The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-05-28

HArNEs' BLUFF, YAzoo RIVER Mays0}
"Hon. Gideon Welles:
"On the morning of the 18th l canio
over 10 the Yazoo, to be ready to co,op,
crate with Gen. Grant Having two of
the iron cl.ds at Red River one at Grand
Guild, one at Carthage, three at Warren.
ton, and two in the YaSoo. left me bnt q
slim force: still l disposed CT n to the
best advantage.
"ou the 18th, at noon. firing was
heard in the rear Of Vicksburg, which as
sured me that Gen'l Grant was approach.
Ing the city. The canncnadmg was kept
up furiously for some time, when by the
aid Of glasses, | discovered a company OF
our artillery advancing, taking position
and driving the rebss before them. |
mcdately saw that General Sherman s
division had come on 10 the left of SIy-
der's BluG, and that the rebels at that
place had been cut off from joining the
forces in the city.
Il dis aiched the De Kal5, Lieuten-
AMI commanding Walker; the Choctaw.
Lieut.. commanding Ramsey, the Romeo.
Petrel, aud For st Rose. all under the
command Of Lieut.. Commanding Breoza,
up the Yazoo to open communication in
that way with Genrrals Grant and Sber-.
man. This | succeeded in doing, and in
three hours reo,Iived letters from Gener.
ais Grant, Sherman and Steele, Informing
me of Tho vast successes of our army. and
asking NE to send up provisions. which
was at once done.
"ln the mean time, Lieut.. commando,
Walker, 10 tn. Dc Kelb, pushed on iC
Haines' Bluff, which the enemy had com
menced evacuating the day before, and {
party remained behind, in the hopes o
destroying Or taking away large amour
of ammunition on hand. When they saw
the gunboas. they came out and left ev
eryihing in good order, guns fort, tents
an equipago Of all kinds, which f. II int
our lands. AS spon as the 'ap' ule o
Haines' Bluff and ID guns was reported
TO me, ! showed up the Gunb ats from
balow Vcksburg to FIRE at the hill b liter
les, which fire was kept up for two o
three hours. At midni 5ht they NOV,
up 10 the town and op ned on it for abou
one hour, and continued it at interval
during the night, TO annoy the garrison
Ga the 18th. | plIced 6 mor;ars in posi-
ton, with orders to fra night and day
as rapidly as they conll The works a
Ilaines' Bluff are very formidsbs.-.
There are fourt en- OF the he West kind c
mounted s and 10 inch and y inch fl,
cannon, with ammunition enough 10 las
a long seige.
"As the gun c'rriages might again f,l
into the hands Of the enemy, had then
burned, bI>w up the magazine, and Dc
stroyed th~ works generally. l ais
burned up the oncampments. which wer
permanently and remarkably well con
suucttd hooking as if the rebels intend
cd to stay for some time. The works
encamrments covered many acres {
ground, Nd the Qualifications and riff
pirs Proper Of llaiues' Bluff extend abou
a mile and quarter. Such mel wor
of lotliii a'ions | never saw. The rebel
were year in constructing them, an
all Were rendered u.s. less in an hour
"As son as got through with til
destruction OF the mag tzines and othe
works. started Lisutsnanl Commando
Walker up the Yaz)o River, with suAi
cut force 10 destroy all the tnemy's proI
eriy 10 that direction. with orders 10 r,
turn with all dispatch, aud proceed as (.
1s Yazoo City where The rebels have
navy yard and slorehouSes.
"ln the meantime Gen. Grant has close
vested Vcksburg, and has po' session
the lest commanding points. lnav
short time general assault will take pla,
when hope to announce that Yicksbul
has fallen.
CATER series Of tho most brillia
successes that ever attended an arm
there has never been a case during {
war when tho rebels have been so succ s
fully beaten at all points. ard the paticn
and endureucs shown by our army az
navy for so many months is about GciI
rewal ded.
"lt is a mere question ora few hom
aud then, with the exception of p
Hudson which will follow Virksbur
the Mississippi will be open its eli
} length. ...a
! "(Signel) d D. PORTER.
, .- "Rear Admiral
, Commanding Mississippi Squadron