range u Per batteries opened fire. The gunboat
WI icl ii rds proved to be, soon returned fire and
ste dow the centre OF the sire am until about
opposite he CITY alter which she ceased propeng and
hoated alorp. Wien she got opposite Major Osden's
battery, the house of Dir. Arnold, the opposite side
oil the river discovered to be fire, the flames oil
which revealed several other beats coming down in the
oend. AS they in range battery after battery
opened, aud the flashes from the guns and the burning
house on the otter shore, gave fac view of the ad
vancng steamefs
Our BATH les still continued helching forth with ap
parently good effect, but nevertheless occasional
81 from her, the hashts OF Whci SHOWED her to
be low, heavy irouciad OF the Essex pattern with two
chmneys e tops OF which appeared 10 be painted
white. + we 3 a.s NJ xt moved down almost together
and they cIoe under the fire of the Wyman's Hill
Batteries 1ate missiles sent thick and fast into
our city. The firing OF guns, wizzng OF balls, burst
ing of shes, the devouring flames that from Ar
nOds house, and the huzzas from the crowds that
gregated bills the streets and wherever view
O, tue passing toats could be obtaned sight be
Caring ali description be five boats steamed ard
follow d by three transports which kept pretty
close to the louisiana Two gunboats appear
ed to have been disabled by Col Jacksons batteries
as they ceased seamng after passing the bayou and
aOated to the opposite side Of the river. Soon,
another craft, We believe gunbCa, floating by
the burning house, with gushes Of fire bursting out in
several placs he flames rapidly spread, and 10 few
81 conds the fearful glare OF Hid light dspelng
the wild darkness OF night in awful grandeur. Then
cheer after cheer sent up by citz and tie
soIders at the guns and in the rife pits Cotton was
thrown from the burning vessel, and long boat was
leave her for the Louisiana bank By this time
the other boats Low some distance in advance, were
being engaged by the canal batteries, while the upper
guns opened on what seemed TO be couple of bages,
floating far in the of the iron cads. These crafts
of urse passed on with impunlty ard about quar-
ter OF O'Clock ything quiet above, The firing
being confined the lower batteries some of the boats
still being in range. he burning vessel a)aed on,
and when just above Barneys, she commenced careen-
ing and both her chimneys dropped eff into the river.
be flames gradually diminished and when she got to
the mouth of the canal, small light all that could
be above the surface OF the water. Firing con-
tinued until quarter after l o'clock, when everything
became still and tranquil again. I he total number of
boats that went by variousy estimated at from
to twelve. We only saw eight, and two of them
ordinary transports.
Firing Was resumed again below, just before 2
O'Clock, and at the time Of closing our paper.
| The Wing Of ga urday, April l8:h has the fol ow
IHg:
We re ciabtd yesterday to gain some further par
ticulars of the bombardmCnt of Thursday night WHEN
the Yankee fleet batteries The feet consisted
of the gunboats Benton, General Price, Cincinnati and
Tuscumba Aleck Scott and Lafayette, and trans
ports Henry Clay, Forest Q1een and Silver Wave
the latter a wheel steamer. The Henry Clay was
amorg the first boats to down. but she passed
Hoadey guns it was discovered she was 10 sinking
condition. and the abandoned her. Some reached
the Louisiana shore and brought here yesterday.
The Henry Clay was side-wheel transport and had
six thousand ratons board. The other boat sunk
proves to have been the ram Lafayette and the ore
burned the transport Silver Wave. The damage the
other boat is not known but advces from below War
renton state that where the boats lying yesterday
the vessels all undergoing repairs ard that the
groans OF persons board dictate they sustained seri
GUS damage Our loss here small Two men were
killed at the upper batteries by the premature discharge
of gun, and one by the enemy she'll Seven Govern.
ment mules were killed in lot by the explosion of
shell from the passing boats, and several buildings in,
jured We heard OF no casualties below. The firing
of our guns was very good generally being very
rate.
We had a conversation since writing the above with
| women who was on the Henry Clay at the time she
sunk and from her learn that four five lives includ
ing the Captain and Pilot, were lost. The Clay was
struck three timesonce in her upper works. her wheel
house and stern. The third shot tore tremendous
hole in her hull and she Immediately commenced SET
Ting when the abandoned her in two boats and
started for the Mississippi shore bur fearing they would
be shot, wheeled round and went over to the Point,
where four remained until sent boats after them
yesterday A wooden guDboat ram (the Lafayette,
says rumor) next to suffer severely As she round
ed the point Hoadleys men poured shot after shot
into her, and informant says that this craft, too
was run towards the shore, where she sunk out of
sight. This woman asserts positively that it was the