The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-05-22
FROM NEW ORLEANS.

New YORK, May 17.-Tho steamer George
Washington from New Orleans, arrived this
morning
An Opelousas letter of the 9Th states that in
formation from Grand Gulf f,and the gunbOat
fleet had been received there with details of its
capture, and the capture of Port Gibson by Gen.
Osterhaus
When the latter was hearing Port Gibson, he
was met by hundreds of families fleeing from
the interior to escape the raid of the Illinois
cavalry, and the prevalent opinion among the
secessionists was that Port Gibson was the
safest place in that region. The damage done
by the cavalry raid wasi irreparable. 1t was
rumored at Opelousas that Port Hudson was,
evacuated
John E. Hays and C. G. Tracy of the Era.
had been expelled from Newt Orleans for writing
and publishing questionable article Anoth-
er editor, A. Hills, had been arrested. Quite
an excitement occurred on the evening of the
9TH, at the opera, occasioned by the audience
demanding national airs to be played, but moth
ing serious resulted.
Gen. Sherman has ordered all Llaces of
amusement hereafter to submit their pro-
grammes to the Provost Marshal, previous to
their performance, and suggested that national
airs be played.
The Era of the 18th, mentions a rumor that,
Port Hudson was bombardsd by our fleet,
on the night of the 8th, and all day on the.
9th.
Col. Griersen had arrived at New Orleans,
and has been presented by the Unionists: with,
magnificent charger.
Admiral Farragut arrived at New Orleans on.
the afternoon of the 9th, from Brashear City.
The Admiral and his officers left. the flag shin
in the Red River, and ibrings,the important in.
telllgence that Alexandria was captured on the
4tn, by Admiral POrter's and q portion of his
own heet Fort DE Russo, on. the Red River.
was demolished, after fight, and a rebel gum
boat also captured
After the capture, on the morning of the 9Th,
OF Alexandria, by our gunboats, the advance
cavalry of Brig. Gen. Dwight, dashed into the.
place. thus forming junction Of Farraguts
and Gen. Banks forces.
OpelOusas dates of the 9th state that our ar
my was then on the march, Gen. Dwights
brigade was supposed to be at Alexandria, and
Gems. Emory, Weitzel and Grover with their
forces, were close behind.
A Baton Rouge letter of the I'd. saws that
Col. Grierson's force, the 9th and 7th illinois
cavalry, and battery, numbering nine hum
dred men, followed by large number of pris-
0ners, rode into that city that day. They left
Lagrange, April 18th, burnt rebel stores and
railroad depot at OkOlona the depot and two
heavily laden freight and commissary trains
and an ordnance train at Newton. on the
Charleston and Vicksburg Railroad The ord.
nance train contained 1000 loaded shells for
rifically
From Newton they followed the road to Me-
rldlan, burning all the bridges, thence south on
the Mobile and Charleston railroad to Enterprise
where they destroyed the rebel ordnance works.
thence back to Newton, burning all the bridg-
es, from thence to Jackson, including the great
bridge over Pearl River, and near jackson tore
up TWO miles OF the track. Thence they fol-
lowed up the jackson and New Orleans rail-
road south to the Louisiana line.
rebel force of 500 at Clinton, was eyaded
by making circuit around them, our force
destroying their camp equipage stores and
capturing 800 prisoners While crossing the
branch OF the Amite river, Lieut. Col Black
burn was severely wounded and left in the hands
OF the enemy. They crossed the Amite river
on the morniug of the LIST, ten miles from Ba-
ton Rouge, captured rebel cavalry picket of
160 men and horses, burned Capt. Wetherby's
house and captured his horses.
They then rode into Baton Rouge, looking
rough, but in good condition. Every railroad
in Mississippi has been cut by them. They
have supplied themselves with fresh horses on
the route, and brought in over 800 contrabands
on horses, nearly all the latter also leading
horses.
The Era of the 9th gives the particulars of
the burning of the ship-Of-war Preble, at Pen
sacola, on the 9th of April. The fire took ac-
cidentally. All hands were saved. The yes
sci, after burning for several hours, blew mn