The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-25
Friday Morning, September 25, 1868.


The correspondent OF the New York Her
aid communicates the following particulars
concerning this unfortunate expedition:
"The aim of the expedition was the occupa-
tion OF Sabine city, situated ON the right bank
at the mouth of the Sabine river, the dividing
line of Louisiana and Texas, a point of great
strategic Importance as a base of operations
against either Western Louisiana and Central
Texas. The city is only forty to forty-fiye
miles from Galveston by land, and about sixty
miles by sea; from Houston, the capital of
Texas, it is distant about sixty miles, and is
connected with it by branch railroad from
Beaumont This railroad is not in operation
at present, a portion OF the track having been
torn up. The distance from the mouth of the
Mississippi is two hundred and eighty miles.
The strategic importance Of the place can
thus be comprehended at a glance, aud its
occupation was doubtless intended as the first
step in campaign, the results Of which prom
ised to be of the most brilliant and lasting
character.
The gunboats Clifton, Arizona and Sachem
were to engage the enemys work, while the
Granite City which carried only a broadside
OF small brass guns, was to cover the landing
OF AN advance force OF five hundred men of
Gen WeitzePs division, selected from the he
roes of Port Hudson, and composed of two
companies of the l65th New York and de-
tachment from the 10Th New York regiments
under command OF Capt. Fitch OF the last
named regiment. The General himself came
on board at the last moment, TO superintend
personally the operation of disembarking his
troops.
All ready was the signal, and about four
O'Clock p. NJ. the gunboals steamed slowly for
ward, the Clifton advancing directly toward
the tort, followed by the Granite City, and she
in turn by the transport General Banks, hav-
ing on board the advance of the army. The
Sachem and Arizona steamed off to the right,
and ran up nearly opposite the battery. The
Clifton opened the ball with shell from one
of her nine-inch pivot guns, which exploded
inside the rebel works, throwing up a perfect
shower of debris, and instantly followed it
with a second shot of the same kind. Soon
the little Sachem, commanded by Capt. John
son, opened her broadside thirty-two FOUNDER
guns on the work, and the next moment the
Arizona also paid her compliments to the foe.l
The gunnery was magnificent, a few of the
shells only exploding prematurely and the
pieces dropping in the water. Up to this time
and until from thirty to forty shell had explo-
ded in the works, not shell had been return
ed by heenemy. An omnous silence perva-
ded the fort, and many were of opinion that
the works had been abandoned.
The action OF the enemy, however, was the
deceptive calm which often precedes the storm
and the sudden fash of flame which was
with the naked eye, and the cloud of white
smoke which foated lazily up from the para
pet of the enemy, were instantly followed by
a heavy shot thrown at the Arizona, the lar
gest boat of the feet, which passed directly
over her, striking in the edge Of the water be-
yond. This was followed in quick succession
by a shot at the Sachem and another at the
Clifton, neither of which, however, took
effect.
The engagement now became general and
very warm, the Clifton and Arizona moving
very slowly forward and back while the brave
little Sachemi, under q heavy fire, kept pushing
steadily forward, endeayoring to pass the bat
terry aud engage it in the rear, which was sup
posed TO be unprotected. This movement the
enemy OWNED, and redoubled their fire at
her, answered shot for shot by the three
boats, the huge shells every Instant bursting
in their midst, carrying destruction in their
wake, and knocking great holes in the parapet,
which appeared of sufficient size to admit the
passage of carriage and horses.
The enemy acted with great bravery, how
ever, aud il their fire sackened an instant after
one of those terrific explosions, which seemed
to shake the very earth around them, it was
instantly resumed with increased rather than
diminished determination. Gradually but
surely the little Sachem was gaining her de-
sired position. A moment more and she would
pass out OF range, and the day would be won.
All eyes were bent upon the noble little craft,
when suddenly shot was seen TO strike her
amidships, crushing in her sides and tearing
their iron plating for the protection of sharp
shooters as piece of paper, and causing her
to careen and tremble from stem to stern.
An instant more and she was enveloped in
the scalding vapor of escaping steam, and lay
a helpless wreck at the mercy of the enemy
The flag was lowered, and the enemy, ceasng
their fire on her, now turned their entire at
tention to the Clifton, probably aware OF the
fact that the draft of the Arizona would not
permit her to advance near enough to become
very formidable antagonist. The disabling
of the Sachem at the instant when victory was
within iler grasp was the second of those un-
fortunate accidents referred TO- and was, of
course, of SO serious character as to imperl
the success of the entire affair. The Clifton
was now the only effective boat engaged She
was called upon to do double duty, and not
for one breath did her gallant commander and
brave crew hesitate, but with three rousing
cheers, which were heard above the din of bat
tie, they poured in their fire, running in closer
and closer to the batteries, in face of the con-
centrated fire of the entire rebel fortfcation
Putting on a full head of steam, the Clifton
ran swiftly down directly toward the battery,
with the intention, doubtless, of delivering her
broadside, giving her sharpshooters an oppor-
tunity Of picking off the enemy's gunners, and
thus silencing the works.
At the same time the Granite City and the
General Banks gradually followed in her wake
for the purpose OF reaching the point of de-
barkation as soon as the Clifton had effected
her object, although the heavy solid shot and
Kissing shell which were intended for the
Clifton, but which passed her, came ricochet-
ing along on the water almost reaching them.
Just as the Clifton gained the point she aimed
at reaching, and as her bow was thrown round
slightly, in the act of turning, she struck, the
velocity with which she was running driving
her long distance into the thin mud of the
pass.
AT the same time a hitherto undiscovered
pattery to the left of the main work, and in
easy range opened upon her as she lay, her
proausioe Offering target of which the enemy
toh every advantage. The gallant Crooker
sun kept up constant fire from both bow and
oroadside guns, the quick rifles, loaded with
. double charges of grape. being poured into
the main work, sweeping the naranet clean at
every discharge, and killing the enemy by
scores, while with his broads;de guns he ad-
,minstered dose after dose of she'll and solid
shot to the battery on the left. Lying as he
did, he would probably have succeeded in ST.
lencing the main work, thus enabling the
troops to land, had it not been for the broad-
side work; for it was from that that his boat
was disabled.
Up to this time she had sustained no materi.
al damage. The shots which had struck her
had been harmless to the ship, and but very
few of his crew were injured. But fate
was against him and he was obliged to sue
cumb. A shot from the small battery struck