Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-05-28
THE ATTACK ON vICKsBURG.


The following is Admiral Porter's ac-
count of the part taken by his feet in the
attack, and is dated Haines Bluff, May
25th:
On the morning of the 18th came
over to the Yazoo to be ready to coop
crate with Gen. Grant, leaving two or three
iron clads at Red River, one at Grand
Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warren
ton and two in the Yazou River, left me a
small force, still l disposed of them to the
best agvantage.
On the 18th at Meridian, firing was
heard in the rear of Vicksburg, which as
sured me that Gen. Grant was approach
ing the city. The cannonading was kept
up furiously for some time, when by the
aid of glasses, | discovered company of
our artillery advancing taking position
and driving the rebels before him i'm
mediately saw that Gen. Sherman's divis-
ion had come into the left of Snyder S
Bluff, and that the rebels at that place
had been cut off from joining the forces
in the city.
l dispatched to De Kalb, Lieut.. Com
Walker, the Choctaw, Lieut.. Com. Ram
say, Romeo. Petrol and Forrest Rose, all
under command of Lieut.. Com. Breeze, up
the Yazoo, to open communication in that
way with Generals Grant and Sherman.
This | succeeded in doing, and in three
hours received letters from Gen. Grant,
Sherman, and Steele, informing me of this
vast success, and asking me to send up
provisions, which was at once DONE
In the meantime Lieut.. Com. Walker
in the De Kalb pushed on to Haines' Bluff,
which the enemy had commenced evac-
uating the day before, and party remain.
ed in the hopes Of destroying or taking
away large amount of ammunition on
hand. When they saw the gunboats they
ran out and left everything in good order
guns, forts, tents, and equippage of all
kinds, which fell into our hands.
AS soon as the capture of Haines' Dluf
and the fourteen forts was reported to me
showed up the gunboats from below
Vicksburg to fire at the hill batteries
which fire was kept up for two or three
hours. At midnight they moved up t.
the town and opened on it for about al
hour and continued at intervals during
the night to annoy the garrison.
On the 10Th, | placed six mortars il
, position with orders to fire night and day
as rapidly as they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are vcr,
= formidable. There are IA of the heavies
kind of mounted eight and ten-inch ant
seven and half-inch riAed guns with am
munition enough to last lopg siege. A
: the gun carriages might again fall int
the hands of the enemy, l had them burnt
: blew up the magazine and destroyed tn
works generally. l also burnt up the en-
campments, which were permanently an,
well constructed, looking as if the rebel
intended to stay for some time. Thes
I works and encampments covered man,
;, acres of ground, and the Notifications an,
the rifle pits proper of Haines' Bluff ey
: tended about mile and quarter, sue
- a net work of defence l never saw. III
rebels were year constructing them, an,
all were rendered useless in an hour. A
soon as got through with the destructio
of the magazines and other works I start
ed Lieut. Com. Walker up the Yazoo river
with sufficient force to destroy all the en-
emy's property in that direction, with OF
dcrs to return with all dispatch, and onl
7 to proceed as far as Yazoo City, where tn
rebels have a navy yard and storehouse'
In the mean time Gen. Grant has close
invested Vicksburg, and has possession c
70 the best commanding points.
ca An indignant crowd visited tn
u copperhead argus Office at Montpelie
" soon after the rennlse Of Hnnker an