was blockade the river below the fort.
Pillow, without defending ourselves from the of we say that the blockade has been established and feeble effort only was made to do so. Having thus denied our own statement that the fort was about to fall, and that had been below on the river we may add that neither of these desideratum are likely to be obtained, and that event of the siege thus for, confirm the maxim that "possession is nine points in the law," and force the conclusion that Commodore Foote's suit has verged into the slow process of chancery.
Yesterday at noon Capt. Maynandier received order to fire a shell every minute during the afternoon at Fort Pillow.
This was scarcely begun, when it met with a quick re from the rebels.
They have battery of the heavies guns, half way up the bluff, from which they can discover over the intervening woods the smoke of our mortars and gunboats, and obtain a good range.
They threw some shell, but generally solid shot.
Both were d
e captured and are now in camp.
One of the prisoners, Robert Vaughan, was formerly, foreman in the office of the Louisville, Democrat.
We had one man wounded and none killed.
Our forces are in capital spirits.
The prisoners say the enemy have upwards of eighty thousand men at Corinth, and will fight, and that they are busy entrenching and mounting large guns.
The bombardment of Fort Wright. Washington, April 29, 1862.
--The Navy Department has received dispatch from Commodore Foote, dated last evening.
His fleet was still in front of Fort Wright, and prosecuting the siege completely but effectively.
Cairo April 29, 1862--The De Solo arrived here this afternoon from the filed.
She brings us news of importance and reports no change or movements.
The bombardment was kept up by the mortars at long intervals.
Chicago, April 29, 1862.--The rebel strength Wright is stated by intelligent deserters at 8,000 men, under General who has not been superseded as r
n constructed at Norfolk.--whether recently or not, is not stated — calculated to be managed under water by one man and be propelled by him under the vessel to be destroyed.
It is said to be five or six feet long.
From Fort Wright. Cairo, Friday, May 2
--The latest news from the fleet says it was generally believed that a simultaneous attack would be made by the fleet before the close of the week.
The mortars continue firing at Fort Wright at intervals of ten minutes. Commodore Foote is preparing for a general attack on the rebel works.
An attack on our fleet was expected on Tuesday from the rebel gunboats.
Our flotilla formed in fine of battle, but no demonstrations were made.
The river is stationary, and eight inches higher than ever before known.
Memphis papers of the 29th say a meeting held the night before had concluded to burn the city in case of the approach of the national fleet.
Editorials urgently call on the people to reinforce Price, at
h within the next two or three days.
Operations of the gunboats on the Tennessee River. Washington, May 4.
--The following, from a report of Lieutenant-Commanding Owing.
of the United States gunboats' Taylor.
addressed to Commodore Foote, has been receive; at the Navy Department.
The report is Hamburg, Tennessee, April 23d
Sir:
I have to inform you that on the 21st I proceeded on this vessel high up the Tennessee river as Florence, Alabama, capturing the steamence, Ala., sunk the water being above her guards.
It was impossible for me to raise her.
I am happy to inform you that the rebels have neither a boat or a gun on river — I captured their last gun at Florence, and it is now on board the "Lady Foote," late Robb.
I learned at Florence that their bridge was destroyed by order of Gen. Beauregard.
The inhabitants were very indignant at such a wanton destruction.
Operation of General M Hell in East Tennessee
Huntsville, Ala.,
ened, and nut in a condition to delay the Federal flotillas a long time, if indeed they do not impede them altogether.
No doubt Butler and Fariagut, who have scarcely regained their composure amid the exciting scenes incident to the capture of the Crescent City, are nursing the hope that no obstruction will be presented to their immediate movement up the river to Memphis, and thence to Fort Pillow, which they hope to see fall or evacuated, as the result of a combined attack of their own and Foote's gunboat fleet.
We do not question the propriety of this movement on the part of our authorities.
Indeed, it can be regarded in no other light than as being eminently wise.
Should it only contest the enemy's control of the Mississippi river for sixty days and prevent a union of the Federal columns now at New Orleans and New Madrid that length of time, it will do much good.
By the time Butler and his forces have been in the "land of cotton," particularly within the vicinity of New Or
on is made of Capt. Fulkerson, of the Van-Dorn.
