Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-18

The War In Tennessee-The Fight at
JohnsonviIIe-siI Millions OF Dollars
Worth OF Government Property d.

stroyed.
The Louisville Democrat gives the following
corrected version of the affair at Johnsonville,
Tenn, concerning which many conflicting re-
ports have appeared;
"Friday, November 4, was the day OF the
hard fighting, and the day upon which over
81, 900, 900 worth of property was sacrificed to
the flames. AT an early hour In the morning
the gunboat Undlne came 10 within four or five
hundred yards of Johnsonvillc and presented a
broadside, as if she intended to fire upon the
town. The gunboats 80, 80, and SO were sent
in pursuit Of her, and they had no sooner started
than the Undine Immediately put of and
lodged behind the same bend where she disap-
peared the previous day. The gunboats fol-
lowed her into the bend, and they had no
sooner made the turn than they were opened
upon by rebel battery of twelve 20-pound
Parrot guns, said to be supported by 10000
men, and also by the Undine. About this time
four gunboats came up the river and engaged
the battery on the other side. The fight be-
tween the boats lasted from early Friday morn
ing until about noon, during which time most
terrific cannonading was kept up.
sour gunboats were unable TO pass the bat
terry, and being separated, were unable to cope
with it. After a most determined resistance,
the gunboats were compelled to retire in q
crippled condition. About II O'Clock, and
during tue engagement, luG luulnc was run
into the shore by the rebels, and burned to pre-
vent her being captured. About 9 o'clock in
the afternoon a party of rebel sharpshooters
made their appearance on the opposite shore
| from Johnsonvillc, and commenced firing upon
! the transports, which now dropped down to
| the lower landing, while the gunboats threw
small shells into the rebel ranks, which dis
persed them. When the rebels had succeeded
| In getting all the gunboats and transports to
the lower landing, which was about 8 O'Clock
in the afternoon, they Immediately opened on
the boats from their batteries, all of which
were composed of tweuty-pound Parrot guns.
There were four batteries opposite the city.
| one at the upper end, one at the lower, and two
| Just in the centre.
"rhc lire OF all these batteries was concen-
| tratGd on the boats lying at the JOhnsonyille
! wharf, aud in less than fifteen minutes the
gunboats were a complete wreck. Now that
the gunboats were destroyed, and the Federal
commander fearing that the transports with
| their cargoes would fall into the hands of the
enemy, he called council of war, at which ii
| was decided that the transports should be de-
| .troycd. The order was at once given, and In
a short time the following boats were wrapped
| in one sheet of flames: Doane,' No. >, Arcola,
Duke, Goody Friends, Aurora, Mountaiueer, J
| b. Ford, Highlander, and Venice. The flames
were communicated to the barges, which were
| loaded with Government freight, and In less
| time than II takes to record 1t they fell prey
the devOuring clement
"Thc wharf at Johnsonville was covered with
Government freight, and the flames were soon
communicated to 1t. Men were detailed "a
subdue the raging fire, but they would no soon
| er make their appearance than the rebel bate
ries and sharpshoOters would fire upon them
The fire next communicated to the government
warehouse, which contained six hundred anC
hfly tons of provisions. Not only were thl
boats and bargcs with their contents destroy
ed, but all the freight on the wharf and in thu
warehouse, together with its contents, were ont
heap of ruins. AS the immense conaagratior
was raging with unabated fury, the rebel bat
teries kept up one of the most terrific cannon
adings ever heard, shot and shell bursting forth
| from the mouths of over thirty twenty younC
parrot guns. The scene during the entire
Friday evening, and to late hour in the night
was grand and terrific, and battles description
! The amount of property destroyed, including
the boats and barges, some forty In number, /:
estimated at about S6,000,000. We are una
BILE 10 learn the number OF losses on eithei
side.
"On Saturday morning, about O'Clock, The
rebel batteries opposite the city again opened
on Johnsonville, and kept up brisk cannon
aiding for some time. The citizens and non
| combatants commenced to leave the town In
the morning, and as they went on the roaC
| they were shelled by the rebel batteries, and {
number of them were killed. About 10 O'CLOCK
| the cannOnading was again commenced, anC
lasted for some thirty minutes. From tha
time until O'Clock in the evening all wal
| quiet, but at that time, which was when ou
| informant left, the cannOnading was resumed
but with what results we are unable TO state.