The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-04
The Passage OF Port Hudson.


The Passage Of Port Hudson.
Correspondence Of the Nesc York World
The combined movement from Baton Rouge
commenced on Friday, March l3. Farragut's
feet moved up the river in the morning, and
the army began its march in the afternoon.
MARCHING ALONG"
General Growers division marched out of
Baton Rouge at O'Clock on Friday afternoon;
General Enery's division followed at Z O'Clock
In the evening, and General Augur's division
LEFT at O'Clock Saturday morning. consid-
erable cavalry force was in advance of the col
umn, and General Banks commanded the
army.
This long looked-for advance was matter
for enthusiasm with the army. As the divis-
ions went out from Baton Rouge the bands
played Marching Along" and the men sung
"Old John Brown and other army songs.
The advancing columns presented some novel
features In military marches. To make up for
deficiencies In the baggage train large num-
Der OF plantation teams were pressed into SER
vice, and these, with three mules abreast and the
negro drivers. picturesquely varied the monot-
ony of the long lines OF marching men.
Some seven miles from Baton Rouge a tree
by the roadside displayed guide-board point
ing toward Port Hudson and giving the some
what olninous direction, The ROAD TO
HE'LL SY-. The confederates burned the
bridge over the Bayou Montscino; but day
or two before the advance a federal force went
up and built new bridge, threw up an earth
work to protect themselves while the bridge
was building, and left small force TO defend
L. In addition, the first division in the march
threw across the bayou an india rubber pom
toon bridge, so that the army had two crossing
places.
After leaving Baton Rouge all along the line
or march the scenery Is superb. On either
side of the road at intervals are large groves OF
live oak and magnolia trees, profusely draped
with Spanish moss, which in winter gives the
groves weird and witliered look, but now
that the trees are leaving out In full luxuri-
ance of springtide, adds fantastic beauty
to the foliage, and makes the forest seem, TO
northern eyes at least, novelty.
Wherever General Banks appeared in the
column. riding from the rear to the front, or
TO the different divisions, he was enthusiastic
ally cheered by all the regiments. The march
was without molestation or interruption.
There were no guerrillas ON the route; no
stray rife shots from the woods The army
reached Springfield road crossing without a
skirmish, and at that point, six or seven miles
from Port Hudson, General Banks made his
headquarters in the field near church at the
angle of the roads, and on the following day
removed to a near by farmhouse.
sKIRMIsHTNG.
On Saturday the entire body of cavalry and
some of the infantry regiments were sent out
on the Bayou Sara road to Port Hudson, and
down the Ross and Springfield landing roads
to reconnoiter. One party met force Of con-
federate cavalry, OF about five hundred men,
who retired before the federais without wait
ing for fight
During the afternoon, however, there were
at least two sharp skirmishes between the fed
eral regiments and force of confederate cav
airy and infantry thrown out from Port Hud-
son and deployed as skirmishers in the woods.
1t scarcely seems possible, but with all tho
sharpshooting there was almost nobody hurt" !"
The entire fighting was burlesqne upon
battle. Two officers complete the list of cas-
ualties on the federal side, excepting private
who was killed in camp by the accidental dis
charge of his carbine. The confederate loss
in the skirmishes, If any, Is not known. Tow
ard evening the skirmishers retired within
their own intrenchments in the rear of the
town and were seen no more.
THE RETURN TO BATON ROUGE.
These comparatively bloodless skirmishes
comprise all the lighting done by the the land
forces near Port Hudson. There was nothing
like general engagement, and the body of
the army did not advance beyond the cross
roads. There has been a little random firing
between the pickets at intervals this week, but
with no reported losses.
On Sunday morning, after quiet bivouac
all night, the order was issued to return to
Baton Rouge. There was a little grumbling
and some disappointment in the ranks. The
new, and, until then, untried regiments wearied
with the monotonous months of almost mac
tive life in camp, were, as the vulgate hath it,
"spoiling for fight" 1t is certain that Gen.
Banks was wise and polite in ordering the re-
turn. There were probably not less than thr-
ty thousand confederates under Gen. Gardner
1. t.sr l.l. A.
were not cut off, at least twenty thousand more
could be concentrated at that point in single
day.
At 10 o'clock Gen. Augurs division began
the return march, Growers and Emorys divis
ions following at intervals of five miles between
each of the three divisions. A small force wa,
LEFT in occupation near the cross roads, and ths
main body OF the army reached Baton Rouge
without interruption, before night. Some o
Of the regiments encamped near the road, five
or six miles from the city.
On Monday Gen. Banks issued printed or
der, announcing that the object Of the advance
was accomplished, and that the expedition wa
an entire success.
Correspondence Of the Boston Jonrndt
The movements of the fleet under Admira
Farragut, were retarded first by rain storm
and fog in the river, and secondly by the dis
covery OF defects In the boilers of the Miss
issippi, which together delayed the advance
couple Of days. The repairs having been com
pleted, and the various ships put in fghtins
trim, while the land forces were marching to
ward Port Hudson, to divert the attention o
the enemy from the real object of the move
ment, the fleet steamed up the river under
cover of the darkness, on the night of til,
18th, and came to anchor under Prohpet Island
The mortar fotila was towed up and got il
position in sight Of the batteries about 2 p. NJ
when they commenced shelling the rebe
works. There was no demonstration on tn
- part of the enemy, and no indications Of tn
presence OF foe.
At 2o'clock, Saturday afternoon the mortar
opened fire, for the purpose of getting th
range of the batteries
Al Q O'Clock Saturday ssening the flagship
made signal, weigh anchor" AT Il
all the anchors we're "aweign when the Hart
ford hung red light over Aer stern' whicl