Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-06-03
DAVID u. POTTER,
Act. K. A., Com. Miss. Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary OF Navy.


Hon. GIDEON 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.-Sir
have the honor to inform you that the expedi-
ton sent up Yazoo river the day after took
possession of the forts on Snyder's Bluff, have
returned, having met with perfect success.
Az the steamer approached Yazoo City the
Rebel property was fired by Lieut.. Brown lot
the ram Arkansas,) and what he had begun
our force finished. Three powerful rams were
burnt.
The Mobile, screw vessel, ready for plating
the Republic, being fitted for q ram, with rail.
road iron plating; and a vessel on the stocks "a
'smonster') 80 feet long and IS feet beam.
This vessel was to have been covered with
* inch IRON plating, was to have had six en-
sines, four side wheels, and the propellors.
She would have given US much trouble.
The rebels had under construction a fine
maynard containing fine saving and planning
machines, an extensive machine shop, carpen-
ter and blacksmith shops, and all the necessary
appliances for large building and repairing
yard.
Lieut.. Commanding Walker burned all these,
with large quantity OF valuable building
timber. He also burned a large saw mill that
had been used in constructing the monster
ram. The material destroyed, at moderate
estimate, cost more than S., 100000.
We had one man killed ana seven wounded
by field pieces from the enemy's batteries going
up the river; but the wounded are doing we'll
enclose you Lieut.. Commander Walkers re-
port in relation to this affair.
To Aac y,
manner in which he performed the duty as
signed him. If he could have obtained pilots
he would have succeeded in getting possession
of all the rebel rams, instead of having them
burned.
1 am, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, DAVID d. PORTER,
A. r. A., Com. Miss. Squadron.
Hon. q IDEoE WELLEs, Secretary of Navy.
US. S. BARON DEKALs, Mouth Yasoo Ricer,
Msy Is, 1s63.-Sir: 1 have the honor to report
that, in obedience to your order, I started from
Snyder's Bluff on the 10Th inst. with the De
Kalb, Choctaw, Forest Rose. Linden and Pc
trel, on an expedition to Yazoo City.
Arriving at Haines Bluff, landed force
and spiked an 6-inch gun in the works there
and burned the carriage. 1 also burned some
forty tents left standing and steam saw mill
inst. was met by committee OF citizens,
who informed me that the place had been
evacuated by the military authorities, and ask
ing protection.
The Navy Yard and vessels had been fred
by the enemy, and I sent q working party to
ensure the destruction OF everything valuable
to the rebels. The vessels burned were the
Mobile, screw vessel, ready for her planking,
the Republic, which was being fitted out for
ram. and vessel on the stocks-a monster, SIC
feet long and 20 feet beam.
The Navy Yard contained five saw and pia-
ming mills. an extensive machine shop, carpen-
ter and blacksmith shops, and all the necessary
fixtures for q large building and repairing yard,
which with a very large quantity Of lumber
were burned. / also burned q large saw mill
above the town.
Most Of the public stores had been removed;
such as found III town were taken on board
the vessels or destroyed.
Enclosed send the lists Of articles removed
or destroyed by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant
Brown. the officer detailed fer that purpose.
In the hospitals fouad aad paxoied lis SOL