during which an annoying fire from the four pieces a large infantry force of the enemy, and a furious of artillery was kept up on our advanced skir-fire of musketry followed. This skirmishing remishers. sembled more a general engagement between respectable bodies of troops than it did a skirmish. Our loss was quite severe here, being about seventy each in the two regiments, the Twentyfifth Connecticut and the Twenty-sixth Maine. But the main body of the brigade was marching trepid Colonel Birge, and soon passed the point where the skirmishers were holding ground against a fire of musketry at not more than one hundred yards' distance. For some reason, the Ninety-first New-York, on arriving at the line of the skirmishers, made a halt under cover of a ditch, while the left (Thirteenth Connecticut) and centre (One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New-York) kept marching on toward the enemy. This halting gave the left wing of the enemy a chance to flank the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth, and he was not slow to take advantage of the mistake. Colonel Molineaux now found his regiment in a most precarious position, suffering from an enfilade fire from the enemy's centre and advanced left wing. He accordingly gave the order to halt and lie down. In this position he was comparatively safe; and in the mean while the Ninetyfirst New-York recovering from the error into which it had fallen, and which caused a most serious loss to the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth, came nobly up to its proper place, and drove the left wing of the enemy from his position; and at the same time Colonel Molineaux gave the orders to up and advance.

On crossing the bridge over the Teche at Mrs. Porter's plantation, the Texas cavalry were dismounted and ordered to make a stand and destroy the bridge, with the intention to check General Grover's advance. The importance of this bridge was fully appreciated by both command-up at double-quick, led on by the almost too iners, and General Grover ordered Captain Barret's cavalry, reënforced by twenty-five mounted infantry from the First Louisiana, to charge the enemy and save the bridge at all hazards.

A most furious, brilliant, and successful charge was made by this cavalry force, the Texans were driven across the Teche, and the bridge was saved. This was the most important achievement performed by any of our forces from the time of the debarkation up to this hour. The destruction of the bridge would have effectually stopped the pursuit.

Artillery firing was kept up after our cavalry had secured the bridge, but without much of any result. The night closed around General Grover's division encamped in a strong position, with the Third brigade, Colonel Birge, thrown forward as an advance.

SECOND DAY'S FIGHT.

At five o'clock on the morning of the fourteenth, the whole division again got in motion, and marched in the direction of the enemy, who was between our forces and the town of Franklin, about three miles above the latter. At the end of half an hour he was encountered pretty strongly posted under cover of the woods, and on the bank of the Teche. As soon as it was known that the moment for action had arrived, General Grover formed his troops in line of battle, as follows:

He established his headquarters about a mile and a half from the enemy's front, and sent the Third brigade on to make the attack. General Grover's army were in a heavily ploughed field, the deep furrows of which materially retarded marching. He stationed two brigades, the First and Second, a little to the rear of his headquarters, planted a section of artillery on a line with him to his right, and another to the left. Still further to the left he stationed Nim's battery in the road, with orders to act as a reserve.

Colonel (Acting Brigadier-General) Birge now advanced in line of battle, with the Thirteenth Connecticut on the left, the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New-York in the centre, and the Ninety-first New-York on the right. The Twentyfifth Connecticut, Colonel Bissell, and the Twenty-sixth Maine, Colonel Hubbard, were deployed to advance as skirmishers. While this force was advancing as rapidly as the nature of the heavily ploughed field would permit, an extraordinary fire was kept up by the field artillery on both sides, the rebels having some advantage in position, and they are said to have handled their four guns with admirable skill and rapidity.

The two regiments in advance soon came upon
VOL. VI.-Doc. 35

The Thirteenth Connecticut, under LieutenantColonel Warner, was in the mean time steadily advancing against a most determined enemy, who contested the ground inch by inch. We have not been able to see any of the officers of this regiment, but some of their brothers-in-arms on that hotly contested field say they stood their ground like veterans, and showed no signs of flinching. This was Colonel Birge's own regiment, and they behaved in a manner worthy of men under the immediate eye of their popular Brigade Commander.

After Colonel Molineaux gave the order to up and advance, he received a wound on the left side of his face from a Minie-ball, which proved very severe but not dangerous. His LieutenantColonel had previously been killed. The Major of the regiment was serving on General Grover's staff, and was not on the spot; two other officers and the Adjutant were dead, and two others mortally wounded; yet, notwithstanding all this, and the fact that they had lost about one hundred and twenty of their brave comrades, this heroic regiment, on the restoration of the order of battle, went on with a will, and, with the other two regiments, put the enemy to a complete rout. About five hundred prisoners were secured in the retreat and pursuit which followed, and large numbers of killed and wounded were left on the field. These were taken care of-the dead being buried, and the wants of the wounded attended to with the same care bestowed upon

our own men. The surgeons in General Grover's division have been highly complimented for their skill and humanity on that occasion, as well to friend as foe.

