The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-04-09
NUMBER a.
News from Gen. Banks Army and Far.
rRgut's Fleet.

The steamer Mcclellan from New orleans,
22d, arrived this evening. She brings the
mails, Banks official dispatch, and$63, 258 in
specie, also Coils. Butler, Morton, and q few
other officers. Back New Orleans papers con-
tain a few additional items. A bottle contain
ing a dispatch from Farraguts Secretary, dat
ed above Port Hudson 18th, has been picked
up stating all is well. He lost three marines
killed and two of the crew wounded. The
Albatross lost n killed. The Monongahela,
with Gen Banks and Staff, and Capt. Alden
on board took position below Port Hudson Oh
the 18th, and fired quite a number of her 200
FOUNDER shells into the rebel batteries.
A Capt. and some 800 rebels have been cap
tured, the Capt. reports that Farragut lay live
miles above Port Hudson all day Sunday, and
that the Hartford received no damage. Sub
s~equently the Hartford went up the river. A
detachment of our land forces had been up
directly opposite Port Hudson.
NEW YORK, March 30.-The steamer New
Brunswick, from New Orleans the. 23d, has
arrived here.
Gen. Growers forces returned to the vicini-
ty of Baton Rouge with $50 bales OF cotton,
about 1900 hogsheads of sugar, and 5000
obtained. Capt. Y~oungblood, Chief of the
rebel Gen. Gardner's staff, and five members
of the rebel signal corps, were captured
Youngblood says the rebels have a force in re-
serve, which can readily be thrown into Port
Hudson or Vicksburg.
Dudley's brigade was encamped at the head
Of Profit Island.
The Hartford and Albatross are the only
vessels that passed Port Hudson. The de-
struction of the steamer Mississippi is confirm
ed. Sixty. four of the crew are missing, for
ty-two of whom are prisoners the rest are
believed to be killed. Among the prisoners is
Captain Fontaine, of marines.
The New Orleans Era of the p reports the
receipt of two thousand bales of cotton the
past week. which have been concealed for
months.
New Orleans advices state that on the APP
proach of Banks forces, the rebels retreated
to Port Hudson. Col. Clark, of Gen. Banks
staff, was seriously wounded III the leg, while
reconoiteriug. The man who shot him was
subsequently, killed. Gen. Banks was at New
Orleans on the 23d. On the return OF the ar
my to Baton Rouge he issued q general Or
der, announcing that the entire object Of the
expedition was accomplished, and that it was
a complete success. The movement is under
stood to have been a mere diversion to enable
Farragut's fleet to pass the batteries, and not
the reduction of Port Hudson. 1t is said that
information was received by Gen. Grover, that
the rebels were about to attack Baton Rouge,
which rendered a brigade movement advIs-
able. Our fleet is now two miles beyond Ba-
ton Rouge, the Essex being nearer Port u
son. The rebel force there is SAID to number
20, 600. Report says that the Mississippi be-
fore her destruction had 'silcnced two rebel
batteries, which opened on her, except one
gun, and that the Richmond, which had pass
ed Port Hudson, returned, aud mistaking her
for a rebel gunboat which might have come
of one of the bayous, fired OH her so rap
idly that she nearly swept her decks, This
was not discovered till she was aground, and
her destruction inevitable.
A semi-oficial account OF the naval engage
ment says, after the arrival or the army from
Baton Rouge, and the skirluishes of Saturday
afternoon, Admiral Farragut's fleet, which
was at anchor 5 or 6 miles below Port Hind
SON., prepared to pass the batteries. The sig
nails for the advance was made at half past
nine o'clock, a beautiful starlight night. The
Hartford, with the Albatross alongside, took
the lead, and successfully passed the batteries,
but with what damage we are not informed,
as there had of course been no communication
with them since their passage. The Rich
and Genesee followed. The Richmond
was exposed to the fire of all the batteries,
and received a shot through her steam drum,
and was obliged to fall back out OF range
loss was three men killed and seven wounded.
Lieut.. Charles Boyd Cummings was mortally
wounded. A shot from the batteries took OFT
his leg below the knee. The shot passed
through the smoke stack Of the gunboat.-
He died on the 18th at New Orleans. The
Monongahela and kineo went up next III or
der. Capt. McKinstry, OF the N~ionongahela,
was standing on the bridge, when 1t was shot
from under him, and he was severely
injured. 1t is generally reported that III hs
case fine amputation of one leg will be neces-
sary. The entire loss Of the M~onongalela was
seven killed and one wounded.
The Kineo was under severe fire. Her rig
ging was badly cut, her rudder post shot away
a hawser was entangled about her propeller,
and she became ~unmanagable, and was obllg-
ed to drop back out Of the fire.
The Monongahela also fell back. The loss
on board at the time, if any, war nor reported.
The s~ide-whecl gunboat Gencsee was some
what damaged.
1t appears the Mississippi was the last III the
line of the fleet which attempted to pass Port
Hudson the night of the l4th. On going up
she was struck by three or four shots and on
ly slightly damaged, but when near the cen
ter of the range Of the batteries tine smoke ana
steam of the vessels in advance, and the bat
teries, so enveloped the ship that the pilot lost
his bearings and the frigate grounded ON the
right bank of the river. For forty minutes
she was exposed to a terrific lire from ali the
During this time she tired Z0O
rounds. but her guns became nearly all dis
--4-1 L.. ~o.4 IoIao ON +ha StarhOrH c1np |
into one, twenty-five or thirty men
killed. and four wounded, the ship riddled with
shot, and there was no prospect OF her ever
again.
CAPT. Sweet gave orders for her abandon
ment. During all the time she was under hire
there was no particular excitement on board.
The crew was told to load and fire at the bat
teries as rapidly as possible, and did 50 as long
as there was a gun to fire. After the order
to abandon her, the boats was lowered, the
wounded men put in first, and the crew filled
the boats, Many jumped overheard, expect
to swim ashore some were picked up by
boats and a few arc supposed to be owned.
Those who reached the levce were taken Oft
by the Essex to the number Of fifty or sixty.
When the crew were all off, Capt. Sweet and
Lieut.. Derby sprinkled turpentine in the ward
room. setting it on fire. The Captain of the
fired her forward, and the Captain
and Lieutenont pulled for the Essex. The
Mississippi was soon wrapped in flames, and the
fire presently reached her magazine, blowing
her up with a tremendous explosion.
N - |
Bread and water diet makes more cpicures
a~scetics.
| thank my Heavily Father for every man
Hesitation of human love; | thank him for all
experiences, be they sweet or bitter, which
help me to forgive all things and to enfold the
whole world with a blessing.-MrS. Chald.
A clergyman advocating corporeal punish
ment for children, said "Fhe child, when
started 4 in a course of evil conduct is like
a locomotive ON the wrong track-it takes a
switch to get it off"
A babvT was out with the nurse, who walk
L. l.. :. L..l.n .r q Ia.- !