July 12. —This morning a portion of the fleet blockading the port of Wilmington, N. C., ran a rebel vessel on shore, close in by the edge of Smith’s Island. While trying to get her off, the rebels in Fort Fisher despatched a steamer with a battery on board to prevent it. She had been it Smith’s Island but a short time when a fire was opened from the National fleet on the eastern side of the shoals. At the same time a party of rebels was discovered approaching with a piece of artillery. Upon this, the fleet on the western side of the shoals opened fire to prevent the reenforcement of the rebels, and finally succeeded. The firing was continued until four o’clock, when the Union fleet returned to its station.—The blockade-runner Emma was captured by the Union transport steamer Arago.— Hagerstown and Funkstown, Md., were occupied by the Union forces after a slight engagement.— (Doc. 32.)
—Natchez, Miss., was occupied by a detachment belonging to General Grant’s army.
