Attack on Fort Pemberton, Miss.
heavy engagement.
enemy's loss very heavy.
Fort Pemberton, March 13--There has been a terrific fire by the enemy, uninterrupted for four hours, from ten to sixteen heavy calibre guns on gunboats, two heavy guns on land, and one mortar. All of their guns from the boats, except one have now ceased firing, and the gunboats have retired round the bend, eight hundred yards distant showing one gun.
The enemy's gunboats and batteries were constantly hit, and large quantities of burning cotton were struck from them. We have lost some valuable gunners and a few others. Our loss is small so far. The enemy's loss must be very great.
Later.
March 13th, P. M.--Just as I sent off my last dispatch to you the enemy opened upon us again with the guns of one gunboat, the land battery, and one 13 inch mortar, and kept up the fire with great spirit until after sunset. The ammunition for our heavy guns has just arrived.
[Fort Pemberton is situated at the mouth of the Tallahatchie river, which empties into the Yazoo river in Carroll county, Miss, about one hundred miles northeast of Vicksburg.]
