Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-02

''St. Patrick's day in the morning" finds
your correspondent seated at table more
substantial than beautiful, and better adapted
for chopping- block than a writing desk; but
the army is not fastidious. Soldiers general
ly accept their fate with resignation albeit
they may grumbe at their lot And it may
not be said that their ''lines have fallen TO
them liz pleasant places" though this reg-
ment can have no cause to complain because
of severe duty or uninteresting scenery. As
yet we have met no enemy, though we have
"snutfed the battle affair."" A brilliant achieve
ment was that of Admiral Farragut on Satur-
day night, the 18th inst, and the importance
of the affair is well understood and conceded
by the rebels. The account of the affair is as
follows, as recounted here.
The rebels have long defed the union for
ceS, and especially the gunboats, at Port Hud-
son, and to make sure of defeating any plan
Tor running the batteries which are said to be
of enormous strength, they have sunk torpe-
does and other Internal inventions in the river
all along the front of their defences wherever
a gun could command it. But it was all of
no avail. Admiral Farragut decided to run
the risk for the sake of the expected advanta-
geS, and SO on the night of the l4th inst be-
tween 10 and II o'clock the flagship Hart
ford, supported by the Mississippi, and the
gunboats Albatross, Richmond and Mononga-
hela started silently upon their mission. But
the silence was of short duration Bang!
spoke out rebel gun, and several ''bangs"
was the response in unmlstakabe language.
The fire soon became terrific, sending Its
loud reports away down here to the city, and
lxf nj ,,,.l,A.
tant in an air line. The Mississippi soon got
aground, and to save her from falling into the
hands Of the enemy she was blown up by her
commander. The Richmond received a shot
in her steam drum which disabled her for the
time being, and she fell back. The Monon-
gahela also met with an accident which caused
her to withdraw from the action. But the
Hartford and Albatross succeeded in their OBJ
ject, and they are now above Port Hudson
undoubtedly fulfilling the object of their mis-
sion. The Hartford is one Of the finest gum
boats in the department, and she will most
likely give a good account of herself The
Era says the land forces made demUnStra-
ton upon the Notifications upon the land side
In support OF the operations of the navy.
Reconnaissance were made in force during
the day on the Clinton road, and upon the
Bayou Sara road, to within a mile of Port
Hudson, and also in the direction of SPRING
field and Ross Landings. The enemy re-
treated in each instance to the Notifications
with some loss. The success of the move
ment has been complete.
The present position of the fleet may be
thus stated:
The Hartford and Albatross are above Port
Hudson; probably at the mouth OF the Red
river. The Richmond Monongahela, and the
rest Of the fleet near Baton Rouge. The ar
my is encamped near Montoceno bay, seven
miles from Baton Rouge. The loss of the
Mississippi is far less than was at first antici-
pated. The estimate of the surgeon of the
ship is that there were ten killed and fifteen
wounded. Exact information cannot be OBJ
tanned, as the men are yet coming into Baton
Rouge. The Richmond lost three killed and
ten wounded. The Monongahela lost ten
killed; no report of the wounded has yet been
received, nor of the loss sustained by the AL
batross and Hartford, but it is believed that
the loss is not great.
Col John S. Clarke, one of Gen. Banks's
aidS-de-camp, was wounded i'll the leg, and
his horse killed under him by the same shot,
while engaged upon reconnaissance near
Port Hudson The captain of the Rhode Is
land cavalry was killed. One of the rebel
soldiers was brought into our camp badly
wounded, for surgical treatment, and several
dead bodies were left by them upon the field
on their retreat.
All the anticipated advantages of this move
ment, which justified the perilous undertake
ing, were attained, without mourning any of
the many dangers feared, except the loss of
the Mississippi. The history of naval war
fare does not present a more daring and brill
liant achievement. The explosion of the mag
azine of the Mississippi is said, by those who
witnessed it, to have been a most magnificent
and thrilling spectacle.
Since Gen. Buffers removal, the rebels in
the city have been, for some reason, more
bold and daring than ever. A large contra
band trade has sprung up across Lake Pont-
chartrain, and up the river, as well as at other
points which were considered favorable for
the purpose. In this way the enemy have
doubtless received many supplies Of necessa-
rieS, and secesh in the city have secured some
additional trade, and had chance to chuckle
over their Operations. But one branch of
this wide-spreading tree has been Topped off
by picket guard, from this regiment, and
quite haul of contraband goods secured. A
portion of company A. is situated at Bayou,
st. John, some three miles from this camp, on
the sheel road leading from the city to the
lake. Information was given by loyal fish
erman, to Capt. COburn, commanding the
company, that contraband goods crossed the
lake after passing up this road, and on Friday
night he received information that a larger
lot of goods had gone up and were being I'm
loaded in the bushes at a short distance from
the picket camp. A detachment of men were
sent up who succeeded in completely surpris-
ing the smugglers and in capturing the entire
lot of property, amounting in value to from
$4,000 to 1900, The prisoners were brought
to this camp, four in number, and from letters
found on them, it is believed that three of the
party are non-c commissioned officers in the
confederate army. These letters spoke of
similar transactions in q strain that showed
that there was nothing unusual in contra
band trip across the lake. From a letter
which l have in my possession, translated
from the French, in which language they were
all written, | judge that a trip was made on
the I'd inst, showing but eleven days between
them. The stock of goods captured COM
prised hats, boots, medicines, liquors, and
such articles as the rebels most need, and the
loss will be no small affair. Its capture will
put QUITE a little sum into the hands of the
capturing party, and the result of the affair
will be that all our boys will keep their eyes
and ears open for recurrence of the attempt.
Co. X, (of Barre) has been transferred to
another department. They are now engaged
in putting together pontoon bridges, and it
isn't Improbable that they may be in the ba:-
tie of Port Hudson, for they have, with the
exception of fifteen men, who are at New Or
leans, gone cup the river, where, no one
knows. Both Lieut.. Harding and Lieut.. Cor