Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-04-24
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Memphis, AprilI9.-A steamer from vicks-
burg ON Friday, brings the news that on the
night before the gunboats Benton, Tuscumbia,
Lafayette, Pitisbuig, Carondolet nnd Cen Price
with three Transports ran the battcricaa at Vicks-
burg, all safely, except ihetiRnsport Henry Clay
which was burned opposite the city.
The Benton was the only boat struck. She
had one man killed and two wounded. The
transport Forest Queen was injured by contact
with gunboat, mud will be easily repaired
From the time of starting until the first shot
was heard from the rebels was nearly an hour
and quarter, by which time nearly all got past.
Washington, April 2l.--Oficial dispatches
received last night, say that aportion Of Admi,
raj Porter's feet laden with large number oi
soldiers from General Grants army, have sue
ceedcd IN running the batteries at Yicksburg
and arc now in n condition to either help Banks
in an attack on Port Hudson or to make an as
sault on Yicksburg from the South.
On the night Of the 18th Admiral Porter sue
ceeded in running the Vicksburg batteries with
seven fine gunboats ofhis squadron and three
transports. The Benton, his flagship got oppo-
site The upper battery leading the line Of vessels
The rebels opened fre, and continued firing
from II o'clock A. NJ. till 2P. NJ. upon each sue
ceediug vessel as it passed. The only damage
done was the firing ofthe Henry Clay, one Of the
transports, and the temporary disabling Of the
the hull Of the Benton. Our loss was but one
man killed and two or three wounded.
The Henry Clay was fired by the shells from
the enemy's batteries. Allhcr crew were saved
The pilot remained on board until the flames
forced him to leave. ...t
The rebel fire was far less effective than was
anticipated. They burned two or three houses
in the town as our squadron was passing, to
light up the river, so as TO enable their arliler-
4 al.
went down within range Of their guns. On
reaching Warrenton Admiral Porter bonlbarded
that village, but with what effect is unknown.
On the trip down from Vicksburg the feet
engaged the batteries at Grand Gulf. The
switzerland and Hartford were hit, but the only
thing serious was the fatal wounding ofone man
in the Hartford
Captain A. S. Parker, who it is said, is in the
employ of the rebel Government, and detached
to bring over one ofthe new Iron -clads building
for the Emperor of China, has been arrested
here and sent to Fort Lafayette.
Washington. April 22.-The Navy Depart
ment has Received the following official dispatch
dated u s. steamship Pensacola, off New Or
leans:
On the morning of the 9th ult., at about day
break, Admiral Farragut in the Hartford en-
gagged the batteries at Warrenton, three miles
below Vicksburg, and passed below it on the
morning of the Goth ult., before daylight, the
Albatross having taken in supply of provs'
ions from barge which had been floated down
the previous morning
Admiral Porter also passed the Warrenton
batteries and anchored near the flag ship about
one o'clock AM The wharf boat Vicksburg
having broken adrift from her moorings at thC
city, foated down and ran ashore opposite +,
where the Hartford and Albatross lay anchored
During the day an officer was sent on board thu
Vicksburg who found that all of her machinery
had been removed. She had nothing on board
save four muskets and accoutrements.
While the Admiral was hesitating as to thu
pl oprety Of retaining her as a wharf-boat o.
| rather depot the rebels came down and on thu
hight of the 30th ut. burned her.
The Switzerland, Hartford and Albatross, afte
being all filed with coal and provisions, passed
Warrentou on the morning of the 3lst, and a
daylight the little squadron proceeded down thC
river to Turner'S plantation, where, on passing
We had seen the wreck of the Indianola. VIZ
found no trace of the wreck, but learned that il
had slipped off into the deep water during The
late gale. We anchored here and remained un'
til $50 p. NJ, when we proceeded down aud en-
gagged the rebels at Grand Gulf Their battery
consisted of some two or three heavy guns
One of these guns was mounted upon steamer
which had been concealed up the Black river.
The enemy had also a light field battery
lney SIfuCk lle OWllZeIldnu iMiCt, uOibb Nv
damage. The AlbatrOss was not struck at all
The Hartford was struck once, but The shot killed
man. This was the only casually. The bat
terry was passed in about fifteen minutes, and the
fleet anchored below Grand Gulf for the night.
At daylight we proceeded to the mouth of Red
River where we Notwithstanding on our
passage down large number Of skiffs and fiat
boats.
We remained TO blockade the river at its
Il raj l.I
we got under weigh about 4:30 A. NJ, and pro-
ceeded down to Bayou Sara where we stopped
seized upon and threw into the river about 10000
sacks Of corn and beef and proceeded on our way
to Port Hudson, where we anchored about five
miles above the batteries on the 9th. On the
evening of the lst inst, at o'clock, the writer
of this communication, the Secretary of the
Rear Admiral, left the Hartford and boarded the
Richmond off Baton Rouge.