The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-25

her up, and large amount Of cotton was quickly sum.
bsd overheard With this relief she was able 70 widen
tho distance between herself and the ram rapidly has
the pursuit WINS finally abandoned.
ns REnn srEAmn PARALLEL BURNED.
Yesterday afternoon the sdewhee steamer Parallel
was cruising along fifteen twenty miles above here,
and had picked up an immense load Il co.,
ton, supposed 10 DO not less than three
thousand Dalcs. While engaged In gathering
her load Of cotton smoke Of our approaching beet
discovered curling up IN heavy black masses over the
heavy timber She Immediately turned about and made
All possible speed down stream but In turning sharp
pend IN the river she manifested more haste than wis
DOM and ran foul large tree, which 80 disabled her
and crew therefore abandoned her, previously setting
her on fire, and when feet overhaued her she was
completely enveoped IN flames and sabssgusnsy proved
the water extinguishing tho nass so that for several
mics in that vicinity the river was covered with Hoaang
for additional protection 10 gunbOas In CHS
capacity IL will be OF immense service 70 U.s.
OUR ARRIVAL HKRE-THB woRRR
We arrived a. this point at about nina O'Clock this
morning. Here ten miles sbovo Greenwood, and
but two and half miles from the rebel works. me re-
bel position more clearly defined In the map sond you
with this Just below position tho river turns 70 the
EASTWARD and after describing wide horseshoe bond
Of this The neck formed by this bend, rather the
base OF the peninsula, Is something less than . mile
across Directly IN this neck tho rebels have thrown up
their Qualifications. These not formidable in them
selves as might be supposed. They consist OF a SIM
ge limo OF breastworks composed of cotton bales
right by quito a heavy battery fronting the
river and mounting three siege guns Besides
these they several email field pieces posi-
ton Directly tho right Of this line Of defence
they have constructed RAFT OF logs blockade Of The
teries
The ground upon which these works built IL as
high as any TO be found in this region II 10 probably
as high as It is at present IL Ii but two or three feet
above the water level
IN rasSr or AND HxLow THE WORKS.
Directly in front Of their line OF there quite
deep slough extending the neck and admirably
serving the purpose Of the ditch usually dug around forth
hcations This slough close TO the base OF their works
at the upper end but gradual recedes from them until
at the lower end 1t is several hundred feet removed Stall
beyond this slough there Is an almost impeneIabe
and very extensive caneDrae with deep forest reach
ing far back into tho country About six miles below
this fertilization, directly ia the bend, Ia
the confluence OF the Yallobusha Taahchie rivers,
and from that point down TO the Mississippi the joint
stream takes the name Of the Yazoo river The little
village settlement Of Le Flore lies directly at the
junction Of the two streams. Greenwood hes upon the
Yazo0 four miles below.
The object Of thepecuar location OF this fertilization
will now DO apparent The purpose was unquestionably
not merely to defend Greenwood, which Is point Of no
considerable nor yet merely 70 prevent our
passing below, the deences at Yazoo City sus
@ ~ oens made ans stronger IMAM sy.ns
busha triver, about one hundred and ten miles
above its mouth. The rebels consider this one Of
their most important points Northern Mississippi and
manifest determination TO hold 1t ut all Odds Besides
this they have number Of steamers concealed in this
and other tributary 10 the Yazoo, which they
have desire destroy lose possession Of II
probably with Wow OF defending the entrance TO this
stream that the rebel works located as they
sTRESGTH-THnR COMMANDER
IL 10 very difficult 10 arrive at anything like an ntel
gent estimate OF the strength the rebels have in these
ing All the way from Ave to fifteen thousand livery
much doubt they have more than eight thousand here
Immediate command Of General Loringthe MAJOR Loring
OF the old United states Army, who much distnc
onAt the battle OF Chapultepec, Ia Mexico
TIKI NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Immediately arriving al this point this morning two
started out One made down the
river by the gnnboat Cnicohe, Lieut. Commander Foster
commanding. Acting mmodore Smith and General
Ross accompanied the Chlllicohc. They down to
within about quarter OF annie the rebel battery,
changing several shots with IT, The Chicothe struck
this affair In her square hull and tw Ice
In her massive turret, each the ball making
deep indentnton three half iron plainly
marking tho taxable stamp Of pointed sixty
-four Founder shot propelled from ricd pieces pieces
% larger calbre than this disclosed by the enemy
The Chcothe returnearo the reconnaissance without
having sustained the slightest injury
MOVEMENTS or THE MILITARY roRcEs.
At the time attachments OF the Foriysixth and
Forty seventh Indiana infantry were sent out TO feel
the euemy's position the land side They came upon
quite large body ofrebeI skirmshers on the westerly
side Of the slough, about mile from point Of de
barkaton and after short skrmish drove them across
the slough. party then advanced down the slough
distance and commenced fordng IT, when the enemy
again saed out 10 resist them, and quite spirited
engagement followed resulting in second cpulse OF the
enemy, when they finally retired within their forthca
tious Our forces were then Withdrawn across the
bayou, and hold their position our cansalties in
this affair but two men wounded.
ACCIDENTAL sRor.
This afternoon the Chicothe was again ordered down
engage the rebel battery. She moved down promptly,
her heavy inch guns heard TO which
the enemy made brisk response The Chilicothe tired
but rounds during which she dropped three shells
directly into the enemy's works with ood effect. A.
this juncture she met with most unfortunate and disas
trous accident Her men were u.t loading nor port gun
the fuse Of the shell which had already been placed
in the muzzle Of the gun. when sixty four pound
shell from the rebels struck directly In her
half open port throwing apart aud unshppng the heavy
iron port shutters, u which thrown overheard
pIoded eousy with the shell that was being pu,
in the piece The Casualties by this double explosion wore
wounded were mostly but slightly hurt. append
irr or THEE cAsrALrnH.
Thomas Srsenslade,, Master Gunner;
Private ,. Norton. Ninety seventh Illinois
Privase Green singleton, Nnetecnth Kentucky.
Pilot J. r. Morton, stunned BY ne conclusion.
Boaiswan's Mate H. b. syayne, arm broken and
Seonan 5. Cornell, slightly in shoulder
Sergeant J. r. Holiday, Forty eighth Ohio, slightly In
Private Charles C. HUI, Forty. eighth OHIO slightly in
Private Robert Brown, Ninety seventh Illinois, ankle
and leg.
Private Patrick Connor. Forty eighth Ohio, slightly
face.
Private John A. Brtton, Forty eighth Ohio, slightly
face.
Private J. c. Young, Nineteenth Kentucky, slightly in
face
Private Newton Porter, Ninety seventh Illinois slightly
In face.
Private Thomas j. Henderson, Forty eighth Ohio, knee
ard face badly.
These soldiers had detailed 10 ll up the Of
the gnnboat as tho OF all The gunpoas have
similarly allied up and portions a the 81 the
port gun against the muzze OF which the rebe shell
piodod.
CHiIKorHs WITHDRAWN.
Captain Fnster exhibited tho cooness and
rage when THIS accident beeii hun, ordering his
remain quiet and giving the airy directions
TO bring his starbohrd gun iuo range a. nothing had
happened, and maniiesting disposition 10 continue
the engagement, when ne received orders IN with
draw out Of The Chicothe again
brought out n action without any material
damage. He merely ioAt shutter OF MS ports
but otherwise the vessel her splendid battery were
IA good and servceabe when she into the action
PROSPECTIVE KssxcKxxSr.