The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-15

siA4Ao " VA - Souso nPos~ - - ~~s~ 49, -
The clearing OF this ned gave ample evdenos that our
the mark. IL Is now quite ciesS lhas in our
army the loss was not less than twenty-five hum
dred. or this number probably hve hundred were
killed twelve hundred wounded and eight hundred taken
prisoners The rebel loss was much less than this
the bulk Of their lighting purely de-
mem could only attack them By charging across the open
plain directly in face not only OF batteries but
also Of their remen IN the pits In view o. the despe
seems almost wonderful that loss was not nearly
double what IL was.
rHE ARxsncs-rRnspIY GREETING ON BOTH smEs
During the day occupied in burying the dead, the
soldiers and subordinate officers Of both armies mingled
freely upon the cld Much conversation was had between
them though the talk Of the rebels was 80 mucn on the
braggadocia order that but little information Of reliable
character could be obtained their statements were 70
rxxssapos AND PRICE, HAD u.UDxD GRANT,
and with their armies. within the OF
vcksburg. There oorrooosaiive evidence o. sns
statement in the fact that have been frequently
arriving the Southern Mississippi Railroad, leading
from vcksburg Jackson, and the smoke Of steamers
r rsSe, 0s aam s's almost Constantly The las. few
days Il well known that the rebels have large nset
OF steamers in the Yazoo and it's tributaries ana ~ TINS
channel Pembcrton could very readily move ms AMY
down from Yazoo City or even some higher point,
leaving him but very little land trayslto make y y
considered probable here that the arriving
by railroad come from Virginia. and the troops with.
drawn from the after the evacuation Of Corinth ana
when Mcclellan was threatening Richmond.
THE REBEL STRENGTH by THEIR OWN Acc0uNIs
The rebels claim that their force now in and about VcK
burg amounts sixty thousand men, and being ncres
sixty guns in battery aIong the bluffs and in front OF
ycksburg besides lcd artillery TO an unlimited amount
We know that they have eight miles Of sne ps ON, hns
they have another semicircuar range OF similar work
extending around the Of the city, two miles back
from outskirts What defences they may nave against
O southern attack has not yet TRANSFERRED
THE INTENDED MOVEMENT AGAINST EAINFs' mufFs.
A grand combined naval and army movement sort
nf for1A~ r,lan
Haines' Bluffs and the enemy's extreme rgnt, ior
Thursday New Year's) morning, with view Of
able to march close up vcksburg without encunerng
their batteries The movement was q very desperate
one especially for the navy four vessels Of whch-.ne
close up under the rebel batteries while the rest Of the
feet lay at the foot Of the stretch, half mile Distant
and all we're to keep up continuous firing.
DARING BRAVERY COLONEL MIET.
The ram Loncss, with Colonel Elle in person IN com
mand, her bows fitted with an enormous drag drag
the way. The mere tender OF his services
for this most hazardous expedition by Colonel
good manifested in putting his ram in readiness aud
getting her under weigh the appointed time, enttle
him to honorable mention among the heroes of the day
The expedition to start At three A. M, SO as TO
get in position and commence the attack by four A. Nj.
At five O'Clock General Steele TO debark ten thousand
picked the point AZ the foot OF the stretch below
the batteries and take the place by storm.
CowARDLY pssERrERs-rnE CAUSE OF FAILURE
Unuckily couple OF transport engineers, VINO Were 70
tanned pretty correct information Of its character and
objects, deserted TO the enemy on the evening
preceding the appointed tme and most likely conveyed TO
them full intelligence OF the projected attack But not
withstanding this untoward event the movement would
have proceeded taking the chances Of discovery put at
the appointed morning the river was covered with
fog dense render the movement OF vessels utterly
impossible unless by constantly sounding alarm signals
which would have exposed everything The attack was
therefore reluctantly abandoned though not until Admiral
Porter had every effort get his vessels through
the fog by plotting them with tugs and other futile
means.
THE RETREAT ORDERED.
