The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-19
VERY IMPORTANT NEWS.
Attack on Port Hudson and the
Reported Repulse Of the
Union Naval Force.
The Steam Frigate Mississippi
Said to Be Burned.
-~~~~~>-~---~--~~->~~~~-
TIE FLAGSHIP HARTFORD DISABLED.
~~-~~~~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SKETCHES OF THE VESSELS.
Our Land Force Not in the
Fight,
"a Ii IA.
TIE FLAGSHIP HARTFORD DISABLED
Our Land Force Not in the
Fight,
&c.,
The following important telegraphic despatch
ocaivad laaf ayapipr.-

was received last evening"
FORTRESS MosReE, March 49, 1858.
The Richmond papers the nth say that the 1i,h
Admiral Farragut attacked Port Hudson and was re-
pulsed. The Mississippi was burnt. Admiral Far,agnt
down the river in his flagship which was Disabled
The land force did not Join In the attack.
Whether or not this news be true, Of course re-
mains to be proved by the arrival Of the dispatches
from our forces at New Orleans and the Lower
Mississippi.
There is, however, a shadow of probability that
portion of the report may be true, SO far as the
attack upon the place is concerned But there Is
also fact that stands out clearly in the above
despatch and is that the land forces were not en-
gagged II therefore shows that the movement was
mere reconnaissance the fro OF the rebels pre-
paratory general attack and even II has cost us
loss Of vessel stated by the rebels, may have
also given the desired information that viii DO the
means Of entirely subdung the rebel strongholdfor
strong 4 certainly is both naturally and by the aid OF
art the place s also yariousy estimated
between TO- 900 and 20 900 but there little doubt but
that rebels least from IL 900 70 20 600 men AZ
Port Hudson independent the they have at
vicksburp, hatcher, Jackson and other intermediate
places. From New Orleans learn that the rebel
cavalry but recently patroIed secured the district In
tho vicinity Am,e river back Of Port Hudson.
One Of the facts that gives degree Of probability 70
rebel despatch that General Banks left the city Of
New Orleans night March 4 in company with
his STAFF and General Grover had but recently lett
Baton Rouge FOR General Banks headquarters on tho
most important business The movements OF tho com
mander OF the department explains the business
General Anger already Baton Rouge and II was
stated in New Orleans that these to be united
did intend return until they had witnessed
| the reduction OF the rebel works. The fact Of tho
army having yet been engaged in the attack
that the but naval reconnaissance. Troops
have been forwarded Baton Rouge from New Orleans
for time past, and every means Of transportation
have been collected for prompt movements In that vci.
nifty The navy also partially moved M the river
take advantage Of the prssen, high stage Of the water
for a bombardment upon the works Ia front.
The vessels 10 DO engaged the Hartford Rich.
mond Mississippi Monougahela Gcncsee, Kineo. Itasca
Essex Sportsman the feet and few Inferior
vessels The Hartford 10 be tho flagship Of the Ad
mral the squadron while this Pensacola was to be rita
toned the city In the charge Of Captain Norris MS
kind subheadqgarter station for the West Gulf squad
ron. Of vessels, with their officers and
have already been under Are and noted for their
| bravery.
The following arc sketches Of the reported do
| stroyed and injured
TEE MISSISSIPPI AND HER SERVICES.
sructed OF wood and built Philadelphia IN lss Her
register gave her 692 tons burtheu, and when
nrsi launched was intended carry PaiInan guns
during the present her armament increased
l and consisted Of twelve heavy guns. she com
panlo the Missouri which built IN this city
in the same year Mississippi and accidentally
destroyed Dy ere Gibraltar while special service
ane n, route for China with the Hon. Catch Cushing,
our Minister to that empire passenger Tho Msgisappi
arst attached TO the Home Equadron, alter which IN
Is4o slo was laid up In ordinary In I545 81,
was again put commission and under tho command o.
Captain A. Fzhueh, attached 70 the Home squadron,
then under Commodore David Conner The next year
sho attached the feet engaged IN the Mexican
and sas then placed under the command Of Commodore
Matthew g. Perry who afterwards Ind the solo charge u
the whole ~ the Home squadron when Perry left the
ste amer Miss ssipp Commander Nc Keuze placed Ia
charge with Lieut. W. d. Porter recently attached 70 the
tho ganboat Essex u Farraguts squadron, hs otec
tive officer. Mckenzie died the i3h n September.
ls48 and VAS ordered home from Mereo The war
being ended she Wa laid up 10 ordinary a, Norfolk
Va where ind her tho Isl u January, l9o Sbo
was next IN charge of Captain John e. Long ordered u
tho Mcderrean squadron tl~n under Commodore Cas
Morgan. The vessel returned 70 hew York f. Sosam
her 1851 with Kossuth and star board a. pssscn
eers and was lifted oai FOR the Fast india
| vice. At the beginning u 1862 We end her thus
preparing for sbe sailed shortly Afterwards and BE-
flagship q tho squadron ten under tho charge
u Commodore Perry, Der former commander II the Mex
can war she formed ~ the feet engaged the
pcd on v Japan i-ts Perry changed hs Cad 10 no
susqt ehAnna and tho Baasppi began y prepare Or
hoe return 10 the Ualied states She arrived IN this
harb1r 10 April 1850 and sent y lbe Navy Yard %
| repar We thus ani her the bsgbning q lao and
l 1851 Che wa during this interval thoroughly 0yer
haul.l and another gun added 70 hcr armament making
eleven 10 ALL When rsldy che va asan -ent = Jon TIE
Fss india squadron then under Commodore Tattnaii.
.ho Al once ebso her a. BIZ ia ship During st9 Com
oore strlblng placed n 0ornpand q ne East inta
sauasrou, AID a. he hsd raisf he aag The Hartford
the uassslppl vas ordered nc ahcre she arrived il
y.n,ary. 1880. snd vas aii - 10 ordinary A. D. pu,
| uhsre We and ber on tho 1t u January, lssI
WEN ne rebelen broke sho auAebs1 70
| the guf blocsaarg squadron under Connoiets (sow
sa.lraD rsragu. Darfg tho eght % the Mississippi
r,.r, Which ia 10 he capture q sc~ ofl@ans, the
y~slprI was pa Fl 10 ibs scoond dyison n sbip@, and
uerform.a her pdrl0n n tho srdsoas tasx. shs vas
Afterwards attached 70 us sab t1uaAfon unSer Captain
i saEy. During the sciion tho nsai"ppi dsabied the
"a famed ~ The reesb) ram nuassas which V
Ia aeMr yed The ~bos uson act. since the capture
of ss- Orleans this vessel has rAyed importar, tafl
IN The history 4 hs osn No. sdas agasdrou and N ms
-. setln 81 Port Hudson similar fate 70 that
Of her sister y~sss Tho N~~gu.
rnE yLAosaiP HAsrTo1D.
| no nagship u Admiral Farrsgut, shich f-orisi
n be SAasblea W the Hsspord, asers~ steamer q i'No
,ons IN. Haruord "a aalt N Bostsfn n isSs AMI -1
orsfuc,es " carry rrtus~n shs ~ss laced n
ntnrsor daring 1859. ana ~ nafosni 90 ae'sAssd
' fitiecn Ens
,sos-r T. X. s,astes. - n's o-es' Z 10