The rebels engaged, as near as we could learn, consisted of Sibley's brigade, (nearly all Texans, and one Arkansas regiment,) the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth Louisiana, and a battalion of Texas cavalry, nearly eight hundred strong. Their artiliery consisted of four pieces. Most of the prisoners taken on this field are Texans and Twenty-eighth Louisiana troops.

both artillery and sharp-shooters. I kept close
to the disabled steamer, and fought the enemy
at high-water, when I ordered the Stepping
Stones to take the Mount Washington in tow.
At five P.M.
This was done under a heavy fire.
I had the satisfaction of silencing the enemy's
battery. My loss foots up to three killed and
seven wounded. I do not know as yet what the
casualties are in the other vessels. I have eight
raking shots, but fortunately my engine is not
disabled.

I can assure you that the Barney and her At just about the time the enemy showed crew are still in good fighting trim, and we will symptoms of giving way, the gunboat Diana ap- beat the enemy or sink at our post. peared at a point in the river where she could The most of the wounded and the dead I send shell any part of the field with her large guns. down to the Minnesota. It is only requisite to Against this new and formidable enemy, a force look at the Mount Washington to see with what of sharp-shooters from the Twelfth Maine, of the desperate gallantry Lieutenant Lamson fought Second brigade, and a section of artillery, were his vessel. I am now taking in coal, and shall sent. The land forces retreated at about nine anchor for the night where we have fought all o'clock, when the engagement with the Diana | day. began. After a three hours' fight, the gunboat was set on fire by a shell and soon after blew up. Immediately after the destruction of the Diana, which was about twelve o'clock, General Weitzel's

W. B. CUSHING,
Lieutenant Commanding.

Doc. 169.

1

brigade came up, a junction formed, and the THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURGH, MISSISSIPPI. PASSAGE OF THE BATTERIES, APRIL 16. whole corps bivouacked on the battle-field. The killed and wounded on both sides were then atSTEAMER SUNNY SOUTH, ABOVE VICKSBURGE, Friday, April 17, 1563. tended to. The only regiments who lost any THE old canals and the Pass and Bayou expemen were: The First Louisiana infantry, about fifteen or twenty; the One Hundred and Fifty-ditions having failed from various causes, we ninth New-York, one hundred and twenty, in- have an entire change of programme. To make cluding Lieutenant-Colonel Draper, the Adjutant the new system of intended operations underand other officers killed, Colonel Molineaux and stood, it may be briefly explained that the efforts several others wounded; the Thirteenth Con- hitherto made have had for their object the flanknecticut, sixty; Twenty-Fifth Connecticut, seven-ing of Vicksburgh from above the city, and from ty; Twenty-sixth Maine, seventy; and the Ninetyfirst New-York, ten-making altogether about three hundred and fifty in killed and wounded, many of the latter having since recovered. The rebel killed and wounded were fully equal to this besides the prisoners, which, in addition to the five hundred mentioned above, were continually being brought in.

The fact that many of our men received bayonet wounds, is an evidence of the desperate

nature of the contest.

Doc. 168.

that direction reaching the rear and obtaining possession of its important railroad communications with Jackson. It was this object that made the Yazoo River so important a position.

The Lake Providence project, now abandoned, had in view the same object as the new moveThis is, instead of gaining the rear of ment. Vicksburgh from above, to do so from below. It is to abandon further attempts by the Yazoo Pass and the maze of bayous and rivers that have their origin in that direction, and seek in the ground lying behind the bluffs of Warrenton, between the Mississippi and the Black Rivers, a means of reaching Vicksburgh by passing below that now celebrated city. To accomplish this, the neces

FIGHT ON THE NANSEMOND RIVER. sary prerequisites evidently were to obtain pos

session of the forts at Warrenton by means of gunboats, and to keep them, and obtain command thence back to Black River by land forces.

The first step in the new strategy was the commencement of another canal on the Louisiana shore, beginning at a higher point and terminating lower than the one whose failure has caused so much disappointment. Through this canal are to be sent, in flatboats or barges, such coal, ammunition, provisions, and other supplies, as will be needed for the land forces and the gunboats below Vicksburgh. This canal is now in satisfactory progress. Four dredge-boats are at work in it, and even the old river pilots-who

sippi side of the river and were swallowed up in the dim obscurity. With breathless interest their transit was watched by all of us on the boats of the fleet, whose position a little above the entrance of the first canal brought the rough hights of Vicksburgh within our sphere of vision, though the town lay for the present buried in the darkness, except where now and then the twinkling of a starry light was seen.