With the failure of this attempt persisted all hopes Of
gaining Vicksburg from this base and with this force
The enemy greatly outnnnbered End hourly re-
ceiving reorcemcnts while their position was impreg
nable. General Sherman therefore, promptly ordered
The day spent an making feints and
slight demonstr atoms to conceal our real purposes while
the commanding officers were busy engaged IN arrang
ing the details OF the Withdrawal Our lines still
maintained in the face Of thoao OF the enemy and at
points full five miles from the transports, so
that IL somewhat peri0ns undertake. backward
movement. Should the enemy discover it, they could
readily fan upon US and do as an inGnste amount OF
before we couldfacc and get in posi.is-
cover III the gunboas. Tho movement was, therefore,
ordel ed Tor one Friday morning. which
the troops being in marching order our pcke,s aud
tines Withdrawn and the order 70 march was given
By daylight the last regiment was safe on the r"er
bank.
Our eunboas, scattered ali along the stream protected
both the troops aud the transports during the enbarka
ton. In single instance the enemy made dash.
pecng doubtless to destroy sevea boats and ture
CIT UP u large uumOer OF troops. Inc forces
attacked we're q brigade of General Morgen's d.
vision and all slowed away upon their boats,
asd awaiting orders 10 move before the enemy ap.
preached The enemy depoyca one regiment Of Infantry
rs skirnishers, holding the main body OF their force
back IN the edge OF piece of woods about hall mile
from the river The skrmisers felt their way up very
quietly through old cJrnied, until within few
hundred feet Of the boats, when they opened fire upon
some stragyers on the banks The light draught gum
boat Marnora Lieut. Getty, lying just above the
transports at the time, and had evidently been consi-
dered by the enemy AS troop ship she was quickly in
the stream and had howiizers bearing upon the field.
lfer guns were worked with most creditabe 1--we
liness, causing thu rebels to beat most pre-.
he'd their position In the edge the woods, II deter
mined 10 make another atfack But the Lexington was
promptly the spot with her long tom guns ana the
Benton Cncinpati and couple OF rams attracted 70 The
spot by the Marmoras and Lexingtons rapid firing, also
opened their heavy them, and made short work
OF the rebel infantry. From decks OF the vessels
could ec easily that we made terrible slaughter IN
their ranks compelling them at Lass 10 break and run In
the Widest. confusion.
The TROOPS EMBARKED.
The troops being all shipped b. this time the tTans
ports commenced moving, those nearest the mouth oil
the river going out hrst' and maintaining that
then got under weigh and followed them, the Tag ship
Black Hawk taking the lead. AZ the mouth OF the
TIE squadron anchored army transports going Up the
Mississippi TO Aliken's Bend and nioorng the lOuis
thus has ended most ingooasly the second campaign
against yicksburg Let us hopo tat General Me efnand
viii devise some plan that VIII DO productive Of more
gratifying results.
This evening, between four aud five O'clock the iu
made from the flagship tha, Lieutenant
Commander William Gwin llicty Il the Benton n3a gust
died IN the hospital Of that vessel, from wounds
reoefsa IN the action Of The 27th ~, aeoins!
OF which have already you, Lieutenant Commander
Gwiu OF the most highly esteemed officers the
squadron. He capable officer, genial companion
"A warm ana kiad hearted trend, brave 1nsn true
patriot and perfect gentleman. He born Coiun
bus nd. III 1881 and entered the United States naval
service as a midshpman ia Is47. He made cruise
Of the coast OF Brsg ia the Brandywine, and oil the
" Africa in the Germantown and porpoise mid
shipman, ana then in june 1885, passed a satisfactory
examination pnd entered a passed midsbipmau.
with this rank he ordered TO the Bainbrdge,
and cruisd In thatsvesssl OF the coast Of Brazil,
until 1856. ON the 18th september 1850 he com
missoned master, and on the following day pro-
Noted be lieutenant He afterwards Cruised IN the
Pacific bsta the Saranac and vandsla, until septon
bcr 1852 when he returned home. After brief yisit
he ordered 10 the Susluchannc in the sielter
squadron On the breaking Of the be
ordered home and assigned W the Cambridge b5cka-
Ing duty the Atlantic cUast In January, 1902 he
detached from the Cambridge and ordered to report 10
Admiral Fco,e for duty m the Western notila. He was
Immediately Unsigned 70 the command OF the wooden gun