The New York herald., 1864-08-27

inc forts 10 the Mississippi river, the same -
the kearsrse In hernsmoraoe nghl With the Alabama
:" ass
u the Admirels confidence n wooden shps OK the old
GLASS The gunbAts that were 70 accompany the socps
INTO the bay deemed proper expose TO the
remoodous Ore that looked for. They all side
wheel vessels and but poorly adapted 70 encounter sne
hre Of land batteries therefore determined 70
place the outside port side soops
where they would be from the shot and shell
thrown from the fort, and either Of the soops
should be disabled, would be able 70 tow her away.
THE GRAND MOVEMENT,
three O'Clock IN the morning point oppo-
site the fort az daylight This seemed desirable as
ISLAND TO OF three ~ ms and
| the deet would be exposed to . heavy fire, which
would would require the vessels frequently 70 yaw
them so much longer fire. The Monitors 70
lead the way the soops with their consorts following,
mile asern Of its leader. On passing Fort Morgan the
heaviest possible are to BIO poured into il without
for the anchorage OF the Fleet beyond the
range Of the Of OF the fors the Monitors
ioothold the bay the design was to take the
turn beginning With Powell, the weaker and reduce one
SOUNDING FOR MISUNDERSTANDING EXPLOITS.
nperfsctng his plans for the movement the Admiral
manifested his wonted about the torpedoes
TO use his own language, "torpedoes were never his
buRbear" Still he was not neglectru OF them, but put
forth every effort TO ascertain their Whereabouts and
number, ana so guide his fleet 70 avoid them For
this purpose Flag Lieutenant Watson and Mr. Mckinley,
the Admrals private secretary, made nightly trips
during period Of two or three weeks previ-
| ous to the fight into the bay, sounding the
channel and making observations Of all oostruc-
tions and destructive preparations and arranging
route that would be perfectly practicable
possible from dangers. The exploits of these two
gentlemen and the dangers 70 which they repeatedly ex
posed themselves in seeking the valuable information
with ynch they were charged are deserving OF especial
mention and commentator.
rilE co OPERATING FoRcE-GENFRAL GRANGER
Admiral Farragut had not designed this attack without
the operation Of the army. After numerous consua
hat haAh an
ermined by the latter send efficient land force at
the appointed time TO assist in the grea, work all It's
movements hnd operations TO be made in conjunction
with those of the navy 10 the command this force
General Candy assigned MAJOR General Gordon Granger,
Inc present rebellion have advanced him from the rank OF
colonel with which he entered the volunteer service TO
ces'veiy commanded regiment brigade, division corps
and department As commander OF the Fourth army
corps be particularly distinguished himself for GOODNESS
ana bravery at Chickamauga, and Of battle
Geids before well that memorable action. he
has uu rmy developed the qualities OF careful, se,
sagacious brave and enerprisng officer.
ENERGY
respectable column, numbering about ten thousand
troops, OF all arms originally assigned to this expe
diton but at late day the exigencies OF the service
seemed to call for the greater part Of these men
mferativey 10 other fields Subsequent consultations
with Admiral Farragut led 70 the determination that the
attack need not be deferred because the upavaabty
the entire force at ars assigned and as haste was
essential to success force OF between thousand
twenty-five hundred men we're embarked from New
Orleans on the 3lst ut with Instructions TO rendezvous
in Mississippi sound opposite the end OF Petite Bos
Island II was only after almost superhumau exertons
that General Granger this trnng aAoat Every
possible obstacle seemed thrown bis At frs the
troops were scattered all the Gulf department
When brought together they uDaoquainted with
each other, dsorganized demoalized dsconteuted ana
spiress The comm andcr whom they were assigned
was perfect stranger to them and they him. Trans
p0rtaton was lacking even for single regiment. and u
ouy after the untirng exertions General
exercised day and night, without cessation that any
means could be obtained for Transporting this nucleus Of
an army 70 its field OF operations.
This little force, amply supplied with heavy artillery,
Of Fort Gaines where they rendered most valuable
service, though not so conspicuousy employed
the navy narrative OF their operations would be In
teres,ing, but is necessarily omitted.
Entrance OF the Fleet Into the Harbov.
Friday morning. the 6tn inst, al early dawn prepara-
lions or unnistakabe character visible the
feet Vessels being ashed together despatch
hurrying about all directions signals were dis
played and wered, small bosts lowered away
and anchored. activity prevailed every hand Il
apparent to the rebels the forts ourselves that
the time had arrived that test the ability of
rebel appliances 70 keep hostile feet out Of the bay
Circumstances had arisen that prevented strict
pance with the Admral's plan OF commencing the move.
men before dawn but hav ing determined the
rebels the bene0 Of the earliest possible information.
The attempt having been determined upon should be
through despite any and all Disadvantages
It was six o'clock With the fun hour high, when
boats started from their anchorage outside the bar
throe miles southeast Of sand Island The Monitors
cnorcd in sand leland channel inside Of sand Island and
waited until the rest Of the feet opposite Sane Island
and then moved out into The main channel taking posi-
ton in advance OF the wooden feet, forming lice with
distances Of five hundred yards each In the
order that has been published.
srEcTAUE.
u was grand and imposing sight to see the noble old
fleet moving so quietly, esticay and steadily up TO
the well known batteries and destructive appliances OF
the rebels deyiug their most deerm med and desperate
combat, confident " It's ABILITY cope with all defensive
Of the remorseeee foe and overcome them
Every vessel decked out with all Its bunting. The
stars and Stripes waved proudly from every peak and
ga the only eYcep,,on being nn the tore OF the Hartford
which grsced with the broad pepDsnt Of the Admi
raj.
rHs YrRsr GUN
precisely siy O'Clock and twenty minutes the lire
cmpete the head OF II then being miles from
the fort The fecumseh, having The advance signalzsd
guns which fell exploded with remarkable ACCURACY
In the snore battery OF the forA The whole line then
much precision long taw gun occasionally being dis
charged reminder TO the rebels should their optics
concndns with the ebb tide bad difficulty making the
slow desirable IN consideration OF the
dangerous and trescherous condition Of the chsuneL As
by letting OF occasional hundred FOUNDER from ther
bows but the firing exceedingly desuory, and, not
withstanding that was we'll directed, passed entirely
rnn nnsr RESPONSE rsos tn. ronr
Al precisely seven O'Clock, the Monitors all being
within close OF the fort the Tecumseh then being
close under the rebel work and entire feet past Sand
Island the fort opened response guns Her 6rst
shot disec,edat Monitor nes but was impos
sibe 10 ten at which QUE. they had somewhat varied
their courses and running at different rates Of
speed, the four being apparently close together The
rebel shell struck the wafer .be m3t Of them and
pioded harmlessly.
ACTION mronvs GwHERAI-
The sction now became general All our vessels opened
their batteries freely add the for, fred Is orsky
upon II would permit. The Tecunseh fred but
two more shots, ~ considerable intervals, seeming
disposed 70 reserve her nre and the energies Of her
for the coming with the Tennessee and ether
rebel vessels When the fort nrst opened che fired
shot, and seoond she passed abreast OF the fort
The other Monitors, the contrary loaded and nred
rapidly possible their heavy shell producing most
marked effect the water battery, which could be
worked only occasionally, because Of shs re
thus kept upon TO- The wooden shiPs, farther Astern
kept their bow guns AZ play on the traverse gnns and
curtain batteries OF the main fort which responded 10