Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-19
FROM THE GULF DEPARTMENT.
MOVEMENT AGAINsr PORT HUDSON.


Correspondence If tie Neio Ysrk Ecening Post.
New ORLEANS, MARCH s, 1868.
Gen Banks left the city last night for Baton Rouge in
company with most Of bis staff aud Gen Grover, by the
steamer Empire Parish with the intention of not
turning before he Witnessed the reduction and occupation
by the national forces of the formidable batteries and for
tfcatons frownng upon the Father Of Waters at Port
Hudson. Gen. Anger is already at Baton Rouge There
Is with him a force Of twenty thousand men, all
told though many OF them not yet in the state
of efficiency if thorough acquaintance with d needed
to make soldiers truly efficient in ac'n. Troops have
been forwarded to Baton Rouge for rome time from this
vicinity Some have been sent up within few days from
Carroton, Of the suburbs Of New Orleans. por-
ton Of the force detailed to accompany the proposed move
men into tho Teche country has also found its way to the
whilom State capital For three four weeks means for
transportation have been quietly accumulated to large
amount up the river and it hoped that delays the curse
of military action in this department will interfere to
defeat the object in view Whether tho Mississippi is to
be opened to the trade Of the loyal West this season is
que ton to be determined very neutrality-suspicious. within
few days The army, officers and men, have long been
anxious for forward movement.
OF course this attack will not be made without the aid
of naval force. As already explained in this correspon
dence the situation of Port Hudson renders attack on
the front by lard force mpossbility Troops must
rear Bombardment by the set will bs attended with the
disadvantage encountered at Is No. 10 and Vcksburg
from the height of the bluff which the deiences are
placed But preparations have been made that the bonn
bardment may be as efectve possible The principal
vessels to be engaged besides the mortar boats far as
have been able to ascertain the Hartford Richmond,
Mississippi Monongahea, Genesee Kineo Itasca Essex,
and Sportsman In fact all the vessels here with the
cepton of the Pensacola, Commander Morris which will
remain stationed off the city and despatch boat to
muncate with the feet from New Orleans will find some
thing to do in this most important undertaking.
The force at Port Hudson is varousy estimated at from
seven to seventy thousand men, Perhaps fifteen thousand
is not far from the truth he position is naturally one of
the strongest on the river.
Correspondence Of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
BRAsHEAR CRY, (LA.) MARCH z, 1868.
1t has been long since any ment of Importance
has been made in this department begins to suspect
there never will be any Our army has occupied with the
exception Of Gen. Wetzes brigade, almost precisely the
same ground t is now on for more than two months
Every body looks puzzled; every body is puzzled. We
here to fight and the present uacton of army
makes every body restless Fortunately however, knoo
the mist will pery be cleared away withthe smoke of
of the grandest battles fought this continent
This idea msy exaggerated but think thu future
wi fully verify it,
Gen Weitzel has tried the experiment of subsising his
army the country and has thus far been successful
Foragng artes sent out every day. returning at night
with cattle, hay, potatoes, corn &c In
thing is taken except from welknown secessonsts, who
furnished receipt for their quota for the support of
the army Where the party relieved OF produce has taken
the oath of allegiance he gets this receipt cashd by pre-
senting it to the Chief Qusr'ermaster Commssary at
New Orleans. Probably there is no brigade under Gen
Banks command that has lived better and the Gov
vsrnment less than Gen. Weitze's
In this immediate vicinity are having considerable
trouble with the negroes, owing t. Gen. Banks's order
putting them 10 work on the plantations 1t is true, the
negroes not compelled to work the plantations and
under the order they choose between field labor and
Government service; still, when we remember Govern
ment really has nothing for them to do and that there
about fifteen thoussHd of them lying idle who have
done any thing but work plantations it will readily be
seen in which direction they expected CO. As the
negroes have idea that they free aud that freedom
"do please it is pretty hard to convince
them they expected to do ali that required Of slaves
There rebellion within rebellion in the south west
districts of this tate The rebel consumption act is
meeting with violent opposition from every quarter where
jeff Davis has attempted to enforce it, None exempt
between the of seventeen and fifty except the auho
rites who to enforce the law. Toe result of THE whole
sale driving of The people into the ranks of the rebel army
it can be carried out will be complete drpopuation Of
this part Of the county refugee who lately into
camp reports that there FIVE hundred Unon who
have before taken decided stand in open defiance of
the rebel Government now between Cacshue Swamp and
Alexander who rescuing conscrps from JEFF Davss
authorities. The Union men are armed, and ablt it is
said, to fully sustain Themselves
The planters in this vicinity who have concluded to work
their land under the recent order of Gen Banks have de-
termined most Of them to psn nothing but cotton this
year Cotton, they say, crop than and
requires much less labor to cultivate it, They also believe
when the for picking plenty Of negroes
be found to do that work who could not be depended upon
the field Cotton very much less liable to Injury
from neglect than cane for cane IT is ripe enous
to cut must be gathered immediately aud the labor is in
cessau until the sugar packed in the hogshead Cotton
stand some time without damage, and be picked
by and children If other kni of labor be
had For the above need not be surprised 10
6nd Louisiana cottongrowiog State, and not sugar
plantation on her soil, IN less than five years.
IMPREsSMENT OF FOOD FOR THE ARMY.