tain Maynard, United States Army, as ordnance officer, assisted by Acting Lieutenant-Commanding J. P. Sandford, United States Navy, who volunteered his services. "This morning, the 17th instant, soon after daylight, the mortar-boats being in position, I had the Benton lashed between two other steamersthe Cincinnati and the St. Louis-and with the remaining iron-clad steamers made an attack on the forts, at a distance of two thousand yards or more, on account of the rapid current rendering the boats too unmanageable to come within a shorter range, without endangering their being carried under the enemy's guns, and as a nearer approach would expose the bows and quarters of the vessels-their most vulnerable points -to a fire of six other batteries, mounting forty-three guns. We opened fire on the upper fort on the Tennessee shore at meridian, and continued to give and receive quite a brisk fire from this and also four other bat teries on the same shore until darkness obscured the forts from view. The ten mortars, in the mean time, shelled the troops out of range, excepting those manning the batteries. "The upper fort was badly cut up by the Benton and the other boats with her. We dismounted one of their guns, and the men, at times, ran from the batteries. "Colonel Buford has been busily and I trust profitably engaged in making reconnoissances, and is preparing to mount his siege-guns. "In the attack of to-day this vessel (Benton) received four shots, while a rifle-gun burst aboard the St. Louis, killing and wounding fifteen, officers and men. I inclose a list of casualties. The Cincinnati has had her engines injured, which may render it necessary for me to send her to Cairo for repairs. "I hope to be able to silence the upper battery to-morrow, after which we can plant the mortars in a position where we expect to be able to shell the rebels out of their batteries. The place is even stronger and better adapted for defense than Columbus has ever been. Each fortification commands the one above it. We can count forty-nine guns in the different batteries, where there are probably double the number, with ten thousand troops. "From exhaustion, arising from continuous service and want of sleep, you will excuse this incoherent, discursive report. "Our shells bursting prematurely, we have to drown them before loading the guns. The fuses-many of which, I am informed, were made before the Mexican War-ought to have been condemned." This was really a spirited and well-fought engagement, although it resulted in nothing definite. The Benton was frequently struck. The vessels at one time drew quite near to the batteries, and attacked them in something of the old dashing, desperate style, although this method could not possibly be carried out under the circumstances, since the boats were really not adapted to fighting in the strong and rapid Mississippi; but we must pause a moment in these warlike scenes to take notice of a sorrowful and touching event. On the day (the 14th) when Commodore Foote set forth from Cairo in all the pomp and circumstance of his numerous and powerful command upon his expedition against Island No. Ten, his sec |