The fight at Yankee City.
The
Atlanta Appeal's Morton (Miss.) correspondent, under date of July 28, gives the following account of the evacuation of
Yazoo City, and the immense destruction of steamers which had been run up the
Yazoo for safety:
You have been informed of the gallant fight made by the garrison of 700 men at
Yazoo City, reputing the gunboats, and the subsequent blowing up of the works and evacuation of the place.
It appears now that five thousand Yankee infantry were moving to the rear of the city.
It was a cunning move on the part of the
Yankees, their object being to interest both the fortifications and
Com. Brown's fleet of beats until the infantry could get above them on the river, thus cutting off retreat and capturing a very rich prize.
Our men were too wise to be caught in such a trap.
The only boat captured was the little packet boat
St. Mary, the crew escaping in small boats.
Though the
Yankees gained nothing our loss is very heavy in boats and material of a character much needed.
Com
Brown scuttles and burned the
Magenta, Mary Keens Magnolia, Pargoud.
John Walsh, Luckland,
Scotland,
Golden Age,
Arcadia.
Kennett,
Gay, Peytons,
Prince of
Wales,
Natchez, and Parallel, in the
Yazoo river, the
Dew Drop,
Emms Bott, Sharke, and
Mears, in the
Sunflower.
We have only left, of all the splendid fleet which caught refuge in the
Yazoo river, the
Hope,
Hartford City,
McCulloch, and
Cotton Plant, which are up the
Tallahatchie and
Yellobuche.
The
Kennett is sunk across the mouth of the Yellobuche, and the Walsh across that of the
Tallahatchie.
The gunboats came up the river as far as the month of the
Tula river, and raided in the direction of
Blackwater and
Lexington.
This closes the history of another strongly defended river.
I am indebted to
Captain Applagale, captain and owner of the Walsh, for the above interesting facts.
He is on his way to
Richmond to secure a settlement of his affairs with the
Government.
Other owners and captains are enroute for the same purpose.
I trust the Navy Department will adjust the affairs of these gentlemen as promptly as possible, not only because it is proper and right that they should be paid for their losses and services, but because they are the most proper men to lead in the new system of fighting for the rivers.
The destruction of these boats releases a large number of energetic, shrewd men, who understand every habit and eccentricity of the
Mississippi river.
They are bold, enterprising, and have a commendable contempt for their ancient fellows, who have abandoned their friends and the true cause, for fat places with the
Yankees.
Every inducement should be offered to these men to organize, under their respective
Captains, or otherwise, as they see fit, for the purpose of capturing, destroying, and annoying Yankee boats.
This can be best done by sending back to them at once the Captained who have led them for years.
Capt. Applegate, for one, will be off on this mission the day his affairs are adjusted.
Charles Montgomery, an amiable gentleman of
Canton, employed in the telegraph office, was severely stabbed by
Dr. Booth, formerly of
Memphis.
The difficulty grow act of the delivery of a message, the
Doctor behaving so badly as to compel to step him in the face, where upon be received the in the back, completely him. The next day
Dr. Booth was killed by a who shot him ever the head with a gun. This had no with the officer of the day previous.
The briders over the Big Black, where the
Mississippi was not destroyed.
Grant seems to be ending that road for use.
