Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17
FROM THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
Great Destruction of Propeyty-JohasOnviN Re
inforced- Very Severe Fighting.


intorccd-Very Severe Fighting.
FROM THE LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT.
In the Democrat of Sunday published condensed
report of the burning of number Of transports and gun
boats 10 the Tennessee river Johnsonye Tennessee
which information was gathered from special despatch
to Capt Pink Varbe from Col May, dated at that place
on the morning of the 9Th.
Col May left Johnsonville at halfpast six o'clock on
Saturday evening and arrived IN our city yesterday From
him we gather the following information which may be
relied upon correct In order that our readers may
more fully understand the condition OF affairs up that
stream we date narrative back to Wednesday, the "a
instant at which time the attack upon Johnsonve may
really be said to have commenced:
About two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon the three
gunboats at JohnsonvileNos. 20, 81, and b2--moved
down the river short distance for the purpose OF recap
turing the Venice which had been taken by the rebels
When short distance below JOhnsonvlle the gunboat
Undne which had been captured some time since by the
rebels gave boats fight The engagement lasted for
several hours and until the Venice had been disabled by
ball which cut her steam drum Alter this the
rebel gunbost withdrew and the Venice fell Into hands
When she was recaptored she was armed with two 70
pound Parrot guns She also had full supply of ammu
milton, &C., all of which was taken to Johnsonve On
this day nothing further Of interest TRANSFERRED
On Thursdsy morning the gunboat Undne appeared near
Johnsonve and manoeuvered about as If Offering battle
Our gunboas weighed anchor and started out to meet her.
appeared behind the bend two miles below Johnson
ve Thinking that this was but dodge to run our boats
into trap they returned to Johnsonville During the
whole of the day the rebel shapshooers who on the
opposite bank Of the river, kept up continual fire upon
our gunboats, killing number of the men.
Friday morning the day Of the hard lighting, and
the day upon which sc 900 900 worth of prope
was sacrificed to the flames. At an early hour in the
morning the gunboat UndIne came to within four FIVE
hundred yards Of Johnsonvle and presented broadsde
she intended to fire upon the town The gunboats
and SO were sent in pursuit of her, and they had
started than the Undne immediately put of and
lodged behind the bend where she disappeared the
previous day The gunboats followed her into the bend
and they had made the turn than they were
opened upon by rebel battery OF twelve twenty
pound Parrot gums said to be supported by ten thousand
men, and also by the Undine About this time four quo
boats up the river and engaged the battery the
other side. The fight between the boats lasted from
early Friday morning until about noon, during which time
most terrific cannonadng was kept up. Our gunboats
unable to pass battery and being separated
unable to cope with it, After most determined resistance
the gunboats compelled to retire in crippled cond
ton About ii o'clock and during the engagement the
Undne into the shore by the rebels and burned to
prevent her being captured.
About two O'Clock in the afternoon party of rebel
sharpshooers made their appearance on the opposite shore
from Jacksonville and commenced firing upon the trans
ports, which now dropped down to the lower landing,
while the gunboats threw small shells into the rebel ranks
which dispersed them. When the rebels had succeeded
in getting all the gunboats and transports to the lower
landing which was about three o'clock in the afternoon
they Immediately opened the boas from their batteries
all of which composed of twenty pound PARROT guns
There four batteries opposite the city at the
upper end at the lower and two just in the centre
The fire of all these batteries on the boats
lying at the Johnsonve wharf and in less than fifteen
minutes the gunboats were complete wreck Now that
the gunboats destroyed and the Federal
fearing that the transports with their cargoes would fall
into the hands of the enemy, he called council Of at
which it decided that the transports should be de-
stroyed The order at given and in short time
the following boats wrapped in sheet OF flames:
Doane No. Arcola, Duke Goody Friends, Aurora, Noun.
tsneer, j. b. Ford Highlander and Venice The flames
were communicated to the barges which loaded with
Government freight and in less time than it takes record
it they fell prey to the devouring elements,
The wharf at Johnsonvle covered with Govern
ment freight and the flames communicated to
it, Men detailed to subdue the raging fire, but they
would make their appearance than the rebel
batteries and shsrpshooters would fire upon them The
fire next communicated to the Government warehouse,
which contained Elk hundred and fifty tons OF provisions
Not only the boats and bages with contents destroy
ed but oil the freight the wharf and the warehouse,
together with its contents, heap of ruins As
the immense conagraton was raging with unabated fury
the rebel batteries kept up one OF the most terrific
nhadngs heard shot and shell bursting forth from
the mouths Of over thirty tweuypound PARROT guns.
The during the entire Friday evening aud to q
late hour in the night grand and terrific and battles
description The amount OF property destroyed including
the boats and barges, forty in number is estimated
about Sc 900 000 We unable to learn the number
OF losses either side.
On Saturday morning, about seven O'clock the rebel
batteries opposite the city again opened on Johnsonvie,
ciizeos and commenced to the town
in the mornng, and they went out the road they
sheed by the rebel batteries and number Of them
were killed About ten O'Clock the cannnonading was
again commenced, and lasted for thirty minutes
From that time until O'Clock in the evening all
quiet but at that time, which when informant
left the cannonadng resumed but with what results
we unable to state
The forces at Johnsonvle under the command of
Col Thompson On Saturday evening Col Gallup arrived
there with brigade of troops aud several guus The
party which left Johnsonve when their way Nash
vile, met considerable Federal force with siege guns
under command of Gen Schofeld going TO the relief of the
forces there When these renforcements reach johnson
vile the place will be entirely safe from any attack the
rebels make it, The rebel force which i, estimated
at twenty thousand strong is under the command Of Gen.
erals Chalmers. Lyon Forrest and Rhoddy IL impos
sble yet 10 tell what the intention CT the rebel force
but it generally believed that they moving down the
river The above the facts related by persons who
were present all the time
THE QONDITT0N Of TEEta pEpFT ApNy