The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-17


boat. From them were gathered the fol-
lowing particulars with regard to the cap
ture by the Confederates of Brashear city:
News OF Saturdays and Sundays ope-
rat'ons at Lafourche crossing reached the
force at Brashear city. 1t is said (but /
am not certain OF this) that the field guns
OF the 2lst Indiana Gnfantrv regiment.
now the first Indiana) battery were sent
to reinforce the federals at the crossing.
If this is the case, the confaderates
will be obliged to fish them out of the
bayou, instead of removing them. as
they might have done, from Brasher
city. The force at Brasher city ex-
pected an attack but they looked for the
attack from Lafourchc, and were fairly
surprised literally as well as in military
sense-when at daylight Tuesday morning
two batteries, planted the night previous,
opened upon them from Berwick city, OPP
posite, and not an hour after came crash
ing through the woods mixed mass of
horse and footmen. There were not more
than six hundred of them, and they were
a portion of Moutons force from the west
bank of the Teche They crossed on RATS
and fiat boats, landing on the south bank
of Lake Palondre, charged into town, and
came in the rear of the Federals, who
were looking for an advance upon Bayou
Beuf 1t was short work. There was no
fighting. The Provost Marshal and few
men near the bay succeeded in getting on
board the Hollyhock. The rest were ''gob-
bled."
As raid, surprise, or "gobble, it was
a most important achievement for the
Confederates, and disaster to the Fede-
rails. There are no means of knowing
precisely the number of men who were ia
ken prisoners. They were volunteers be-
longing to tne 23d Connecticut, the 10th
New York, and the 1st Indiana battery,
with several sick and convalescent men.
Two thousand negroes-men, women and
children-were in the city, not one of
whom escaped. There is reason to be-
ieve that some of the soldiers joined the
Federal forces at Lafourche Sunday eve
ming. Those who remained are prisoners
The LIST Indiana, battery men were on du-
ty at Fort Buchanan, an earthwork on
Lake Palondre, commanding the inlet of
the Atchafalaya river. Capt. Noblett's
horse came into the city from the Fort RI
derless, and the fate of the rider is only
cOnjectured at.
There were four heavy guns in the fort,
one thirty pound Parrott in the city, three
or four guns on the earthworks at Bayou
BGuf, and in the magazine there were
10000 rounds Of ammunition for these
guns. In addition to the Temporary at
least) occupation of this important posi-
ton, and the capture of these guns and
ammunition, there were other very desir-
able spoils in the place. When General
Banks made his advance to Alexandria.
wishing to cucumber the army as little
as possible on the march, he left every
thing that was supertiuous at Brashear
city. His tents, his army's knapsacks,
the officers baggage, considerable sup
plies OF stores and provisions, have all
fallen into the hands of the Confederates.
Beyond the few clothes worn by those
who escaped on the Hollyhock (and they
did not stop to make elaborate tiolettes)
everything was captured.
THE CONFEDERATEs AT MANCHAC.
Lately a small train has been run daily
on the jackson Railroad to Kenner, four
teen miles above the city, and sometimes
on to Manchac, on the South Pass of Lake
Maurepas. Manchac Pass has been the
scene of blidge-burning more thar once
within few months past. Yesterday a
train with the only locomotive on the roa
was sent up to Manchac to bring down the
hand-cars, tools and, men, who have Just
completed the repairs of the bridge The
train did not return, and we have news
this morning that it was taken by the Con-
federates, who now hold the Pass. AS this
gives them the control of the road, and
affords a direct route to the city, the Con-
federates will not be likely to destroy tie
brid ge, unless compelled to do so to cut off
az advancing Federal force from New
Orleans
THE SITUATION TODAY
Gen Banks, so far as we know, ''holds
his own" in the rear of Port Hudson Ad-
miral Farragut is near Springfield Land
ing with the Tennessee (hag-ship,) Genes
see, Richmond, Essex Gron-clad,) Sachem,
Estrella, and AlbatrOss of this fleet are
supposed to be above. Gen. Emory COM
mands the detenses of New Orleans. The
Contederates occupy the entire State west
OF Lafourche Crossing and north of the
Opelousas railroad. The situation is more
interesting and critical than it has been at
any time since April 20, 1862, when Farra-
gut with his fleet appeared before New
Orleans and demanded the unconditional
surrender Of the city.
In the city the provost guard has been
doubled, and other precautions (Which it
would be improper to mention at present.
are taken to secure the safety of New Or
leans. The few soldiers here are parallel
q cannot but think with very feeble
show Of ostentatioD, considering their
number,) through the streets, and there is
more drum, fife, and bugle business than
has been manifested since the day Neal
Dow paraded his brigade The gunboats
Pensacola, Monongahela, Portsmouth, Cir
cassian, Kinneo, and the armed storeship
Fearnought, lie opposite the city in the
river; the forts built some years since be-
low the city are supposed to be there; Jim
Duke has gone to Mobile (where he ar
rived safely,) with the tugboat Boston,
and the sun shines as serenely over the
river, bay, and bayou, as it did in the hap
ply but past days of peace.