Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-23
THE REBEL RAFT SAWED IN TWO AND
BROKEN Up.
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
WORTH OF REBEL SUPPLIES DESTROYED.

THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
WORTH OF REBEL SUPPLIES DESTROYED.
NIsstssIpaI SQUADRON, FLAesHrp BENTON
Mouth of Red River, May ~, 1s63-S;r:
have the honor to inclosc herewith a report
from Lieut.. Commanding LIE Roy Fitch, in
relation to operations in the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers.
DAVID d. PoR TER, Act'g Rear Admiral,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
Hon GIDEON NELLEs, Secretary of Navy
Us. GUEeoAT LEXINGTON. Hamburg Land
ing, April ~, is63.-.sir. l have the honor to
report tha. ON the 9th inst, while cruising
down the river ahead of Gen. Eliett's fleet l
met the steamer Emma Duncan, Acting Muster
G-iswold commanding, coming Up to report
his vessel Tor duty. Learning that he had been
STACKED by field battery at Green Bottom
Ba-, and had three men badly wounded, pro-
ceeded on down the river, giving him orders TO
follow me, in hopes OF catching the rebels at or
near the same place.
passed the bar about dusk in the evening,
but the enemy was nowhere to be seen. : X
Arriving 1T the fort OF Green Bottom Bar
about midnight, anchored It'll morning. Still
seeing nothing of the enemy, I procee led on
up the river, 20 meet and conlmuni, ate with
enersl Elie,.
The Ernma Duncan remaining nearly mile
in my rear, caught ferry hat coming out CT
creek after | had passed. The guerillas in
the flat jumped ont and made their escape il,
the WOODS. The fiat, however was destroyed
aud set adrift. I cruised up leisnrely. keeping
good lookout for the enemy along the right
bank. bit saw no signs of then, It'll arrived at
Duck River shoals, when I heard muskatry
and sr;iliery short distance mot a mile}
AleIQ. N hp t,ar moi
Gen Ellet's fleet just ar the head of the shoals,
engaging the rebel battery. I was then in
good range. and At once opened fire on the en-
erly. There was not room for his boats to
round to or 70 back out of the channel he was
therefore compelled TO pnsh on over the bar
before he could effect a landing.
took the battery side and moved on mp to
cover his boats as much as possible, at the same
time rahing the bank with our heavy guns.
The ram Monarch by this time came in range
and opened fire also
As SOON as l rounded the point the enemy
fired farewell shot nj one OF the brigade boats
limbered up and Were off. Some few sharp
shooters, remaining behind, fired a few shots
at a transport having ON board sick and wound
ed. l followed on up the bank, tiiro win shells
after them till thought them out OF range and
ceased firing. By this time Gen Eliet had
landed and was pursuing them.
Several OF the enemy were found dead on the
nank' and many more were dragged OIL in the
woods. l should suppose that their loss in
Killed and wounded is about % or a.
l believe General Ellet lost two =. lied and
wounded on his boats; also some horses killed
About y. m. l left Gen. EIlet at the foot OF
the bar. and proceeded ON up the river, with
this boat and the Emma Duncan, to commu-
nicate with the flee. above. arrived at East
YNNyt.s an as4s
communication from Gen. Dodge, at Tus-
CEmbia. X >
Signed. LlRoV FITCH, Lieut. Com'd'g.
Acting Rear Admiral DAVID d. PORTER, COM
Inanding Miss. Squadron.
NsssTss.PrI SQUADRON, Flagship General
P-ice, Grand Cult, Miss, May e. 1s63.-Sir
| had tie honor TO inform you from Alexan-
azia o. the capture OF that place and the forts
attending the approaches 10 the city, by the
iava2 force under my command.
TWe&gy-iour hours after we arrived the ad-
vance guard OF United States troops came into
t2e ci'K, ard Gen. Banks arriving soon after
| turned tiie place over 10 his keeping. The
wafer beginning 70 fall deemed it prudent to
return with the largest vessels to the mouth of
sae Red river. l dropped down to the Forts
Delirssr IN the Benton, and undertook to de-
sfroy those works. Ionly succeeded, however,
III etec1aally destroying the three heavy case
mates commanding the channel and a small
water battery Tor two guns, about GOO yards be-
low il. / also destroyed (by bursting) one
hea.F @2-pounder and some gun carriages left
Ia their hurry by the enemy. The main fort,
on hill some 500 yards from the wat II, was
unable 70 attend to- 1t is quite an extensive
work. quite new aad incomplete, but built with
much labor and pains. 1t will take two OF
three vessels 20 pull it TO pieces had not the
powder 70 spare TO blow it mp. The vessels
viii be ordered to work at it occasionally, and
ii viii soon be destroyed.
In this last mentioned fSrt, was mounted the
III IL. gun, which, am led TO believe, lies in
the middle OF the river near the fort-the rebels
throwing II overheard in their panic 81 the APP
proach of the eanboats.
The raft which closed the entrance, have
blown up, saNed in two and presented to the
200: OF the ne;ghboshood.
seat Commander X oodworth in the Price
with the Switzerland, Pittsburg and Arizona.
up Biaeii River 20 make u reconnoiss ance.
Commander Woodwork destroyed a large
AMOUNT Of stores, valued at S300, co., consist
ing OF sall. sugar, rum, molasses, tobacco and
bacon. DAVID ID. PORTER,
Act'g r. Admiral, Cong Miss Squad'n
II on. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary Navy.
Or GREAT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
We are requested by the Bureau of Internal
Raxarua Il, call the public atten hon 10 the fact