New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-23
LATER FROM NEw-0RLEANS'
ror,,nued from First Page.

Init
~vera continually scattering destruc'lVn ,,e;t;pO
the enemy's silence it was evident NC that
at the upper and main batteries ~ v hot an attack
some boats were to attempt to pass, scted quarter
was 10 be made from some ule? - !. not over.
RJoraover II ia certain that ammupluOIu , ~ " !,
abundant in this beleaguersd suoDS Us sn5den srer.
was carefully reserved 10 iheeV .' sesad OF II
VA XVbsn the boabardment ceaseo at -
se1cy; "!H en whatever had been made
~ tbs RsSeis' But they had no sleep Tor the rest
OF that night. L,s oas..d firing thev at
,noa commenced dragging their Tying artillery INTO
;,;on o, the lower esrthworks. \ little Tut OF
I'D near the margin Of the rlver, covered III the
- NTH thick growth of trees, was surmounted
bv two 24.pound rihed guns, whence they could
rake an approaching vessel fore and aft.
TO the right of this bill, ridge of RAPID slope or
6ts southern face running three-eighths OF mile
east, and backed by thick grove, was surmounted
bv zen 20-pouud rifled guns.
At3o'ciock Oh the morning OF the 10th inst, the
red light reappeared at the stern of the Essex. IL
was well understood throughout the fleet that this
tire the enemyIwolld have to take aievereehsstise
ment All but the Richmond were within point
blank range Of the Rebel position.
Your correspondent, together with Leut; II, d.
Skinner, OF Gen. Dudley staff. was on 6osId OF lhe
Richmond whence the best possible view oil the En-
gagement could be had
Ii was q bright starlight night. with the air so
clear 10 transmit the roar Of the cannon through
tie fores. recesses with the utmost velocity,
Being reused up. according TO the promise OF
sentinel, who had agreed to awaken me at The first
sicnsl from the Essex, took an elevated pcsi.!cG
above the forecsstle of the Richmond. The hrst
shell from the mortar feet was fired soon after 5
O'Clock.
The e.cmple was followed by the other boats
each sending forth, not a single flash, but great
volume OF smoke as the ponderous missile was
hurled aloft Kissing and screaming ike mad de-
mon.
Twenty rounds of powder was used at every die
charge 50 that the she'll rose TO an immense hight,
and to.k long curve before i; plunged down amid
the batteries
burning fuse aud il was well known as some OF
she Reoels aftsrwsrd acknowledged that splendid
shots we've made, iu1icing serious injury upon the
enemy. -,
Tie "bumuers" had it all their own way until
half-psst .our o'clock, when flash was seen on the
ores. Of the kill. 1t was not bursting shell. II
was Enthusiastically the fash OF the enemY's cannon.
Proof positive soon came hurting over the Essex.
m the shape OF a percussion she'll, which touched
the levee, burst, and hurled it, jagged fragments
against her iEon sdes, and then tell harmless into
the water
Three Aastes. three cloods OF light smoke, then
observation-disclosures the peal OF their cannon,
announcing the coming OF three more messengers Of
death. They all splssaed into the water whirled
up q splendid ret u cas- then sank quietly beneath
the surface.
The Essex nov showed signs Of life Hitherto
not ehot had been fired from her porte. Taking
kept up RAPID csnnOnading during the rest Of the
engagement
She was struck hirly only once during the action,
although twelve times in all by fragments Of ex-
poding shell. IL was noticed by all On board when
large shell exploded Just as II touched her bows.
TIE only effect Vas slight indentati0n less than an
inch in oepth il the iron plate.
4 fter the Rebels commenced hiring from their
lower earthwofks the hiring or both sides was very
rspd. 1t was nothing but succession Of flashes
r1rrr- a.a 81 NJ h 10 IN ka.lN
and the " bur1ners' were lit up At rapid interval
By the discharge Of their pieces.
The scene bad now attracted most Of the Rich
Jnonds crew from their sumbers. The forecsstle
poop deck, rigging, and fore and main tops wer
covered with spectators, who watched with cage
interest the thrilling sight, and commented on tn
Workmanship displayed on either side.
The dawn Of day rendered fainter and fainte
the light of the flashes. and gave "a better opportu
nifty for distinguishing the enemys position
Suddenly the drurs beat 70 quarters. Down thu
rigging, OF tue toreoasue, ny the matches came tn
crew, who lesped with marvellous alscrity TO thei
posts at the guns. Silently they STOOD with animate
faces, awaiting orders from their captain 4" Are 70
gong into actlon4" asked OF one Of the mel
NJ "Gness you Won catch old Jimmy without fng,
in the pie the prompt response Of tbs galiaI
blue-jaeket, IN allusion TO the rough and read
qualities OF his captain. Capt. Alden was standir
on the bridge, nesr where Cummings lstsly met
fate.
Orders were giveuto slip the cable the engin
wore set in motion, and the Richmond YVES head
for the enemy's batteries. The starboard guns We
trained two ports forward Of the beam. All W
now quiet on board. The range of the lower wor
was carefully tsxen. The shot and she'll were no
flying tnlckly about the Essex and the "bummers
while an occasional shell plunged up the water ne
the Richmond Suddenly loud report thunde
from her bow. The I0.pound rifed Parrot sent
huge she'll whirliCg end over end with noise ike q
puff of locomotive. The s-ipch guns along the sta
board side qIexly followed, making excellent shot
They tore up the brsasyworks. and bur. their shell
over the beads NJ the Rebels at their cannon. Or
OF the batteries the river took the rane
of the Richmond, and cold snOt came rcocbettin
close by her port aide. Another passed near b,
malntop through the rigging. One went over II
forecastle, and another immediately over the qua
terdeck, whore Lieut.. Skinner and myself wei
STANDING.
The Richmond steamed steadily up the strea
until within goint blank range of the snemy's pos
ton, when che turned Der head little and sent
full broadside into the Rebel works.
The effect electrical. Not was TO
seen, not q gen fired from the hill sfterward.
was TOO much for their comfort, and the frightene
ekedsdders betOOk themselves TO the woods. Thi
ended the action. 1t lasted nearly three hourt
The Ouly damage done on our eide was that TO th
mortar-boa2 o. II. Lee aud Sarah .Bruln. Tn
former was struck in the bow and tho latter by
Rlsncng fragment Of shell on her quarter. Not
collars damage Was done TO either. Not a mai
was touched.
1t is not proper to state the object Of this mighty
bombgrdment Of the Port Hudson batteries, bat i
may be 'sfsly said that IL is not useless waste o
ammunition.
On tie 9Th inst a negro gave information tina
the enemy had stacked 1000 bushels OF corn ready
for transportation, a. short distance Ground The
point opposite Port Hudson. II was made known
10 Admiral tarragut, and all Of the corn wal
promptly burned.
A flag Of truce came Up Oh the IberviIe Oh th,
1lth init and gave over 4sl ReheI n,isopors 81,