The Daily Dispatch: July 2, 1862., [Electronic resource]

The enemy Shelling Vicksburg.

the City to be defended to the last-destruction of Confederate gunboats — tax laid on the City of New Orleans, &c.

---

---

Jackson, Miss., June 29.

--Passengers from Vicksburg this morning report that yesterday morning seven Federal vessels succeeded in passing up by our batteries. A severe bombardment was commenced, lasting two hours, from the fleet and the batteries on the Louisiana shore. It is understood that several of the enemy's vessels, including the Brooklyn, were badly damaged, with heavy slaughter among their crews. The Confederate loss was nine, including one woman killed. Our batteries are uninjured. The enemy's fire was principally directed at the city. Several houses were shattered. A deserter reports that the enemy's loss was heavy, and that they expected an easy capture.

---

[later.]

Gentlemen from New Orleans say that Butler has issued orders laying a tax of $200,000 on the city.

Jackson, June 30.--The Yazoo correspondent of the Mississippian, writing under date of the 16th instant, says that two of the enemy's gunboats were reconnoitering in Yazoo river, when Com. Pickney burned the Confederate gunboats Van-Dorn, Polk, and Livingston. This action is considered unnecessary and is much deplored here. The loss of property is heavy.

Gen. Van-Dorn has issued an address to the army, declaring that Vicksburg should be defended to the death. The Federal can never occupy Vicksburg. The fleet appears to be too much crippled to engage in a successful tilt with our batteries.