, 1863-09-23
FROM New ORLEANS.
Interesting from the late Move
ment Toward Texas.

new ORLEANS. La Sept u, 1868.
The Important movement Indicated In my
last letter to the IForld was planned with
more ability, progressed with moro secrecy,
and, perhaps, promised more OF success than
any previous military operation in the Gulf
Depa1tn enr. For the first time since the
Federal occupation Of Louisiana there are
men Of means, Generals and soldiers enough
to carry on an extended and important
campaign. Ever since the arrival Of
the large reintorcements from the Vtcks-
burg army, and the concentration Of troops
| near thfa city, 1t has been sufficiently evident
| to every one who walked The streets that the
Army Of the Cult would not be idle this
! sutumn. So soon as the troops from Port
Hudson and from Vdckabnrg had recovered
IN q degree hom the fatigue Of those t1o
ments we're moved with ropidity, in soue Ia.
stances with an attempted secrecy, and at first
to ridely different points.
Thus there Was . sudden concentration Of
regiments aud military stores at Ship Island.
This, In connection with the fact that Her
1on's division wss near Port Hudson and An
gur's {nnn Wtitzels) was at Baton Rouge,
together NTH generally believed report that
men were constantly coming down the river
to augment these divisions, looked like q
movement BY tWo routes--from the Interior
a1d By the coast-upon Mobile. There WAS
panic about it for several days IN that city.
Last week from ten thousand to fifteen
thousand men we're conveyed by theO Opelousas
road frcm Alglers to Brashear City and to
Bayou Bout, the whole force uhder the COM
Hand Of Gen. Washburne. Almost simu1ta-
reonsly He1ron's men moved up the Missis-
sippi toward Red River. Gen. Franklin's d.
Eiston meanwhile embarked on transports
here and at the camps above near CaErolton,
and moved down the river toWard the Gulf.
It Was, therefore, 4 combined movement By
three distinct columns, and by three rontes.
When Fiankl1n's men went down the river
ard Washburnes' corps moved BY railroad to
Brashear and Bayou Bgf, week ago to-day,
moyed down Berwick Bay to the Gull. Frank
Inns Transports were accompanied BY three
gu1boate, the Asizopa, the Qu aker City, and,
think. the St Charles. Herrou's column
VAS taken By steamboats, to the mouth Of Red
Fara K1yer 70 60 to snRmsrorta M today BE-
from the movement. This evening 1t was
we'll known In the city that number Of ves-
sells, chartered as transports for the move
menr; had been discharged OF released from
rival Of one or two of Franklln's Transports
from Sabine Pass, and learned that others
were coming up the river. At the same time
ecme ct the yessels that went on the expedi~
ton came back to Berwick Bay, and landed
the troops q Brsshea5 City. The 18th Con
Brashear to A]giers, was ordered back again
to-day, and two regiments only, Of Weitzers
diyieion, under command Of Acting B,tgadier
Birge Of the 18th Connecticut, remained In
csInp near Tibodeau1.
From various sources tonight We gain the
following authentic information about the
movement: The Clifton, ut Brashear, took
on board two companies ef the 18th New
York re giment, and when she and the Sachem
Moved down the bay, Confederate Colonel
Majors force at Camp Bisand, watching the
increment, Immediately marched for Yer
million Bag to- repel the entrance Of the Fed.
eral force at that point.
In the event Of their not entering that bay,
It is known to = aye been Majors Intention
to push on to Sabine Pass. Day before yes
telday the two gunboats arrived at the pass,
the CNttcn taking the lead, and the sachem
pcsed 70 raEiDg IRE IRON both sides Of tue
bay. It is not known that Major had ar
rived, but Sabine Pass was well fortified,
and the armament consieted Of the
heaviest siege guns. Captain ICrocker,
Of the Clifton, firtd q. broadsfde, and in turn
Ing to fire the other broads1de his boat
exposed to q very heavy fire. Some Of the
soldiers OF sailors on board, without Crocker's
orders, ran up a viii c flag In view Of bis
hopeless condition, Captain CFocker turned
one Of bis largest guns and fred through the
HacHueIJ. Complelely Q1s8p41S Inc gun
boat He then spiked his guns. Mean
Thfle two Confederate gunpoats come
doHn and captured the 8achem. Frank
Inns gunboats and transports entered
the pass just In time to see the last Of the
brief action. One or two soldiers es-
caped from the Clifton and swan toward
Franklln's Transports, and were taken on
board. They say that there was not man In
tte after part Of the Clifton who was not
killed or wounded by the fire from the bat
terles on shore. Those remaining on board
were OF course taken prisoners. .Captain
Johnson and his men on the Sachem ara also
prisoners, and his guuboat was taken. The
Clifton is believed to be q wreck, and useless
to the Confederates.
This disaster, the low stage Of water, aud
the quite unexpectedly formidable resistance,
no doubt induced Franklin to run back again,
md to abandon. That part Of the movement.
The news first reached us BY . gunboat arriT-
ing from Sabine Pass at Br4sbear, and thence
by telegraph to this city. Herron's men have
not been heard from to-day. Up to this eve
ming not regiment had crossed tho bay from
Br1shear. The arrival Of the transports here
today should give us full details of the Sa-
bine Pass affair in time for the Columbia's
mail tomorrow. It Is believed that the
movement will now begin de noro, Franklin's
co,Is going to Hrashear, aud the army then
mtVirg across the Bay, to follow the old
tF; OK alcpP the Teche