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July 8th. At eight o’clock in the morning an orderly from General Banks’s headquarters came on board, bringing despatches for the Commodore. Very soon after he had left the ship we started fires and got up steam, as did also all the gunboats and army transports around us. Between the hours of four and six P. M., heavy squalls of wind and rain came up from the northward and westward, accompanied with thunder and lightning. At six thirty, received the news of General Gardner, C. S. A. at Port Hudson, having surrendered to Major-General Banks, U. S. A., “in rear of same.” The event occurred at two o’clock of this day, and was received with great joy. From six to eight o’clock, the army forces at Port Hudson signalized to us, we answering their signals.