The Portland daily press., 1863-09-21
BY TELEGRAPH
Important from Netc Orfeans-- Departure of
TIE 1eras Erpeditioa.

tie Ierds Espeditioa.
+ New YORK, Sept 49,
The Worlds New Orleans letter of the It'll
inst. contains Important Intelligence. 1t states
Last week from 10000 to 1900 men were con-
veyed by the Opelousas TOAD from Algers to
Brashear City and to Bayou Boeuf, the whole
force under the command of Gen. Washburne
Almost simultaneously Herrons men moved
up the Mississippi toward Red river
Gen. franklll's division in the meantime
embarked on transports here and at the camps
above, near Carrolton, and moved down the
river toward the Gull. 1t was therefore a
combined movement by three distinct columns
and by three routes. The three routes this
correspondent suggests were: Frankn's corps.
going by transports by way of the Gulf, would
advance to Sabine Pass, the boundary line in
the Calf between this State and Texas; Her
rons men, going by way oil Red river TO Smms-
port, would march from thence to Opeousas
or to New Iberia; while Washburnes column
crossed Berwick Bay and made the old move
ment via Pattersonvillc and Franklin along the
Teehe.
When Franklins men went down the river
and Washburnes corps moved by the railroad
to Brsahear and Bayou Boeuf a week ago to-
day, the two Federal gunboats Clifton and
Sachem moved down Berwick Bay to the Gulf
tranklns transports were accompanied by
three gunboats, the Arizona, the Quaker CITY
and the St Charles, Il Think
Herron's column was taken by steamboats,
II the mouth of the Red river to go to Simms-
port.
Until to-day, beyond rumors, we have heard
nothing definite from the movement. This
evening it was well known in the city that
number of vessels chartered as transports for
the movement had been discharged or released
from the engagement.
Ldter.-We know of the arrival of one or
two of Gen. Frankn's transports from Sabine
Pass and learned that Others were coming up
the river At the same time some of the YES
sells that went in the expedition came back TO
Brashear City. The 18th Connecticut regi-
ment, which was lately Withdrawn from Bra
shear to Algers was ordered back again to-
day, and two regiments only of Gen. Weitzel's
division, under command of acting Brig. Gen.
Brige oil the 18th Connecticut, remained in
camp near Thbodcaux
From various sources tonight we gain the
following authentic information about the
movement:
The Clifton, at Brashcar, took on board two
companies of the 18th New York regiment,
and when she and the Sachem moved down
the bay the rebel Col. Mapes' force at Camp
Bsland, watching the movement, Immediately
moved to Nermillion Bay 10 repel the entrance
OF the Federal force at that point. In the
event oil their not entering that bay it is known
to have been Mapes' intention to push on TO
Sabine Pass. Day before yesterday the gun
boats arrived at the pass. the Clifton taking
the lead. and the Saehem following. When
they got in they were exposed TO raking fire
from both sides of the bay IL is not known
that Mapes had arrived, but Sabine Pass was
well fortified. and the armament consisted of
the heaviest siege guns.
Captain Croker of the Clifton fred broad
side and IN turning to fire the other broadside
his boat grounded and stuck fast on the flat
lie was exposed to a very heavy fire. Some
OF the soldiers or sailors on board RIM up a
white flag without Crocker's orders. In view
of his hopeless condition Capt. Croker turned
one of his largest guns and fired through the
machinery, completely disabling the gunboat
lie then spiked his guns.
In the meantime two rebel gunboats came
down and captured the Sachem. Franklin's
gunboats and transports entered the pass Just
in time to see the last of the brief action. One
or two soldiers escaped from the Clifton and
swan toward Franklin's transports and were
taken on board. They say there was not a
man in the after part of the Clifton who was
not Killed or wounded by the rebel fire. Fhuse
remaining on board were, of course, taken
prisoners. Capt. Johnson and his men on the
Sachem were also taken prisoners. The Cliff
ton is believed to be a wreck. and useless to
the rebels
This disaster, the low stage of water and
the quite unexpected formidable resistance no
doubt induced Gen. Franklin to run back again
and to abandon that part of the expedition.
The news first reached us by gunboat ar
irving from Sabine Pass at Brashear City and
thence by telegraph to this city.
Herron's men have not been heard from to-
day. Up to this evening not regiment had
crossed the Bay from Brashear
The arrival of the transports here to-day
should give us full details of the Sabine Pass
affair in time for the Columbia's mail to-mor-
row. 1t is believed that the movement will
now begin de moro. Gen. Franklin's corps 90
ing to Brashear and the army then moving
across the Bay to follow the old track along
the Teehe.