The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-19
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
News of much Importance, if it be true, reaches
US from Fortress Monroe, based upon the state
ments of rebel newspapers at Richmond, to the ef-
feet that the feet Of Admiral Farragut has beenre-
pulsed by the rebels at Port Hudson, the frgate
Mississippi burned and the flagship Hartford dis
abled. 1t would appear from the account Of this
affair, that our land forces were not engaged. and
it may have been merely naval reconnaissance,
attended probably with some disaster, which has
been considerably exaggerated at tho rebel
sources of information-the only ones from which
we derive any intelligence so far. We give to-day
map of the locality and sketches of the vessels
engaged.
Dispatches from Cairo state that the report of
the capture Of Yazoo City is premature. The
conviction, however, exists there that decisive
collision has occurred on the Yazoo.
very spirited battle took place on the Black
water on Tuesday morning. General Peck
despatched the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry
and two sections of the Seventh Massachusetts
battery to attack the enemy's intrenchments
commanded by General Jenkins, of South Caro-
lima, opposite Franklin. The fight commenced
at nine o'clock A. NJ, and was carried on briskly
for an hour. Two separate cavalry charges were
made on the Notifications. These were found to
be literally lined with infantry, who poured
deadly fire into our ranks, wounding many in the
first charge, which was made by Major
Stratton who was wounded in the shoulder. The
second charge wis conducted by Major Cornog,
who led his men up to the Notifications to try and
jump the ditch, but the move was soon found to
be impracticable. The enemy opposed q heavy
force Of infantry and cavalry to the right and left
OF our position, in order to try and outfank our
troops, but without success. The fight had not
ended when our correspondent left the field. The
enemy's reinforcements we're coming up to defend
the pass.
The rebels have recently been considerably re-
inforced from Petersburg and battle had been
expected in that quarter. They made an attack
on Newbern, N. c., last Friday but were repulsed.
The attack was most likely directed by General
d. II. Hill, who has just been placed in command
Of the rebel troops in North Carolina.
Some diminishing is going on upon the Kappa
hammock. On Monday rebel camp was discov.
cred in the vicinity of HARDWOOD church, near
Stafford Court House, and o force Of cavalry and
artillery sent in that direction to reconnotre.
Heavy firing was heard in that direction on Tues
day, which would indicate that fight was going
on. A body of General Averill's cavalry had
brush with the enemy near Kelley's Ford, five
miles above Falmouth capturing twenty-five of
them. short distance from the shore General
Averill's command encountered the rebel caval.
ry under Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee, who had
fastened from Culpepper to prevent our
passage. They made some dashng charges
upon our troops, who repulscd and in turn charged
them with fatal effect, using sabres only in the
conflict. The battle lasted five hours. and was
series of charges and hand to hand conflicts, re.
sulting in the falling back Of the enemy. The
forces were about two thousand on cach side.
BY the arrival Of The supply steamer Union.
ffom Galveston and other points on the Gulf. we
learn that the rebels have greeted some formida.
BILE batteries at Galveston. which are mounted
with the grns taken of the Harriet Lane and
westfcld. Three batteries are on the island ON
which tho city is located while Pelican
Island Is fortified equally strong. Our feet
which consists of four gunboats and the frirate
Brooklyn approach TO within mile and half Of
the town, where they anchor, and occasionally
throw shells into the town and forts; but they
cannot bring their broadsides to bear, and have to
operate exclusively with their rihed pivot guns
On the 18th ult the Brooklyn steamed up to easy
range OF Pelican Island, and threw number OF
shells into the fort, shooting down the flagstaff,
and on the 9th she sent few shells into the town
and fred the city in three different places. which
was soon put out. The Brooklyn had 10 withdraw.
however. the forts began to send shot from their
fnccn.inch rifles. one Of which Gu, her rigging.
1t As been aseertainsd from deser,ers from tho