Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
UNION SUCCESSES IN LOUISIANA.


Ger Banks is certifying, by his activity as military
leader to the fact that he Is not ambitious nieiep "
reputation of a civilian. But having first gwen hs 10
markable administrative ability to the task Oh euues "
der out of chaos in and around New Orleans 'no OF
plication of code for the regulation OF iapo anu p
ton as soon as it was satisfactorily 10 opefauon NO s
his attention to an important military eAPeuo -. s ~
ts object the reclamation of the rich country 10 the west
80 ~, or..n. bsnce the rebels have drawn inestima
hl snnns f their army and whose numerous lakes and
.rd admirable facilities for shelterng their river
steamers and for constructing and fitting out their rams
and ounboats This section comprises the parishes OF
counties of Terrs Bonnie, Lafourche, Assumption 81
Mary's and St. Martins the whole being rich allu-
vial country taversed by navigabe streams, and abound
ing ia lakes bordered by rich plantations OF and
Indian corn aud tracts of excellent timber including Ve
oak and cypress 1t also sustans dense slave popuia-
ton which fact has probably entered into the Calculations
of Gen. Banks in planning this expedition.
At cur last accounts previous to those just received
Gen Banks after having concentrated his forces at Ber
wcks bay had divided them into two columns, one OF
which made detou to the north and west with the OBJ
ect Of thanking the enemy the Teche river at Centre
Vile Franklin and New Iberia, while the other closed IN
upon them from the east By the arrival Of the Fulton
from New Orleans have supplementary advices to the
18th instant bringing the satisfactory intelligence Of the
success Gen. Bankss comprehensive plans The column
unler Gen Bsnkss immediate command had moved along
the Teche river, occupying the towns OF Pattersonve
Centrevle Franklin, and New IBERIA and entered Yer
mllionville At all these points the enemy were met IN
force and driven out large number OF their steamers and
two gunboats burned, and an immense amount OF
ammunition and stores were destroyed At Bethel Place,
near New Iberia the rebels strongly entenched and
after two days desuory fighting desperate engagement
hnf thpvp
works. leaving behind them two pieces of artillery and
large stores Of ammunition and small arms. They
retrsated westward towards Vermlonvle whittier they
were rapidly followed by Gen. Banks who encountered
them at the crossing Of the Vermon bayou short dis
lance east of the village Here the rebels had posted
force of thousand infantry with strong batteries OF ar
tlery in ambush As Gen Banks advanced hre was open
d mon him from the whole force of the enemy, and for
some time the fight ragged with fury but resulted hna
after loss both Sides in the retreat OF the
enemy and the crossing Of troops The former retreat
ed towards Opeousas while Gen. Banks entered Vermii-
Gonyie and was preparing to advance Immediately %
Ooe,eusas with the expectation of reaching 1t ON the
night of the 10Th 1t believed the enemy would not
.t their retreat short of Alexandria, which is hun
dred miles northwest Opeousas where they expected
tn meet renforcements under Gen. Kirby Smith, and
Uoud make another stand No definite details given
Of the loss on either side but is known to be large
Meanwhile the cooperating column under Gen. Grover
had been even yet successful Proceeding up Grand
Lake accompanied by the gunboas it recaptured the
ram Queen of the West and the gunboat Diana, and land
inc three miles of Franklin attacked BY the enc
nv but pushed forward to Irish Bend near the town OF
Franklin where desperate engagement ensued the rebels
being ten thousand strong supported by batteries OF
tery in forest of large trees The battle lasted nearly
the entire day. but resulted in the rout and
of the enemy after heavy losses both sides An i'm
mense amount of stores and ammunition was captured
nv our troops together with nearly six hundred horses
and mules and a large number OF beef cattle lhe
two columns then formed junction, in the vicinity
Franklin and pushed forward after the retreang enemy
in the direction of Opelousas we have already seen
The whole number Of prisoners captured thus far Is abou
fifteen hundred.
The important reeults already attained by this eIped
ton can scarcely be properly appreciated The most fer
tile portion of the State bordering the Gulf OF Mexico
has been wrested from them their concealed harbors for
the construction and secrng of vessels have been broken
up and an number OF steamers already completed
or nearly finished have destroyed their stores OF
od Ammunition and horses intended for the rebel army
IN have seized and their salt mines taken;
and finally entire section Of the State amounting to
nearly oneth Of its whole territory hitherto thought inn
and uncouquerabe has been brought under the
authority Of the Federal Government Unless the enemy
succeed arresng the advance of Gen. Banks, at Alex
sndria s important results will follow the plan
of that able officer evidently being to strike the Red river
at or rear the rapids Alexandria, some sixty or seventy
miles from its mouth and thus cut off from the rebel army
at yksburg and Port Hudson the supplies they have de-
rived over it. He may also be able to repeat On the Red
river and on much larger scale the blow at their steam
and gunboa successfully administered just now on
Grand Lake its long and tortuous being the great
barbor Of all their vessels intended for the Mississippi
which have hitherto euded gunbeats by darling into
its narrow and intricate channels Unless disaster be
fals Gen. Banks it would if oil this vast region
about to be torn from the rebel grasp and instead Of min
sternQ to their cause it has dopen the past will be
come principal Of reducing their stronghods Of
the Mississippi through the agency of want-Nepark Adr
NEW MALADY.
A latter from MashnQton. in New York paper re