Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-06-04

mately restored.
Washington, May 25.-The following
was received in Washington this morning:
Cairo, ILL.,, May 25.-Io Hon. Gideon
Welles, Secretary Of the Macy: The fol-
lowing dispatch has just been received.
(SigneD A. NJ. PENNooK,
Fleet Captain.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SHIP BLACK HAWK
HA1NEs' BLUFF, YAzoo RIVER, May 20.
To Hon. Gideon WeUes, Secretary Of the Navy:
On the morning of the 18th came over to the
Yazoo, to be ready to cooperate with Gen. Grant
Leaving two of the IRON clads at Red River one at
Grand Gulf, one at Carthage, three at Warrenton
and two in the Yazoo, had but a small force re-
NJ al ming still disposed Of them to the best ad-
vantage. .r.
On the 18th, at noon, firing was heard in the
rear Of Vicksburg, which assured me that Gen.
Grant was approaching the city. The cannonadins
was kept up furiously for some time, when BY the
aid of glasses 1 discovered company of our artil-
lery advancing, taking position and driving tho
rebels before them. 1 Immediately saw that Gen.
shsrman's Division ha come the left OF Sny-
der's Bluff, and that the rebels at that place had
been cut off from joining the forces in the city.
I dispatched the DeKalb, Lieut.. Commander
Walker, Choctaao, Lieut.. Commander Ramsey, Ro-
aneo, Petrol, and Forest Rose, all under command
of Lieut.. Commander Breeze, up to the Yazoo to
open communica ton in that way with General
Grant, and this succeeded in doing, and In three
hours received letters from Gems. Grant and Shsr-
man, and Steele, informing me of their vast sue
cess and asking me to send up provisions which
at once done.
In tho meantime, Lit. Commander Walker in the
DeKdLO pushed u o Hainea' RlnR vhicb III. ~.
my had commenced evacuating the day before and
party remained behind in the hopes of DESTROYING
or taking away a large amount OF ammunition on
hand. When they sew the gunboats they came
out and left every thing in good order the guns of
the fort, tents and equippage OF all kinds, which
fell into our hands.
AS soon as the capture of Hainss' BiuC and IA
guns was reported to me, showed up the gunboats
from below Vicksburg to fire the Hill batteries.
which fire was kept up for two or three hours
At midnight they moved up to the town and
opened on it for about hour, and continued at
intervals during the night to annoy the garrison
On the 10Th, I placed six mortars in position,
with orders to FIRE night and day AZ rapidly az
they could.
The works at Haines' Bluff are very formidable:
There are IA of the heaviest kind Of mounted eight
and ten inch and seven and half inch rifed cam
non, with ammunition enough to lest . long heRe.
As the gun carriages might again fall into the
hands Of the enemy, had them burned, blew up
the magazine, and destr Dyed tho works generally.
also burned the encampments, which were per
manently and remarkably we'll constructed, lock-
ing if the rebels intended to stay for some time
The works and encampments covered many acres Of
ground. The Notifications and rife pits proper Of
Haines' Bluff, extend about . mile and . quarter.
rebels were year in constructing them, and all
were rendered useless in less than an hour.
As as got through with the destruction OF
the magazines and other works, started 1t. Com.
mandng. Walker up the Yazoo river, with suincisnt
force to destroy all the enemy's property in that
direction, with orders to return With al dispatch.
and only proceed IS far Yszoo City, whore the
rebels had navy yard and store houses.
In the meantime Gen. Grant has closely In rested
Vicksburg, and has possession Of the best CON-
manding points.
In very short time q general assault will take
place, when hope to announce that sVicks-
burg has falen after series Of the most brilliant
successes that ever attended an army. There has
never been a during the war when the rebels
have been successfully beaten at all points, and
the patience and endurance shown BY our army
and navy for SO many months 10 about being re-
varded
1t is the question Of few hours and then, with
the exception Of Port Hudson, which will follow
Vcksuurg, and the Aississipps aozz be opesed its
entire length. D. D. PORTER,
Act'g Rear Admit Comd'g Mississippi Squadron.
New York, May 28.-The ship Com
monwealM of Boston, Capt. Mcclellan,
from New York March 10, for San Fran
cisco, was captured by the ALa5amsa pre-.
vious to the oath ult.
The cargo of the Great Eastern contains
200 tons of iron plates for the q. 8. gov.
ernfnent. 49,.
The Washington Star says letter was
received there yesterday, stating that
| large rebel steamer heavily laden with
cotton has been captured off Charleston.
The steamer america, from Greytovn
the Goth, has arrived. She brings large
number of passengers from California.
a correspondent of the Commercial saws
New Orleans has been secured from anv
invasion by the arrival of reinforcements.
so that should the insurgents attempt a
foray upon the place during Gen. Banks
absence they will signally fail. 1@
Washington, May 25.-An the male
contrabands in the neighborhood of Alex.
andra have been put to work on the en-
trenchments near there. Great alarm
was caused by the report that Stuart's
cavalry intended making raid on Alex-
andria.
| Our pickets were attacked yesterday in
the vicinity OF Bull Run, and one killed,