The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye

BOMBARDMENT OF VICKSBURG, Carrying on a Large Scale.

Cairo, July 5.-The ram Monarch has arrived with important news from Vicksburg. On Thursday Com. Porter's mortar fleet commenced shelling the upper fort below Vicksburg and this was continued all day without result. Friday morning the bombardment renewed and in the afternoon directed on the town itself. The shells could be seen to burst over the town. This was continued till about 4 o'clock when the fleet was signaled to cease firing. The batteries on shore replied very light and at long intervals, firing very inaccurately. About half an hour after the cessation of the bombardment the water battery opened on the mortars, which replied till the batteries ceased firing. When the firing ceased, at 4 in the afternoon, the captains of divisions were signaled to report on the flag ship, where an order was issued to open fire with the entire fleet at 8 o'clock that night. At the appointed time the action was commenced and continued one hour. An order then came from Com. Farragut, whose fleet was then five miles below the town, to again shell the town next morning at 4 o'clock, when a portion of his fleet would run the blockade. This was done and eight vessels passed the batteries without serious damage. The damage to the town must have been great - toppling houses, fallen chimneys, crushed roofs and slight conflagrations could be seen in numerous directions. We are also creditably informed on undisputed authority that 5,000 negroes have been ordered by Gen. Butler to work a canal across the bend on which Vicksburg, or its remains, are now standing. The bed of the Mississippi being thus turned, Vicksburg becomes an inland city, as his canal is fast progressing towards completion.