The Portland daily press., 1863-06-09
The Red River ExDeditiOn.

No newspaper correspondents seem to have
followed Admiral Porter up the Red river.
The following private letter, from an officer
of the squadron appears in the New York Tri-
bune, and though old is the first published ac-
count of the expedition
EIGHTY MILES UP RED RIVER,
May @, 1863
On the Sd of May, the rebels evacuated
Grand Gulf as we went up to attack. That
same afternoon, this vessel, the Lafayette,
Pittsburg, and Price started down for Red Ri
yer, in consequence of a communication from
Farragut, requesting our cooperation. We
proceeded down the Mississippi to Red River,
without being fired at, or any demonstration,
offensive or defensive, being made by the in
habitants along the shore. There are no for
tifcations or defenses of any kind between
Grand Gulf and Red River.
As We crime by Natchez, thousands of peo-
pie lined the bank, and many of them waved
their handkerchiefs. We arrived Off Red Riv-
er on the morning Of the 4th, and immediate
ly communicated with admiral Farragut. We
found only the Hartford, off the mouth-the
Albatross, Arizona, Estrella, and Sachem hav-
ing gone up Red River, to attack q fort, the
day previous. 4
The Switzerland came down with us. Far
ragut was little fearful that something might
udpDtu W tcSstiS, duu Wicutu US W 10 up
aud see what could be done. We started right
off with all our vessels the same day.
We learned that there was fort at Gordon's
Landing, about so miles up, in which were
mounted two guns from the Indianola, and
some 80 Founders, also that there were some
steamers up there, and two gunboats building
at Alexandria, 100 miles up.
Nothing occurred until we had gone up about
Is miles, when we met Farraguts vessels re-
fur hat how, tfac lad bx
two of the eneiny's gunboats right abreast of
the fort, and that after a short engagement
they concluded it best to retire, particularly
as there was formidable raft across the river
at that place. Porter requested two of them
1.-THE Arizona and Estrea) to follow him up
up and show the way. The Albatross went
back to the Hartford. We continued on, and
as night came on we tied up to the bank, not
daring to run in the dark, as this stream is
very crooked.
Next morning we continued on our course,
and nothing of Importance occurred until near
ly sunset, when we reached Gordon's Land
ing where the raft and fort are. We found
the Price (which had gone ahead of us some
distance had already destroyed the raft by
ramming and burning, and when we came up
she reported the fort evacuated. They had
about "a hours start of us. The Admiral,
myself, and few others, went ashore to ex-
anime the place. There were three little forts,
casemated and built entirely of earth, standing
right on the bank of the river, being not more
than ten feet HIGH calculated to hold one gun
apiece, and were very easily destroyed. We
tied up at night abreast the forts, and this
morning started again up the river toward
Alexandria. It's reported that the Webb,
one of the boats that captured the 1ndianola,
is there being repaired. II so, we shall des-
troy or capture her.
This Rod River ic oil pvprdoWa6
for about 100 miles above the mouth, but
where we now are everything is beautiful.
Nice farms line the banks on either side, pref
ty cottages are seen among the trees, and
everything looks very inviting along the shore,
The weather is terrifcally hot, and on an IRON
clad it is worse, but we hope to stand it and
capture the steamers and guns ahead of us,
and make this one of the most brilliant moves
of the war.
The fight at Grand Gulf was certainly the
most terrible ever fought by naval vessels in
this country. Seventy-six killed and wound
ed on three vessels! x
ALEXANDRIA, La, May I've sailed ma
iestically up to this town this morning at day
light, and the Admiral Immediately sent for
the Mayor and Common Councilman. The
city was delivered over to the navy, Captain
Woodwork appointed Naval Commandant,
guards stationed and order preserved. We
found no steamers here, all having fled from
our approach, and gone up to Shreveport, 300
miles above. The Rebel Government had
some cotton and corn here which they des-
troyed. Alexandria is rather pretty place,
though, like most Southern towns, very dull
and uninteresting. The people seem very
glad to see us, and, Of course, all are Union
men. -c~st
In my travels through the Southern
crurery ar-< <,.--- ,,c-ea,-SEr ~~- -rvue
across great many citizens who are native
born, and they all assert that they voted the
Bell and Everett ticket. 1t is a great wonder
to me that these gentlemen were not elected
We found one blind man, however, who con-
fessed that he voted for Breckenridge, but in
sisted that the wrong ticket was put into his
hands at the polls. We found the printing
offices( there being two papers published here
and some specimen numbers. II Is a hard
question to decide which is most interesting
the pictures on the back or the reading matter
on the front When people use wall paper for
printing purposes, they must be pretty hard
up. This evening, just at dusk, the advance
guard of Gen. Banks's army came charging
into the town in very fearless manner-hurra
for the Stars and Stripes who's afraid. A
few hours after, Gen, Banks came in himself
and the Admiral turned the city over to him.
This is as high up Red River as we dare to
go-for there would be only six inches to spare
under our keels if we went any further, and
the water is falling every day. The Webb and
Quitman are up near Shreveport. Lieut.. j. II.
Carter, late of our navy, is in command Of the
Naval Station up there, and they are manu-
featuring shells, shot, powder, &C., night and
day. The Webb was quite seriously damaged
when she ran into the Indianola, and is not
fully repaired yet. She is said to be aground
just below Shreveport, and not to be got of.
Tomorrow an expedition leaves here for
Black River, composed of the Price, Pittsburg,
Switzerland and Arizona. There are said to be
10 or Is tran sports up the Black River, and
Gen. Price is said to be moving his forces
down to Harrisonburg on that river, for the
the purpose of crossing and attacking our ar
my. If we can get our boats there as he comes
up, we can make glorious thing of it.