Evening star., 1863-03-31
THE FIGHT AT PORT HUDSON.

The New Orleans Picayuee of the 18th inst
contains the following semi-oiiicial account of
the fight at Port Hudson:
"The movement from Baton Rouge COM
menced by an advance OF Gen. Growers di-
vision at , p. Friday. Gen. Emery's
division followed at p. m, and Gen. Augur's
division lett Baton Rouge at o'clock on Sat
urday morning.
vance. Gen. Banks was i'll command of the
amy. He advanced on the road without mo-
lestatiOn TO the Springfield road crossing, where
he made his headquarters at first, in the field
near the church At the angle of the roads, and
afterwards at a house near by. The cavalry
was around the country reconnOltering. Soon
after The arriS al OF the divisions at this point,
they met IN the woods force OF about 5OU con-
fedplate cavalry, who retired before the adj
sancing columns without skirmish.
In the course OF Saturday afternoon, how
ever. there were two sharp furnishes between
the portions of the Federal divisions and the
conte derate cavalry and infantry scattered
about in the woods. There are no means of
estimating their numbers. So far as we can
learn, none of the Federal soldiers were killed
or wounded. There was nothing like gen.
eral engagement, and no fighting on land after
Saturday afternoon.
The confederate force towards evening re-
tired TO Port Hudson. Reconnoissances were
made in the direction of Port Hudson. along
the Bayou Sara road, and towards the Ross
and Springfield Landings
After the skirmishes on Saturday evening
the Federal forces remained on the field, near
the Springf field road crossing, all night. At ten
O'Clock Sunday morning, General Augur's
division commenced the return march to Baton
Rouge. Growers and Emerys divisions fol-
lowed leaving distance of five miles between
each of the three divisions.
After the arrival of the three divisions from
Baton Rouge and skirmishes on Saturday
afternoon, Farragut's fleet, which was at an
chor five or six miles below Port Hudson, pre-
pared 10 pass the batteries The signal for the
advance was made at half past nine o'clock on
a beautiful starlight night. The Hartford,
with the Albatross alongside, took the lead,
and both successfully passed the batteries.
The Richmond and Tennessee followed.
The Richmond was exposed to the fire OF all
the batteries and received a shot through the
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 u~de- Captain Mckinstry of the Mononga-
hpla J, as standing on the bridge when it was
shot away from under him and he was very
seriously in ured.
The loss on the Monongahela was seven men
killed and twenty lone wounded Inc k1nco
w;s under severe fire her rigging was badly
cut, a. Il her rudder- post shot away. A hawser
entangled about her propeller, became unman-
ageable, and she was obliged to drop back out
OF fire. The Menongahela also fell back out Of
range. The side-wheel gunboat Genesee,
somew hat damaged, also fell back
The amount of damages on board this boat
is not known here at present. The Mississippi
went up last, and grounded on the bank in a
position which placed her nearly in the centre
of the entire range of shore batteries, which
ext ended nearly three and a half miles. She
grounded at 10 O'Clock at night, and stood fire
forty minutes before she was abandoned.
Acting Master Robert T. Kelly was killed, and
sixty-five me- are killed or missing.
She was exposed to terrific fire from all the
Latteries. During this time she fired two
hundred and fifty rounds; but her guns one
after anotl @. were all dismounted, and her
port. holes on the starboard side knoc cked into
one. twenty-five or thirty men We're killed,
and four wounded. The ship was perfectly
iGdled with shot, and there was no prospect
OF her ever floating again. So at last Captain
Smi gave an order for her abandonment.
During all the time the Mississippi was under
fire there was no particular exeitementaboard.
Orders were quietly given and executed. The
crew Were told 10 look and fire at the batteries
AS quick rs possible, and did so as long as there
was mounted gun 10 fire.
Aft, the order to abandon her the boats We're