New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-25

brought the rough nights Of Vicksburg within our
sphere Of vision though the town lay for tho present
buried In the darkness except whore now and then
the twinkliDg Of starry light was seen.
As the boats, with lights out and fires carefully
hidden, 6oated past indistinct as the ghosts Of
Ossian in the mountain mists it curious to note
the effect upon the spectators. Before they appear
cd, the hum Of conversation was heard all around.
All were busy with speeulations &c to the probabili-
ties of success. The responding prognosticsed un-
mitgated disaster. The hopeful INDUCED in conf
dent expectations. AL were contented 10 endure
come loss provided suflcency arrived at the des-
tined point to accomplish the object contemplated.
As tho various boats came slowly into view, stole
past with noseess motion, then vanished into the re-
ceases of the shadowy Shore each voice was hushed;
only in subdned and smothered tones were persons
at intervals heard 10 AK question, or venture an
observation II seemed as il each one felt that bis
silence was due to the impressive scene as if an IN
discreet utteance his part might raise the vail Of
secrecy so necessary 10 DO preserved in the presence
Of wstchful foe.
painful expectation weighed on every spirit.
The boats must now be near the point opposite the
beleagusreic city VIII they be discovered at tie first
approach or will kindly fortune give them eaiy
pss,ag. by Suddenly fame starts up Another aud
another leaps into the darkness Of the night The
enemy bias seen the passing boats, and il sending
across the river his desth-dealing messengers
Rapid now darts the momentary fires; the iron
rain" Of the remoneless cannon hurtles upon the
dim and gliding boats Dull upon the heavy air,
scarce moved by the night wind, which blows in
direction unfavorsbls for our hearing invertebrates
the heavy tAEd Of the cannon.
Az the time passes the batteries lower, and still
lower down como into action. We can trace the
course OF our feet by new flames that each moment
,,srtls the strained sight, and cannon for miles
along tho hs1y shore are hurting their destructive
missiles.
And now new acceaory added ts influence to
the exciting scene. While we had been engaged in
watching the vivid flames leaping from cannon
mouths, and exploding shells, CLEAN Of light, firtt
pale and toft then red and lurd, and at last glazing
aud refulgent, stole mp into the heavens above the
opposing city. For the first time the silence was
broken by the gazing crowds upon the steamboats, Of
the feet. "Vieksburg is on freP was uttered in
excited tones But il was not Steady and with
wonderful brilliuncy, upon the bill on which the city
Islands. the fire assumed circular outline on the
upper edge, much like third part Of the full moon
when apparently maguifed; it 10 rising above tue
horizon. The fame gIowsd brilliant and beau1nuii
no smoke WA visible to din lis splendor. IL was q
bsscOh light, placed in position 70 throw its beams
along each arm Of tho bend o. the river, the convex
aide Of which 10 turned toward Vicksburg. 30
powerful the light that at the point where our
feet was moofed, the shadow Of hand held foot
from tho boats side was distinctly thrown upon It,
Thi, beacon with treacherous fidelity, showed TO the
foe the now fast disappearing boats; but happily 1t
was fred too late. The sight OF the boats appeared
to add now rage TO the enemy, who could not ail 70
coun, the cos to him of such feet joining Farraguts
three gunboats already between Vieksburg and Port
Hudson. The firing became more rapid. From
the upper batteries to the last down at Warren
ton leaped fame on Game. The dull echo Of the
cannon, and the whrr and shrek Of the flying shells
startled tho midnight air. But now comes roar
which tells that our boys are awake and lively
The light that showed the boats 70 the enemy re-
yealed 70 our men the outlines Of tho batteries, and
the roar which deafened the ear to every other
sound is tie peal Of the heavy pieces on our gunboas
After an interval Of maddest rage the upper guns
Of the enemy almost cease their fire. 1t Is evident
our boats have passed the rst-reached batteries-an
that have escaped the deadly onset. That no large
portion of them is missing is evident from the activ'
ity Of the forts at WarentOn, and the answering
thunders Of our own guns.
BY this time tho beacon-light was burned down,
and ceased 10 render It's cruel aid. Just the gath
erng darknsss and the yet longer and longer inter
walls Of silence gave intimstion that tho exciting
scene was nearly over, another startling incident
woke anew the emotions Of the time. Midway be-
tween the extinct beacon In the city and the lower
batteries at Wsrrenton new glow Of light, soft az
the dawn but rapidly blushing into deeper intensity
climbed gently toward the sky. They are light
ing another beacon shouted many voice.; but again
tho speakers wero mistaken. The light grew
stronger every moment; it wanted the mellow,
vivid, space.pereing brliancy Of the beacon above
il rolled volumes Of thick and curling smoke; and
more-the light with GLOW aud equal pace was nov
ing onward, passing down the streaml There was
10 Disgusting the uulh-one OF our own boats was
on fire The white color Of the smoke showed that
among the fuel to the flame was cotton. The infer
encs was plain it was not gunboat but trans
port that was burning. On hoated the doomed ves-
sell her light doubtless exposed to the Rebels view
the floating fat boats and targes, for the firing, es-
pecialIy from the Warrsnton batteries, was for a
short vine violently renewed.
The glow of the barring boat continued in sight
until the beams Of morning hid its glaze. Before
this, however, the solemn drama had reached its
termination. The spectators reluctantly retired to
their cabins when nothing remained to engage the
attention but the flaming wreck, aud scattering shots