As the boats, with lights out and fires carefully hidden, floated past, indistinct as the ghosts of Ossian in the mountain mists, it was curious to note the effect upon the spectators. Before they appeared, the hum of conversation was heard all around. All were busy with speculations as to the probabilities of success. The desponding prognosticated unmitigated disaster. The hopeful indulged in confident expectations. All were contented to endure some loss provided a sufficiency arrived at the destined point to accomplish the object contemplated.

from the first prophesied the failure of the other canal-express their belief in the success of this. The next step was the moving of a body of troops (how many it is of course not prudent to state) to a position opposite, or nearly opposite, Warrenton. They marched from Milliken's Bend, passed through Richmond, and at the end of thirty miles reached New-Carthage, a point in the bend below Warrenton. The soldiers being at hand, the canal for supplying their wants and those of a fleet being at the point of termination, the last and most hazardous step was to send | down gunboats for the attack on the Warrenton batteries, transports for crossing the troops at New-Carthage to the Mississippi side of the river, and such supplies as will be required before the new canal can be brought into use. There was no other way to get them down except the bold one of running the gauntlet of some eight miles of batteries, past the stronghold of Vicksburgh. Although the recent catastrophe of the Lancaster, and the terrible experiment at Port Hudson, had As the various boats came slowly into view, surrounded this mode of transit with horrors un- stole past with noiseless motion, then vanished dreamed of on former similar occasions, it was re-into the recesses of the shadowy shore, each solved to send eight gunboats, three transports, voice was hushed; only in subdued and smotherand various barges and flat-boats laden with ma-ed tones were persons at intervals heard to ask a terial and supplies down the river to New-Carthage. It speaks well for the bravery of our officers and men, and especially of those who had to take the responsible and dangerous positions of pilots, that no difficulty was experienced in manning the expedition.

question, or venture an observation. It seemed as if each one felt that his silence was due to the impressive scene; as if an indiscreet utterance on his part might raise the vail of secrecy so necessary to be preserved in the presence of a watchful foe.

During the whole of yesterday a feeling of A painful expectation weighed on every spirit. anxious expectation existed throughout the fleet. The boats must now be near the point opposite The day was fine and sunny. Cloud and gloom the beleaguered city. Will they be discovered would have been welcome, but the vault of heaven at the first approach? or will a kindly fortune beamed blue and serene over the spot of approach- give them easy passage by? Suddenly a flame ing strife. The sun set clear and beautiful, and starts up! Another and another leaps into the the stars came out in full radiance. As the night darkness of the night! The enemy has seen the deepened, a slight haze dimmed the bosom of the passing boats, and is sending across the river his Mississippi, but the eye had no difficulty in mak-death-dealing messengers. Rapid now darts the ing out the dark line of the opposite shore. momentary fires; the "iron rain" of the remorseThe former expeditions had started shortly be- less cannon hurtles upon the dim and gliding fore or at daylight; this time a change was re-boats. Dull upon the heavy air, scarce moved solved upon. Eleven o'clock at night was ap- by the night wind, which blows in a direction pointed as the hour at which the boats should unfavorable for our hearing, reverberates the leave their rendezvous, which was near the heavy thud of the cannon.

mouth of the Yazoo River. To the anxious ex- As the time passes, the batteries, lower and pectants of the coming events the hours stole still lower, come into action. We can trace the slowly by. As the appointed moment drew near,course of our fleet by new flames that each mothe decks of the various steamboats were crowd-ment startle the strained sight; and cannon for ed with watchful spectators. miles along the hazy shore are hurling their destructive missiles.

A sort of apprehensive shudder ran through the collected gazers when it was announced that the first boat destined to pass the batteries was approaching. Sombre and silent it floated down, near the Louisiana shore; scarcely were its dark sides to be distinguished from the foliage lining the bank. Stealing slowly on, it passed us, and at a point below took an oblique course, steering for the Mississippi side of the river; and in the gloom it was soon confounded with the dark shadow of the trees beyond.

Before this boat was lost sight of, another succeeded, and to that another and another, until before midnight the whole had gained the Missis

And now a new accessory adds its influence to the exciting scene. While we had been engaged in watching the vivid flames leaping from cannonmouths, and exploding shells, a gleam of light, first pale and soft, then red and lurid, and at last glaring and refulgent, stole up into the heavens above the opposing city. For the first time the silence was broken by the gazing crowds upon the steamboats of the fleet. 'Vicksburgh is on fire!" was uttered in excited tones. But it was not so. Steady and with wonderful brilliancy, upon the hill on which the city stands, the fire assumed a circular outline on the upper edge,

Before this, however, the solemn drama had reached its termination. The spectators reluc tantly retired to their cabins when nothing remained to engaged the attention but the flaming wreck, and scattering shots-,

