The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-30
Com. Pennock.s Report.

The following was received at WashlnS-
CAIRO. Nav 25.-To Hon. Gideon Welles,
SecretGYy of War:-The following has just
been received, signed by J. M. Pennock,
Fleet Captain, Mississippi Squadron, Flag
Ship Black Hawk:
HA1NEs' BLUFF, Yazo River, May 20
To Hon. Gideon We3Jes, Secretary Of Naoy,
Wdshiagton:-On the morning OF the 10th
1 arrived opposite here, ready to operate
with General Grant. Leaving two of the
iron-clads at Red River, one at Grand
Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton,
and thus left small force still, / dis
posed of them to the best advantage
On the 18th, firing was heard in the rear of
Vicksburg, which assured me that General
Grant was approaching the city. The can
nonading was kept up furiously for some
time, when, by the aid of glasses, dlscov-
cred a company of our artillery adYanc-
ing on the left of Chickasaw Bluff. The
rebels at that place had been cut off from
Joining the forces in the city.
I dispatched the De Kalb. Lieut.. Com.
Walker, the ram Kane, Petrol and Forrest
Rose. all under the command OF Lieut.
Com. Reese, up the Yazoo, to open COM
munication in that way with Gems. Grant,
and Sherman. They succeeded in landing
in three hours and received letters from
Gems. Grant, Sherman, and Steele, inform
inc me of their vast success, and asking me
to send up provisions, it was at once done.
In the meantime Lieut.. Walker, OF the De
Kalb pushed on to Haines Bluff, where
the enemy had commenced evacuating the
night before, and a party remained behind
in the hopes of ofdestrOylng or taking away
a large amount of ammunition on hand. =
When they saw the gunboats they left IN
good order the guns, forts, tents and
eauipage of all kinds which fell into our
hands. &h &hE4@5H H4f ULal
AS soon as the capture of Haines' Bluff
and IA guns was reported to me, l showed
up the gunboats from below Vlcksburg tc
| fire at the Hill batteries, which fire was
| kept up for two or three hours. At mid
night they moved up to the town and open,
| ed on it for about an hour, and continued
| at intervals during the night. The works
at Haines' Bluff are very formidable
There are IA of the heaviest kind OF noun
ted 8. 10 and 74-inch rified cannon, with
ammunition enough to last long siege.
| blew up the magazine and destroyed the
works generally; also burnt up the en-
campInents which were permanent and re-
markably well constructed, looking as Il
the rebels intended to stay some time. Inc
works and encampments covered many
acres of ground, and the ritie-pits proper
of Haines' Bluff, extended about mlie
and three-quarters. Such a network O.
defences I-never saw. The rebels were
renties ed useless in an hour.
As soon as got through with the des
truction of the, magazine and the othel
works / started Lieut.. Commanding Wal
ters up the Yazoo river with sufncien
force to destroy all the enemy 'proper:tty
in that direction, with orders to return viii
all dispapteh, and only;to proceed, as 81 ial
as Yazzoo City, where the rebels have
Navy Yard and store. In the meantime
Gen. Grant has closey invested Vicksburg
4 and has possession of the best command
1 ing points. In very short time genera
engagement will take place, when hope a,
to announce that Vicksburg has fallen
after q series of the most brilliant success
es that ever attended an army. There has
never been case during the war Where
the rebels have been so successfully beatef
at all points, and the patience and endur.
I ance shown by our army and navy 10: 81
MANY months is being rewarded. IL Is
mere question of a few hours, and then
4 with the exception of Port Hudson, wnlcf
will soon follow Vicksburg, the MISSISSIPPI
will he open its entire length.
VIZ fsigned1 d. D. PORTER,
4 Acting Rear Admiral,
i Commanding Mississippi, Squadron.