The St. Louis was seriously damaged, and was run on a bar opposite Plumb Point. --Yesterday, at noon, she was still on the bar, with a transport alongside, supposed to be in a sinking condition.
The fight was brought to a close by the Federal gunboats withdrawing into shoal water, where ours could not go. They then opened broadside after broadside at us, throwing some three hundred shot, but with no damage.
The Benton gunboat, Com.
Foote's flagship, did not leave the shore, but all the time poured a most destructive fire upon our boats.
The Federals made an attempt to board the Sumter, but the boarding party were all dispersed by a shower of balls and hot water.--Several of the Federals were killed at their guns, and others at the forecastle.
We fired from our big gun not exceeding twenty shots, mostly from the Jeff.
Thompson.
Our loss in the engagement is two--the cook on the Bragg and the steward on the Van-Dorn.
Do you want any Eggs?
--The following good story is told by the correspondent of the Chicago Post writing from one of Commodore Foote's gunboats:
"The towboat Aips yesterday dropped down to a position alongside of the Carondelet for the purpose of taking in tow a barge of coal and removing it farther up the stream.
It presented a fair mark to the rebels, and they, unable to resist the temptation, blazed away.
Some half dozen shells flew around her in a manner not calculated to give those on board assurance of personal safety.
A day or two previous the boat had been at Cairo, and a cabin boy on board had purchased several dozen eggs.
He then regarded the opportunity as an excellent one to offer the then fruit' for sale to the men on the gunboat.--Seizing his basket he boarded the miniature man-of-war.
As he reached the spar deck a shot struck close beside the boat.
The boy heeded it not, but halling the first sailor who chanced to be on deck, drawlingly inquired, 'Do y
e part of the gunners.--It is said — and I have no doubt of it — that many guns were dismounted by the recoil, owing to the eccentrics having been carelessly left in gear when the pieces were fired.
while others were spoiled and rendered useless by the priming wires being left in the vent, while the charge was rammed.
Our firing was a so bad. Yet at both those places the loss of the garrison was trifling, when compared to the weight and length of the enemy's fire.
At Donelson, by Commodore Foote's own showing, the gunboats were fairly whipped and withdrawn.
Gunboats had nothing to do with the taking of Fort Pulaski.
At Island No.10, they failed.
Forts Jackson and St. Philips surrendered from treachery and mutiny, and that alone.
Fort Macon was taken by land batteries.
Let our men stand to their guns and fight them as the officers and men of our Navy did the other day at Drewry's Stuff, and there are few rivers in this country in which the Yankee gunboats will venture f
hands the reins which Mr. Cameron had either necessarily given to others or misused himself.
The President had, at last, a great right arm to lean on, and each was strengthened and greater for the other.
The movements in the West under Commodore Foote, which sent joy and hope through the nation were made without regard to General McClellan's plan, and sprang directly from Commodore Foote's communications and requests to the Navy Department and its orders to him; and without further enumerCommodore Foote's communications and requests to the Navy Department and its orders to him; and without further enumeration, it is only necessary to say that the series of brilliant successes during February and March, which threw new life into the nation, which gave us Fort Henry, Bowling Green, Columbus, Donelson, Island No.10, and Nashville, which brought national stocks to par, and which forced respect for us abroad if it did not prevent intervention, was in direct contravention of the plan of the commander-in-Chief, and against his protest.
What that plan was, were it proper to disease it, becomes of lit
ill to provide for the punishment of slaves taken in arms against the Confederate States, and all white men assuming to be commandants of the same.
Referred.
Mr. Foote, of Tenn., introduced a bill to provide for retaliatory punishment in certain cases.
Bill read at length and referred to the Military Committee.
Also, and tates.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Also, a resolution to dispense with secret sessions except upon a vote of one-third of the members present.
Mr. Foote proceeded to discuss this resolution, but a message from the President being announced, the resolution was laid over for consideration tomorrow.
The message of Tennessee, moved that the message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee of the Whole, and the usual number be ordered to be printed.
Mr.Foote then introduced a preamble and joint resolution providing for an immediate call of 250,000 men to the army of the Confederate States.
Referred to the Committee on
