Daily National Republican

NEWSPAPER
REPORTERS
UPON
BALES OF HAY.

Affairs near Vicksburg:
A correspondent of the New York Tribune
writing from a point near Vicksburg, under
date of May 5, communicates the following
interesting particulars of General Grant's
movements:
As both of your correspondents are in all
probability prisoners, I shall endeavor to inform you of the manner thereof.
Messrs. Richardson and Brown were ready
to leave here for the front on Saturday, but
could not get transportation. It was impossible to get horse or mule. On Monday, May 4,
It was arranged to run the batteries with a
small tug—the Sturgess, of Chicago—panniered between two barges loaded with commissary
stores and hay. After the comparative safety
with which unprotected boats had passed, it
seemed but a small risk. Your correspondents
were offered passage, which they accepted.
There were about thirty soldiers on board to
repel rebels if any should attempt to board
and capture them. At half past ten o'clock
she started on the fatal trip. All were in good
spirits. The men sat upon the bales of hay,
smoking their pipes as though there was no
death before them. When volunteers were
called for, a thousand were as easy to get as
thirty.
The moon shone with the same cold splendor
as upon the garden where ran the river Ilion.
The small steamer crept and floated upon the
silent waters, as though she were frightened
and foresaw her doom. We followed her at
about a mile distance until she reached the first
batteries, when a Drummond light was thrown
upon her, revealing her as plainly as though it
were broad day. Up sped a signal rocket, and
all the batteries were astir. The upper ones
opened sixty-three times in one minute—had it
been a skiff it seemed the shell and shot must
sink her. On she sped through the fiery ordeal
until half the guns were passed. Just then, an
explosion, the tug split asunder, fire was thrown
upon the hay, and the men leaped into the
water. Only one reached the Louisiana shore.
All the rest were killed or captured. The reporters were last seen upon bales of hay in the
river.
The cause of the disaster was said to be a
shell. My own opinion is that she was carrying too much steam, and exploded from carelessness. The engineer was not the regular
one, and had been drinking. When we learn
from your reporters, I think it will appear that
they were upon the hay, and rebel skiffs were
near. I think we shall hear from them.
The barges, after burning until they reached
the Union look-out, were landed, and the meat
and coffee but little injured.
Five hundred and twenty-four prisoners
reached here from Grand Gulf this morning,
on their way North.
Communication overland is kept open between here and Carthage. Trains of wagons
leave here daily laden with supplies. Grant
seems to be at last on the right road to the rear
of Vicksburg. He is said to be near the rail-
way bridge over Blackwater river. If true, it
severs them from rebellion.
The gunboats were repulsed with considerable injury at Grand Gulf. The shot used were
steel pointed, that penetrated the iron clads
with ease. When Grant reached their rear the
place was evacuated. Our loss was about five
hundred killed and wounded, the rebel loss not
half that.
There are no batteries now between this and
Port Hudson. The upper river is said to be infested with guerrillas. Several boats have been
fired upon. It will be very difficult to keep
them from mischief. Nearly all the plantations are taken by Union men. The negroes
seem willing to labor, and I think will eventually prove capable of self-support. The destruction of cotton has not been as great as rebel
papers have led us to believe.