Year: 1862

uuEBs


q. S. FLAGSHIP HARTFORD, ABOVE


VIcKsBURG, June 29, 1862.


Yesterday morning at two o'clock, the
Flag oficer made signal 10 the Richmond,
Brooklyn, and eight gunbOats, to move
up the river and engage the rebel batter
les at Vieksburg. We were then about
five miles below the city. The squadron
occupied some time in getting under way
and moving up the river, so that by the
time we arrived opposite the city and bat
teries, day had dawned. We at once
opened a vigorous bombardment upon
the city and batteries.


The men fought with determine
tion and energy rarely equaled, and never
surpassed. The rebels hsd about the same
number Of guns that we could bring to
bear on them, but their position had every
advantage over ours; they were on the
bluffs, and could fire down on our decks
while we had to FIRE up the hill, at guns
that could be seen only while they were
actually being fred, and the men we're well
prateoied BY the best Of earthworks. For
two hours we kept up an incessant FIRE,
ard succeeded iu driving the rebels from
their guns more than once, but as soon as
our IRE ceased, the rebels ran out Of their
pits and loaded their guns again. If we
had only been assisted BY land force suf-
fciently strong to spike the guns Vicks-
burg would now be our; SIS it is, we have
accomplished but little-We have to do the
work again. This ship, the Richmond and
six gunbOats, are now above the city. The
Brooklyn, two gunboats, and Captain Por-
ter's mortar vessels are below. Gen. Will
liams with $500 men occupies the narrow
neck opposite the city, so that we can COM
municate with our force below without any
trouble, the distance across the land being
but one mile and q quarter, while it is
eight miles By the river Being Of char
liable disposition, lam not disposed to CEN
sure Gen. Williams for not landing and
spiking the enemy's guns under cover Of
the FIRE from our squadron. l think NY
self be could have done it, but he is older
and more experienced as q military man
than myself; his judgment did not ap-
prove Of the attempt, and Of course he did
not undertake that which, to him, prom
ised defeat. II is said that he intends 10
cut channel and change the direction Of
the river, which will leave Kicksburg in
rather bad situation for a river town
The work has already commenced. Flag
officer Farragut feels that he has done all
in his power. he must now wait for
land force to cooperate with him-then,
and not till then, viii Vicksburg be ours.
We ran great risk, not Of life merely, for
that is expected in all hostile operations,
but Of ships. This ship was injured more
yesterday than in the bombardment Of
Forts Jackson and st. Phillip. Had q
chance shot entered oursteam chest or mag
azine, the vessel would have been lost
Several shots struck the deck, one went
into our shell room, but fortunately it
struck only empty shell. One struck us
between wind and water" another car
ried away cur topsail yard. The hag-Ofi-
eer was struck by a splinter, but it did no
injury. he had moved out Of the way just
in time 10 let the shot 90 by. Your COR
respondent may not be a very competent
judge, but he is decidedly Of the opinion
that Il would be q difficult thing to give
this ship more CALLING and vicious fire
than she was subjected to yesterday
Many more shots were fred at US from
the forts below New Orleans than at Vicks-
burg, but the former could not strike us
below the water line, could not injure our
machinery, OF explode our magazine; the
latter could easily have done So and it
was very strange indeed that our loss was
30 small-about twenty killed and fifty
wounded in the squadron.