Daily national Republican., 1863-05-01
Official Report of the Passage
of the Vicksburg Batteries by
Admiral Porter's Fleet.

I
The Navy Department has received dis.
patch from Admiral Porter, dated April 10,
1858, Flagship Benton, near New Carthage,
Mississippi, from which We take the following
extracts:
The vessels moved in the following order,
fifty yards apart: Benton, Lieut.. Com. Greer
Lafayette, Capt. Wake, with the Gen. Price
lashed on starboard side; Louisville, Lieut..
Com. Owen Mound City, Lieut.. Wilson;
Pittsburg, Lieut.. Hoel; Carondelet, Lieut.. Muir
ply; and Tuscumbia, Lieut.. Com. Shirk; also
the tug Jay lashod to the Benton. The three
army transports were In the rear of the above.
mentioned vessels, and the Tuscumbia was
placed astern Of all TO sec that the transports
did not turn back.
Two Of the transports, when the firing be-
came heavy, attempted to run up stream, but
Lieut.. Com. Shirk drove them back and staid
behind them until the Forest Queen was dlsa-
bled, he then took her in tow and placed her
out Of reach of the enemy's shot. All the YES.
| sells except the Benton, took In tow coal barges,
which brought them safely past the batteries.
| The Benton was beautifully handled by her
| pilot, Mr.. Williams, who was also in the Essex
| whe she ran the batteries. He kept the vessels
| guns bearing on the town and water batteries,
all the time while drifting down. The guns OF
! the Benton fired over SO shell, well directed 10
| the town and batteries. The Pittsburg Lieut.
Hall; Tuscumbia, Lieut.. Shrk, and Mound
City, Lieut.. Wilson, were more fortunate than
the others, in not turning round as they came
by; although no i'll results happened to those
vessels that did turn. The pilots were deceived
by large fire started on tho side opposite TO
Vicksburg, by the rebels, for the purpose of
showing the vessels more plainly, fires being
started on both sides of the river at once.
Altogether We were very fortunate-the YES
sells had some very narrow escapes but were
/
They were covered with heavy logs, and bales
of wet hay, which was found to be an excellent
defence. Glarlng fires in every direction were
made to bother the pilots; smoke almost en-
veloping the squadron, SC. The result was
satisfactory. No one was killed, and only one
or two badly wounded. The shot the enemy
| fired were of the heaviest calibre, and some of
excellent pattcrni they came on board but did
no material damage.
At 9.l5 on the 18th the Benton steamed down
towards Vicksburg. AT lilo the enemy opened
! fire upon us with musketry from the upper
batteries. At ll.16 the batteries opened upon
us, firing slowly at first, but continuing to fire
more rapidly as we passed by. At ll.23 we
opened upon the batteries and town with the
forward and port batteries. We passed within
forty yards of the town, and could hear the rat
| tling of falling walls after our fire. At II SO
the enemy ceased firing upon us. AT 1.l5 a. III.
We passed WarrentOn, not a shot being fired at
us. At 2.l0 came to anchor l2 miles above
New Carthage. The number of shots fired were
81. The casualties were one officer and four
men wounded.
The commander of the gunboat Lafayette re-
| ports that she received nine rounds while close
| ly engaged with the rebels, but safely passed
| the batteries without man killed or wounded.
The commander of the Pttsburg reports that
in running past the batteries at Vicksburg and
| Warrenton no casualties occurred. No serious
| 6nu Tn NVna dnna from, thn r,s Rro
The commander of the gunboat Mound City
reports that when nearly abreast of the heaviest
battery in the heart of the city, huge bonfire
was kindled on the opposite point, making 1t
almost as light as day. While in this light,
we were splendid target for the enemy, who
availed himself Of the opportunity by sending
a lO-inch shot through both classmates, passing
out through the iron on the starboard side,
Wounding four men.
| We brought our port broadsids guns to bear,
and put fve-secOnd shell into the batteries, and
when nearest the city gave them grape, and all
with good effect, for we passed so slowly and
lelsurely that VIC could not help getting good
aim. The casualties were only wounded.
The commander of the Tuscumbia reports
that as he rounded the lower end of the point
and was drifting, in order TO keep his place In
line, he struck the Louisiana baRk of the river,
but soon put of without any damage. As we
were backing to get our bow down stream, met,
got foul of the transport Forest Queen, and the
two vessels remained close together for some
five or six minutes. This collision caused the
rebels great rejoicing, as was made evident to
us by their loud cheering, apparently right over
our heads.
For few minutes the fire from shore seemed
to be concentrated upon the Tuscumbia and
Forest Queen, but none of the shots did much
damage. Aiter getting clear, and in passing
Warrenton, he threw into the town an ll-inch
shrapncll, which was quickly replied to by six
discharges from not more than four light guns
he then gave them another shrapnell and passed
on until he reached the feet. There were nc
casualties on this vessel
The commander of the Louisville reports the
safe arrival of this vessel below the Vicksburg z
batteries. No damage was done.