Daily national Republican., 1864-03-17
Operations of the uis.issippi squsdron'

Admiral Porter enclsses a communication
from Lieut.. Commander Thos. o. Selfridge, of
the Conestoga, In which he states that learning
there was large amount OF cotton belonging
to the rebel government under q small guard
of soldiers, not far from where Old river Inter-
sects the main levee, he landed on the morning
of the 10Th Of February, with As seamen and
some contrabands, and after marching six miles
found the cotton, and would have captured the
guard but for the accidental explosion Of anus
ket. On the way back he was considerably an
noycd by Texan cavalry. He captured thirty.
two bales Of cotton, twenty mules, and several
horses and captured as prisoners Colonel @. H.
Tyler, Major J. T. o'Brien, ofthe rebel Provi-
sional Army.
The day before he destroyed twenty-four
hogsheads Of sugar, about TO cross the river,
which was to bulky too take on board.
The Navy Department has also received q
communication from Admiral Porter, in which
he has enclosed one from Lieutenant Comman-
der Green, on the United States steamer Rat
tier, of Hurricane Island, Feb. IA. He says:
Ihsve informed you in previous letter that
a detachment Of about 200 negro troops have
been stationed at Waterproof, making 1t a de-
pot for negroes, cattle, &c. This had aroused
the indignation Of the rebels, and on the 14ths
force Of about 800 cavalry made an attack upon
tho post, driving In the pickets and pressing
the troops very hard.
Fortunately for them the Forest Rose was
pTeotnL, huu bhptAln johnston
opened q rapid IRE on the enemy, which drove
them back. He got his vessel underway and
shelled the enemy whenever his guns would
bear upon thcm, and they hastily retreated to
the woods.
This lasted from O'Clock to $50 p. IN. At
p. m. the enemy attempted TO mako a dash
into the town, but Captain Johnston, who was
well posted as TO their approach, drove them
back. Eight dead rebels and five prisoners
were left in our hands. Our loss was five killed
and two wounded. Capt. Johnston says that
| some Of the negroes fought well, but for want
of proper discipline the majority did not.
LieutanenL CoLnmander Greer arrived with
the RattleE after the fighting was over. He
then proceeded TO n atchez and reported the facts
to the commander Of the post, and asked him
to send mp TeInforcements next morning; he
despatched two hundred men and some how
itzer ammunition 10 Waterproof. Upon arriving
| at Waterproof on The 18th, he found that the
enemy, who hatl been reinforced in the night,
and whose fore es now consisted OF two regi-
ments of infantry, ono OF cavalry, and four
pieces OF artillery, had again attacked the post.
The Forest Rose, whose commander was ever
on the alert, wis ready for them, and a few
well directed shtdlB stopped them from plant
ing their battery on the plank road and drove
them of In con fusion. The attempts OF the
remainder to ailyance were frustrated BY the
Forest Rose.
Capt. johnson says that Capt. Anderson
asked repeated y for me to take his troops on
board and thro them across the river, while
in every reques he (Johnson) declined, and
would tell him % fight; and after got the enc
my on the retire at, he felt more easy, ind dis.
continued his equests TO cross. l do not think
that Anderson was intimidated, but by the bad
discipline of hi's officers and incapAcily of his
men he became. panie-strickcn. The ram Switz
erlaud arrived about the close Of the fight and
Joined them. The rebel loss, as far as known
| was seven kill ed and number wounded, who
were taken a, and several prisoners, among
them lieuter amt, who was taken to Harrison
Our loss was hree killed and twelve wounded
In the two day - fight the Forest Rose erpend
ed go shells. .. u.
Under date If February 10th, he says: hay,
received a dif patch from Jonston, dated 18th
10 p. M, Will eh says the rebels have made an
other and Ant Il ati ack on Waterproof. He sen
few shells, Syhicl caused them to retire. The,
retreated to ward Harrlsonburg, burning tn
bridges behl nd h en-. The rebels cannot STAN
the fire Of the guI lboats. Later, he says, every
thing is quiet, bui they have information tina
the rebels are m aklng preparations for an al
tack ON the contr iband camp opposite VickI
burg. The negN troops at Waterproof hay
been committing many outrages.