The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-04

We give on the first page this morning de-
tailed account of Admiral Farragut's daring
passage of the batteries at Port Hudson, on
Saturday night, 14th March, under fire even
more terrible than that he encountered less
than a year ago below New Orleans. The
excellent plan, which accompanies that ac
count, will render the following description
perfectly ineligible.
Port Hudson is 25 miles above Baton Rouge
and 1855 miles above New Orleans. Baton
Rouge, it may be mentioned, is built on both
sides Of the Mississippi; the State House is in
East Baton Rouge. A railroad, "a miles in
length, connects Port Hudson and Clinton.
From Clinton, it is only 81 miles by the turn
pike to the Great Northern railroad, which
runs from New Orleans to Jackson, 1873 miles.
But this gap OF 81 miles renders it impossible
for the garrison at Port Hudson to depend on
the State of Mississippi for supplies. Their
supplies have been and must be received
chiefly through the Red river, which debouch-
es into the Mississippi about 20 miles above
Port Hudson, and $50 miles below Vicksburg.
Port Hudson might be reduced by simply
blockading the mouth of the Red river.
The town is situated on high bluff, and
defended on the north by Thompsons creek
and the adjacent marshes. On the water
front, line of batteries, half way down the
bluff, extends three miles and a half down the
river, and there are one or two water batter
les. From the lower batteries, semicular
line of Notifications commanding the land ap-
proaches, is carried up to TEompson's creek,
completing the circuit Of defense. These for
tifcations, ten or twelve miles in length are
said to consist of double line of intrench-
ments, wide bitches and extensive abdttis, be-
sides detached works beyond the outer line.
The country, to the south and east, is undu-
lating, heavily wooded, and intersected by nu-
merous bayous and marshes. A direct attack
upon Port Hudson, either by land or by wa
ter, would be foolhardy undertaking, unless
preceded by all the preliminary steps of reg
ular siege. 1t cannot be carried by storm.
Prophet island is little more than five
miles below the town. The main channel Of
the river lies west of the island The eastern
channel is called Prophet chute. The enemy
attempted to obstruct this chute, but found
the current too strong and swift. The NOR
tar boats, whose firing, distinctly audible 90
miles away, was designed to distract the atten-
ton of the enemy from the passing fleet, lay
in the chute. The feet passed up in the main
channel. From the head of Prophet island,
the signals flying at the mast head of the Hart
ford, as she lay at the mouth of the False riy-
er, just above Port Hudson, Sunday morning,
were plainly visible.
On Saturday, 18th March, the Hartford and
her little consort. the Albatross, moved up the
river, and ON Monday morning anchored off
the mouth Of the Red river A whole fleet of
hostile steamers had gone up the Red river in
to shoal water for safety. Tuesday morning
Admiral Farragut pushed on again, anchor
ing off Natchez, l20 miles above Port Hud-
son, for the night; and leaving tart message
respecting guerrillas with the city authorities,
kept on "Wednesday morning, anchoring at
night eight miles below Grand Gulf. Getting
underway at daylight next morning, he pass
ed the batteries at this point about seven
o'clock, and anchored below Vicksburg Thurs
day afternoon 10th March. He discovered
above Grand Gulf. On Wednesday, the 18th,
two vessels attempted to run by the Vicks-
burg batteries from above. One was sunk;
the other, said TO be the gunboat Benton, was
towed to the mouth of the canal by the Alba
tross. This was last week. Ii is useless TO
repeat the rumors, which have since been
afoat There is every reason, however, to be-
lieve that Admiral Farragut has been, or will
be, sufficiently reinforced to command the riy-
err between vicksburg and Port Hudson,
Meanwhile Gen. Banks is not idle. 1t has
long been held desirable to occupy the west
bank of the Mississippi. As early as the 18th
February, an expedition was sent up the Bay
on Plaquemine, which opens into the Missis-
sippi abouttwe miles below Baton Rouge, to
proceed If possible through that and other
bayous TO the Red river. The obstructions
formed by driftwood, accommodating in vast
RATS through recent neglect, proved, insur-
mountable The advance on the 18th March
was merely designed to create diversion in
favor of the feet. OF the Maine regiments
concerned in this movement, the 22d and 26th
were in Growers division; the 2lst in Augurs,
which remained at Baton Rouge till Saturday
morning. On the next Wednesday night, af-
ter the return of the troops to Baton Rouge,
a serious attempt was made TO gain foothold
on the right bank Of the river, opposite to and
above Port Hudson. Four transports, convey
ing brigade of infantry, with artillery and
cavalry, were sent forward. The night was
dark, and the enemy was forewarned. About
ten miles from Baton Rouge, in bend where
the current sets strongly against the bank, the
levee was cut for half mile; the transports,
feeling their way through the darkness, were
driven ashore by the violence Of the current
thus strengthened; one of them passed entire
ly through the crerasse, and lay stranded in
imminent peril, till the next night. 1t was
feared that the whole region west of the Mis-
sippi would be flooded; for the next day the
levee was again cut within range of the Port
Hudson batteries. Reconnaissance and skr-
mishes in the direction of Port Hudson have
been of daily occurrence. Above and below,
il will be seen, there is a common purpose-to
get command of the western bank of the Mis-
sissippi, before attempting the reduction of the
Notifications ON the eastern shore.
sH- The wise and just action Of the friends
of temperance Thursday evening renders it
unnecessary to publish the communications re-
far~o l.. Ne