"The distant and random gun,

That the foe was sullenly firing."

much like a third part of the full moon when apparently magnified, it is rising above the horizon. The flame glowed brilliant and beautiful; no smoke was visible to dim its splendor. It was a beacon light, placed in a position to throw its beams along each arm of the bend of the river, the convex side of which is turned toward Vicksburgh. So powerful was the light, that at the It was not until noon to-day that any account point where our fleet was moored, the shadow of of the fate of the expedition reached this place. a hand held a foot from the boat's side was dis- We then learned briefly that the whole of the tinctly thrown upon it. This beacon with treach-eight gunboats had reached their journey's end erous fidelity, showed to the foe the now fast disappearing boats; but, happily, it was fired too late. The sight of the boats appeared to add new rage to the enemy, who could not fail to count the cost to him of such a fleet joining Farragut's three gunboats already between Vicksburgh and Port Hudson. The firing became more rapid. From the upper batteries to the last ones down at Warrenton leaped flame on flame. The dull echo of the cannon, and the whirr and shriek of the flying shells startled the midnight air. But now comes a roar which tells that our boys are awake and lively! The light that showed the boats to the enemy revealed to our men the outlines of the batteries, and the roar which deafens the ear to every other sound is the peal of the heavy pieces on our gunboats.

After an interval of maddest rage, the upper guns of the enemy almost cease their fire. It is evident our boats have passed the first-reached batteries all that have escaped the deadly onset. That no large portion of them is missing is evident from the activity of the forts at Warrenton, and the answering thunders of our own

guns.

without having suffered any material damage. On the Benton, Porter's flag-ship, one man was killed and two wounded by the explosion of a shell. The boat that was burned was the transport Henry Clay; her crew got safely to shore. She was set on fire by a shell exploding among the cotton with which her engines were protected. She was loaded principally with commissary stores and forage, including a large amount of soldiers' rations and oats for the cavalry.

Doc. 170.

-New-York Tribune.

COLONEL GRIERSON'S RAID.

NEW-YORK TIMES" ACCOUNT.

IN obedience to orders of Colonel B. H. Grierson, commanding the First cavalry brigade, Colonel Edward Prince moved with his regiment, the Seventh Illinois cavalry volunteers -five hundred and forty-two officers and men-from La Grange, Tennessee, at ten o'clock A.M., on the seventeenth of April, 1863, on the Ripley road, and camped on the plantation of Dr. Ellis, four miles north-west of Ripley, Mississippi — distance about thirty miles.

The order of march for this day was to be as follows: Sixth Illinois in advance, LieutenantColonel Reuben Loomis commanding; followed by the Seventh Illinois and Second Iowa; but the Sixth Illinois taking the wrong road near La Grange, was thrown to the west, and did not rejoin the command till near camp. As the Seventh Illinois was just going into camp, Col. Prince discovered a party of five or six rebels crossing a field, and immediately sent a party in pursuit, who captured three of the number.

By this time the beacon-light was burnt down, and ceased to render its cruel aid. Just as the gathering darkness and the yet longer and longer intervals of silence gave intimation that the exciting scene was nearly over, another startling incident woke anew the emotions of the time. Midway between the extinct beacon in the city and the lower batteries at Warrington a new glow of light, soft as the dawn but rapidly blushing into deeper intensity, climbed gently toward the sky. They are lighting another beacon," shouted many voices; but again the speakers were mistaken. The light grew stronger every moment; it wanted the mellow, vivid, space- On the eighteenth-the Seventh Illinois movpiercing brilliancy of the beacon; above it rolled [ing in advance-they left camp at eight o'clock, volumes of thick and curling smoke; and more passing through Ripley, and moved south the light with slow and equal pace was moving toward New-Albany. Our battalion was deonward, passing down the stream! There was tailed under command of Captain Graham, who no disguising the truth-one of our own boats took the direct road to that place, where they was on fire! The white color of the smoke show-arrived in time to save the bridge across the ed that among the fuel to the flame was cotton. Tallahatchie, and drive away a picket endeavoring The inference was plain; it was not a gunboat to destroy it. They repaired the bridge and but a transport that was burning. On floated crossed into town. The rest of the command the doomed vessel; her light doubtless exposed to the rebels' view the floating flat-boats and barges, for the firing, especially from the Warrenton batteries, was for a short time violently renewed.

crossed three miles east of New-Albany, and arrived in town at half-past five P.M., whence the command-Sixth and Seventh Illinois-moved south, and camped on Mr. Sloan's plantation, four miles south of New-Albany.

The glow of the burning boat continued in At Ripley, Mississippi, Colonel Hatch, in comsight until the beams of morning hid its glare.mand of the Second Iowa, had been detached to