The commander’s brief report will tell the story of attack, conflict, and victory, in which General Sherman had no inferior part. “HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, } POST OF ARKANSAS, _January 11, 1863_. } “Major-General U. S. GRANT, _Commanding Department of Tennessee_: “I have the honor to report that the forces under my command attacked the Post of Arkansas to-day, at one o’clock, having stormed the enemy’s work. We took a large number of prisoners, variously estimated at from seven thousand to ten thousand, together with all his stores, animals, and munitions of war. “Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, commanding the Mississippi Squadron, effectively and brilliantly coöperated, accomplishing this complete success. “JOHN A. MCCLERNAND, Maj.-Gen. Com’ding.” The noble Admiral Porter, a child of the sea, whose father was famous in the last war with England, also gives an account of his work with the grim warriors of the waters: “UNITED STATES MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, } ARKANSAS POST, _January 11, 1863_. } “Hon. GIDEON WELLES, _Secretary of Navy_: “SIR: The gunboats _Louisville_, _De Kalb_, _Cincinnati_, and _Lexington_, attacked the heavy fort at the Post, on the Arkansas, last night, and silenced the batteries, killing twenty of the enemy. “The gunboats attacked again this morning, and dismounted every gun, eleven in all. “Colonel Dunnington, late of the United States Navy, commandant of the fort, requested to surrender to the navy. I received his sword. “The army coöperated on the land side. The forts were completely silenced, and the guns, eleven in number, were all dismounted in three hours. “The action was at close quarters on the part of the three iron-clads, and the firing splendid. “The list of killed and wounded is small. The _Louisville_ lost twelve, _De Kalb_ seventeen, _Cincinnati_ none, _Lexington_ none, and _Rattler_ two. “The vessels, although much cut up, were ready for action in half an hour after the battle. “The light draught _Rattler_, Lieutenant-Commander Wilson Smith, and the other light draughts, joined in the action when it became general, as did the _Black Hawk_, Lieutenant-Commander R. B. Breese, with her rifle-guns. Particulars will be given hereafter. “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, “DAVID D. PORTER, _Acting Rear-Admiral_.” Thus did the army and navy share equally in the honors of the success; neither is complete without the other.