, 1863-06-05
Uhirago @rltnne.
Important from New Orleans.
SEVERE FIGHTING IN THE REAR
OF PORT HUDSON.
Emancipation in Louisiana-Cott
and Sugar at New 0rleans--
The Capture Of Alexandria.


The Steamships Creole and United States
arrived in New York on Tuesday from New
Orleans, bringing news to the 9Th ultimo.
We have stirring news from Port Hudson
and vicinity, showing that Gen. Bauks' army
is in Mississippi, aud vigorously at work
against The rebel stronghold.
On the 21st ult, Gen. Augur's whole divis-
lou was engaged in q nine hourr' fight with
tle enemy. 'Ihe lattle- field Was Port Hudson
Plains, four miles In the rear OF Port Hudson,
on the Bayou Sara road.
The rebels hid one brigade Of infantry en-
gagged, besides Two batteI1es and a cunsidtra-
BILE force Of cavalry. They had ambuscaded
At eyery outlet froin the plains. They were
finally Tepulscd with heavy loss, leaving a
large number Of killed and wounded on the
field
A correspondent OF the Era writing from
the battle Held, May p giyes the following
account Of the movement:
At last an attack, which promises to be
decisive, il in progress against Port Hudson.
Our army has reached Ihc precincts Of this
fan.ous stronghold, and won u victory in the
first engagement with the rebal garrison.
Major Gen Augnr's division yesterday fought
the e.lemy nine hours, in q region Of the
grcatts st natural advantages for anbuscades,
and drove lin three miles from his first 20
limits Of llc advance.
TIE FIELD OF BATTLE.
The field Of battle was on Port Hudson
P1Ains. These arc two open tracts OF smooth
couAtIy fur miles cast Of Port Hudson. The
lower plains are . mile across, each way, lying
on each side If the Bayou Sara road. The
upper plains extend for half mile north and
south, and fourth Of a mile in width on the
same road. L cross road runs in a north
westerly direction from the lower plains to
fort hudson, and another one In westerly
direction from the upper ones. On all sides q
denEe forest helms fn the two fields. Nature
could have given the rebels no better position
to ambush and cut of or destroy an army.
tllan there Is here. But Gen. Augur has etfec-
tually prevented this disaster by his vigorous
movements, and no danger from such source
need now be anticipated. If tho enemy flank
our forces, they can be ambushed, and made
to suffer severely. -:'F
4 FORWARD MOVEMENT.
The first general engagement with the enc.
my occurred On Friday, The 2lst inst. Ate
o'lock In the morning, the bIyouac station
on the Bayou Sara road WAS broken up, and
the troops resumed the march, which was
commenced at Baton Rouge at 1 o'clock on
the previous day. Major General Ausur was
in chief command, General Dudlcy's brigade
heading the column, and General Chapin's
coming next in order.
An 1NKL1NG OF COMING EVENTS.
Captain Godfrey and Captain Yeaton, of
the First Louisiana cavalry, were half a mile
ahead Of the column, with their companies,
when, upon reaching the first woods above
the lower plains, they met a small force Of
mounted rebel infantry, with Which they had
n brisk skirmieh. The rebels ambushed the
Two companies ut i bend in The road, but re-
treated after firing volley and receiving the
fire Of the advance guard. NJ further oppo.
sition Was made to the progress Of the col
umn, until the cavalry reached Redwood
crots-rcad, short distance below the upper
plains. At this point the rebels wcrc drawn
up in line Of battle- The advance guard fired
upon them, when they returned the tire, and
thin ran rrccipitate]y into the woods. Our
cavalry advanced as far as the upper plains,
where the rebel cavalry we're seen at the up
per cna Of the opening.
4 WARM ENGAGEMENT.
One section Of Battery G, 5th United
States Artillery, Lieut.. Rawlcs commanding,
was at once sent forward to shell the rebel
position i was posted at a sharp bend in
the road. with dense forest on either side,
but IN open area to the front as far as the
'P1ains Store,' near which were dwelling
house and some negro shanties. Our artillery
had hard1y taken position when two shells
came plupging down directly in front Of the
gun. Then commenced heavy cannonading,
NAlkA WILD A41tAAE0 Will great flGOE Oh
both sides. Another section Of the 5th regular
artillery was quickly brought forward, and ut
once opened fire. One section of the 18th
New York. and two sections Of the I'd Yer.
mont batteries, were also brought up, aud
Joined il the engagement. The enemy had
their shot and shell did but little harm Ia pro.
portion to the advantage they had
THE SECOND LOUISIANA REGIMENT ENGAGED.
