Daily national Republican., 1863-03-31
Further Accounts OF the Passage OF Port
HudsOn.


NEW YORK, March 3O.-The steamer McClel-
Ian, from New Orleans on the 23d, arrived at
seven O'Clock this evening.
She brings the mails, Gen. Banks's official
dispatches, and S63, 25S in specie; also Coils.
Butler, Morton, and few other officers. Back
New Orleans papers contain few additional
items, as below:
The New Orleans Picdyuae of the 18th inst.
contains semi-oticial account of the Port
Hudson fight, from which it appears that the
movement of Gen. Banks was executed in per
feet order and returned only when all had been
done that could be effected In carrying out the
design Of the expedition, which was TO create
a diversion of the enemy from Port Hudson
while Admiral Farragut's feet attempted the
passage. The army of Gen. Banks was com
posed Of three divisions under Gems. Grover,
Augur, and Emery.
After the arrival Of the army from Baton
Rouge and skiTmishes on Saturday afternoon,
Farragut's fleet, which was at anchor five or
six miles below Port Hudson, prepared to pass
the batteries. The signal for the advance was
made at halfpast ulne O'Clock on beautiful
starlight night. The Hartford, with the Albat.
ross alongside, took the lead, and both success
fully passed the batteries.
The Richmond and Tennessee followed. The
Richmond was exposed 10 the fire of all the
batteries and received shot through her steam
drum which obliged her to fall back out Of
range Of the batteries. She dropped down the
river and anchored. Her loss was three men
killed and seven wounded.
The MOnongahela and KincO went up next
in order. Capt. McKinstry, Of the Mononga-
hela, was standing on the bridge when 1t was
shot away from under him, and he was very
seriously injured.
The loss on the MonOngahela was seven men
killed and twenty-One wounded. The. KInCo
was under a severe fire; her rigging was badly
cut, and her rudder-pOst shot away. A haw
ser entangled about her propeller, became un,
manageable, and she was Obliged to drop back
out of fire. The MonOngahela also fell back
out OF range. The side-whcel gunboat Gcnesee,
someWhOt damaged, also fell back.
The amount OF damages on board this boat
Is not known here AT present. The Mississippi
went up last night, and grounded on the bank
in a position which placed her nearly In the
centre of the entire range of shore batteries
which extended nearly three and a half miles
She grounded at ~ O'Clock at night, and stood
fire forty minutes before she was abandoned
Acting Master Robert T. Kelly was killed, and
sxty-1ve men are killed or missing.
The naval engagement lasted from 10 O'Clock
till about l in the morning. The Confederate
batteries first fired badly; but after the Missis
/ Sippi grounded and range was attained, the
| hrng was yrIy effective. While tho gunhOute
were under the batteries six mortar schDOucra
aud the iron-cind Essex lay below the Point
ana urea across, keeping up continuous
| shelhng OF tile Confederate batteries during tho
engagement
| OF course, there exists no means at present
Of learning the amount Of the Confederate loss
on shore. Fires Wers built all along the hank
on the opposite side, throwing glare Of lIghI
across the river, and Frightening the entire
fleet into full view Of the batteries during the
engagement