Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-06-03
SECOND EDITION,
THREE O'OLOCx r. NJ.
VERY IMPORTANT OFFICIAL RE.
PORTS FROM yICKSBURG.


The following was received at the Navy De-
psrtment this afternoon:
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP BLACK
HAWK, May 23.-Sir: On the evening of the
21st received a communication from General
Grant informing me that he intended to attack
the whole Of the rebel works at 10 a. m the next
day, and asking me to shell the batteries from
$50 until 1880 a. m, to annoy the garrison
kept six mortars playing ripidly on the
works and town all night; sent the Benton,
Mound City, and Carondelet up to shell the
water batteries and other places where troops
might be resting during the night.
At seven O'Clock in the morning the Mound
City proceeded across the river and made an
attack on the hill batteries opposite the canal.
AT o'clock 1 Joined her with the Benton,
Tuscambia and Carondelet All these vessels
opened on the hill batteries and finally sileaced
them, though the main work ION the battery
containing the heavy rifled gun) was done by
the Mound City, Lieut.. Commanding byron
Wilson.
I then pushed the Benton, Mound City and
Carondelet up to the water batteries, lea wing
the Tuscumbia, which is still out OF repair to
keep the hill batteries from firing on our yes.
sells after they had passed by.
The three gunboats passed up slowly, owing
to the strong current, the Mound City leading.
the Benton following and Carondelet astern.
The water batteries opened furiously, sun.
ported by hill battery on the starboard beam
Of the vessels.
The vessels advanced to within 4iO Yards
(by our marks) and returned the fire for two
hours without cessation-the enemy's fire be.
ing very accurate and incessant.
Finding that the hill batteries behind MS
were silenced, l ordered up the Tuscumbia to
within 500 yards OF the batteries, but her tur.
ret was soon made untenable, not standing the
enemy's shot, and made her drop down.
had been engaged with the forts an hour
longer tim Gen. Grant asked;-the vessels had
all received severe shots under water, which
we could not stop mp while IN motion, and not
knowing what might have delayed the move.
ment OF the army, l ordered the vessels to drop
out of fire, which they did in 4 cool, handsome
manner.
This was the hottest fire the gunboats have
ever been under, bnt owing to the water bat.
teries being more on 4 level with them than
usual, the gunboats threw in their shell so fast
that the aim of the enemy was not very good.
The enemy hit the vessels number OF times,
but fighting bow on, the shot did but little
damage-not q man was killed and only a few
wounded.
l had only enough ammunition for few
moments longer, and set all hands to work to
fill up from our depot below. After dropping
back, found that the enemy had taken pos
session again OF one OF the lower hill batteries,
and was endeavoring to remount his guns, and
had mounted a 12-pounder field piece to fire at
Gen. McArthur's troops, which had landed a
short time before at Warrenton. sent the
Mound City and Carondelet TO drive him of,
which they did in a few moments .
l beg leave to enclose letter from Cen
Macarthur explaining why he did not ito use
his own expression) take advantage of the
results gained by the gunboats. l have since
learned through Gen. Grant that the army did
assault at the right time vigorously-in the
noise and smoke we could not see or hear it.
The gunboats were therefore still fighting
when the assault had proved unsuccessful
The army had terrible work before them, and
are fighting as well as soldiers ever fought be-
fore, but the works are stronger than any of US
dreamed of.
Gen. Grant and his soldiers are confident that
the brave and energetic generals in the army
will soon overcome all obstacles and carry the
DAVID D. PORTER,
Act. X. A., Com. Miss Squadron.
ZION. 6IDEoh WELLEs, secretary OF Navy.
The following was received at the Navy De.
partment this afternoon
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP BLACK
HAWK, near Ficksburg, May "a, 1S63.-Sr
have the honor to inform you that the expedi-
ton sentup Yazoo river the day after took
possession OF the forts on Snyder's Bluff, have
returned, having met with perfect success.
A ha Stoa had
Rebel property was fired by Lieut. Brown (of