Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-05-30
GLORIOUS VICTORIES EY THE
EIEETE ON THE MISSRSSEPPH.
REDUCTION OF THE REBEL WORKS
AT HAINES' BLUFF.



Official Report Of Adt,irnl Porter.
Communication Betpeon General Grant and
tile Nary Opened.
WASHINGTON, May 25.
The following has been received at the
Navy Department t|.
CAIRO, May 25.
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Of the
Ndry'
Tho following dispatch has just been
received
A. NJ. PENNoox, Fleet Captain Mississippi
Squadron
FLAGSHIP BLACK HAWK,
HAINEs BLUFF, YAzoo RIVER, May 20.
To Hon. Gideon Welles::
On the morning of the 18th, we came over
to Yazoo river, to be ready to cooperate
with General Grant, leaving two of our iron
clads at Red river, one at Grand Gulf, one
at Carthage, three at Warrenton, and two
in the Yazoo, which left me small force
still / disposed of them to the best advan-
tage.
On the 18th, at noon, the firing heard in
the rear of Vicksburg assured me that Gen.
Grant was approaching the city.
The cannonading kept up furiously for
some time, when by the aid of glass dis
cerned company of our artillery advancing
taking position and driving the rebels
before them.
Immediately said that Gen. Sherman's
Division had come into the left of Snyder
Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had
| tl ~ ha of
despatched the Dekalb, Lieut.. Comman-
der Walker the Choctaw, Lieut.. Comman-
der Ramsey, and the Romo, Petrol, Forest
and Rose, all under command of Lieutenant
! Commander Breeze, up the Iazoo to open
| communication in that way with Grant and
| Sherman, who succeeded so far and so well
that in three hours he received letters from
| Gems Grant and Sherman and Steele, inform
ing me of their vast success, and asking me
me to send up provisions, which was done
at once.
In the meantime Lieutenant Commander
Walker. in the DeKalb, pushed on to Haine's
Bluff, which the enemy commenced eyacua
ting the day before, and party remained
in hopes of taking away or destroying tho
large amount of ammunition on hand
When they saw the gunboats they ran anc
left everything in good order--guns, fort
tents and equipage of all kinis-whch fel
into our hands.
As soon as the capture Of IIaines' Bluff
and fourteen forts was reported to me-
showed up the gunboats from below to Nicks
burg to fire at the Hill batteries, which fir
we kept up for two or three hours.
At midnight they moved up to the tow
and opened on it for about an hour, ant
, continued at intervals during the night t.
annoy the garrison.
On the 10Th placed six mortars in posi-
ton with orders to fire night and day II
rapidly as they could.
The works at lIaines Bluff were very fol
midable. There are IA of the heaviest kim
of mounted and 10 inch and - inch ritlet
guns, with ammunition enough for Il Ion:
siege.
As the gun carriages mIgllt again fall int
the hands Of the enemy l had them burnt
blew up magazine and destroyed the work
generally.
/ also burnt up the encampments, whc
were permanently and remarkably well cor
structed, looking as if the rebels intended t
I stay for some time. The works and er
campments covered many acres of grounc
and the fortiications and rifle pits proper @
the Haincs' Bluff extend both n mile and
/, quarter.
Such net work of defenccs | never saw
The rebels were a year in constructing then
and all were rendered useless in an hou
As soon as got through with the destrut
ton Of the magazines and other works,
started Commander Walker up the Iazo
: with sufficient force to destroy all the cnt
! my's property in that direction, with order
: to proceed as far rs lazoo City. There tn
rebels have a navy yard and store houses.
, In the meantime General Grant has closel
/. invested Vieksburg, and has possession {
the best commanding points. In yer
! short time "a general assault will be made
when he hopes to announce that Vicksbur
: has fallen, after a series Of the most brillar
:. successes that ever attended an army.
There has never been ease during tll
war when the rebels have been 20 successfull
Il beaten at all points, and the patience an
! endurance shown by our army and nav
! for 50 many months is about to be reward
) ed.
1t is mere question Of feS hodfs, an
Il then, with the exception of Port Hudson
which will follow Vicksburg, the Mississipl
= will be open its entire length.
{ (Signed( d. r. PORTER.
Acting Rear Admiral Commanding