Year: 1862

or holes, and was discovered to b,


on fire and sinking. Her pipes wer,


all twisted and riddled with shot, ant
her hull was also well cut up. She


had evidently been used up by tn,


squadron as they passed along.


tried to save her as curiosity, by get


ting hawscr around her and securing


her to the bank, but just after doing
so she family exploded. Her only
gun went off. and emitting flames
through her bow port, like some huge
animal, she gave plung and disap
pcared under the water.


Next came q steamer on fire, which
appeared to be vessel of war belong.
ing to the rebels, and after her two
others, all floating and burning down
the stream. Fires seemed to be ra-
ging all along the cup river" and we
supposed that our squadron were burn
ing and destroying the vessels as they
passed along. 1t appears, however,
that the McRae, one or two river
boats, and their celebrated floating
battery drought down the night be-
fore) were left unhurt, and were still
flying the Confederate flag.


The matter of the floating battery
becomes very serious affair, as they
are all hard at work at Fort jackson
mounting heavy rifed guns on it.,
which are no further use to them in
the fort. She mounts sixteen guns, is
almost as formidable vessel as the
Mcrrimac, perfectly shot proof, and
has four powerful engines in her.
shall at all events take such steps as
will prevent her from destroying any
thing, and we may still hold her in
check with the steamers, though they
are rather fragile for such a service.
This is one Of the i'll effects of leaving
an enemy in the rear. | suppose that
the ships fired on her as they passed
through, but that her mail resisted the
shot. She had steam on this morning
and was moving about quite lively
| tried to put some mortar shell through
her roof, but without effect, as she
moved off.


The forts arc now cut off from all
communication with New Orleans, as
| presume that Fag Officer Farragut
has cut the wires. ... .


| have sent the Miami around with
Gen. Butler to the back of Fort St.
Philip to try and throw in troops at
the quarantine, five miles along the
forts, and at the same time open COM
munication that way with the Flag
Officer aud supply him with ammuni-
tion.


l am also going to send part of the
fleet back of Fort Jackson to cut off
the escape Of the garrison by that
way and stop supplies. A deserter,
who can be relied on, informs us they
have plenty of provisions for two
plenty Of ammunition, and
plenty Of discomforts. Our shell set
the citadel on fire the first afternoon
we opened. 1t burned fercely for sew
en- hours. but | thought it fire raft
behind the fort, as they continually
send them down on us, but without
any effect.


But few casualties occurred TO ves-
sells on this side of the forts. The
Harriet Lane lost but one man killed,
and one, l fear, mortally wounded.
The Winona lost three killed and three
wounded, and the ltasca, with fourteen
shot through her, had but few men
hurt.


These forts can hold out still for
some time, and | would suggest that
the Monitor and Mystic, if they can be
spared, be sent here without a mo-
memt's delay to settle the question.


The mortar fleet have been very
much exposed and under heavy fire
for six days, during which time they
kept the shells going without inter-
One of them, the Maria |.
Carlton, was sunk by shot passing
down through her magazine and then
through her bottom.


The flotilla lost but one man killed
and six wounded. The bearing of the
offers and men was worthy of the
highest praise. They never once flag
gcd during a period Of six days new
er had an accident to one of the vcs-
sells by firing, and when shell and shot
were flying thick above them showed
not the least desire to have the vessels
moved to place of safety. The in
cidents of the bombardment will be
mentioned in my detailed report.
merely write this hurried letter to ap-
prise the department of the state of
affairs, and shall send it off at once
via HavaRah. .... ........


The sight of this night attack was
awfully grand. The river was lit up
with RATS filed with pine knots, and
the ships seemed to be fighting liter
ally amidst flames and smoke. Where
we were the fire Of the enemy was
high, and comparatively harmless.


am in hopes that the ships above
Jared as we'll as we did. Though
amid such q terrific fire, it was graft.
flying to sec that not a ship wavered,
but stood steadily on her course; and
I am in hopes { and see no reason to
doubt it, that they now have posses.


ion Of New Orleans.


| am, with great respect,


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