While our batteries were keeping up an in
cessant Ilre, the I'd Louisiana regiment, Col,
Paine, vas sent out through the woods to
flank the rebel battery on the right. But after
going three.qua1ters of mile through the
woods they suddenly came upon force of
rebels, Who were waiting their approach,
Were not seen until they t1red volley, which
Killed two men and wounded Lieut.. Colonel
Everett and two privatcs. The men galIantly
stood their ground aud calmly returued the
fire. Two companies wcrs quickly deployed
rs skir1ulshc1s and sent on III advance. The
rebels were disconnected By the shower Of
bullets which few among them, and CON-
menced to retreat, They we're followed up,
and the skirnishcrs succeeded In flanki0g
the battery, which Immediately limbcred to
the rear.
THE 0Tu MASSACHUSETTS TO TIE RESCUE.
The 90th Massachusetts, regiment, Col. ".
". Builech, which had the right Of Gen. Dud-
1ey's brigade, deployed fo1r companies as
Ekirnishers, under the command of Major q.
Q. Whittcmore. They deployed both to the
right and left Of the road. On the right the
skirnlishers We're covered by cavalry. They
were the first Of the infantry to discover the
enemy in ambush near the Plafns Store, and
1cmajned by the bend in the road, with our
batteries supporting them, while the ed Louis
lana were trying to flank tue rebel position.
The fight was ended as soon as the ID Louis
iana skirmfshers fanked the rebel battery.
The rebels, with their artillery and support
Ing force, retrcated for about half . mile 1ur-
ther M the road, and our troops advanced to
the position Just abandoned By them.
Upon reaching the Plains Store, detach.
mchts Of the Illinois cavalry were sent out
towards tie Clinton road to look out for any
fankiDg furcc the rebels might hare in that
direction. They found about one hundred
md fifty infantry and cavalry lying in ambush,
and madea charge upon them, discharging
the rebels had to retreat without time to give
a full vol1ey in return. Several Of the enemy
were killed, but onr cavalry had no further
than the loss Of two horses.
EMANCIPATION IN LOUISIANA.
On the 18th u1timo, General Shepley, Mill.
tary Governor Of Louisiana, issued m order
declaring inoperative the State law prohibit
ing the emancipation of slares, on the ground
that such Law has never been sanctioned By
the military authorities, and is inconsistent
with the principles which control the policy
Of the Government. All persons hereafter
shall hare the right to emancipate their slaves
On petition to nny court of record. and any per
son held as slave, and being legally entitled
to freedom, may bring suit for his or her
freedom, IN my court Of record, against the
person claiming or holding him or her as
slave
COTTON, SUGAR, ETC, At NEW ORLEANS.
The arrivals of cotton at New Orleans, from
the Ope1ousas country, liberated by General
Banks advance, continue to increase. For
the week ending May e, the receipts were
2 .492 bales, making the stock on hand and on
ut that time, i, SIG bales. The re-
ceipts Of sugar and molasses arc also increas-
ing, amounting during the week ending On
the ed ult.. to $50 hogsheads of sugar aud
? COG barrels Of mo1asses- New crop Of sugar
Is selling at ~ cents for common, and 9a9H
cents for flfr.
TIE CAPTURE OF ALExAcDRIA-INCLD2ST
Our New Orleans flies furnish us full par-
Gcnlals Of the capture Of Alexandria. on the
Red River, by Admiral Porter, aud It's subsc-
qucnt occupation, May 9Th, by General Banks.
No opposition was offered to the occupation
Of the town, the authorities FILLING in at once
with the orders Of our commanders. In adj
vancing from Opelousas, General Bauks's
forces discovered, at all points, large quanti-
lies of cotton, which the enemy, In their
flight, had nut been able to remove or destroy,
Large quantities of sugar and molasses also
fell into our possession.
During the march, Gen. Dwight's scouts
captured one Of the murderers OF his brother,
Captain Howard Dwight, and he was itnmedi-