Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-30
Success of the Red River Expedition.


The following was received at the War
Department this morning:
Flag Ship Black Hawk, off Vicks-
burgh, July Is, 1868.
SlR.-I have the honor to inform you
that the eXpedltlon l sent into tho Red
River region was very successful. AS
cending the Black and Tensas rivers, run
ming parallel with the Mississippi, Lieut..
commanding Selfordge made the head OF
Macon, thirty miles above Vicksburg, and
within five or six miles of the Mississippi
river. The enemy were taken completely
by surprise, not expecting such force IN
such a quarter. The rebels that have as
cended to that region will be obliged to
move further back from the river if not go
away altogether.
Lieut. Commaader Sehordge divided his
forces, on finding that tie transports
which had been carrying stores TO WIKI
ers army had escaped up some q. the
narrow streams. He sent the Malnton
and Rather up the little Red river, small
tributary of the Black, and the Forest
Rise and Petrol up the Tensas. The
night was dark and it was rai3ing very
hard. The Mainton and Rather succeeded
IN capturing The rebel steamer Louisville,
one of the largest, and perhaps the best,
steamers in the Western waters. Up the
Tensas or one of its tributaries, the Forest
Rise and Petrol captured the steamer Ell
mira loaded with stores, sugar and rum
tor the rebel army Finding that the
steamers which had conveyed General
Walkers army had returned up the Wash
tia, the expedition started up that river
and came suddenly upon two rebel steam
ers. but the rebels set them on fire, and
they were consumed so rapidly that their
names could not be ascertained.
One steamer loaded with ammunition
escaped above the fort at Harrsonburg,
which is very strong fort and unassalla-
Bile with wooden gunboats. 1t is on an
elevation over one hundred feet high,
which elevation covers what water batter
les Of heavy guns there are. Lieut.. Sell
fordge, however, was fortunate enough to
hear of a large quantity of ammunition
that had lately been landed from Natchez
and deposited at or near Trinity, nearly
due West from Natchez, and from whence
stores. provisions, cattle, guns, and ammu-
milton are transported. lie captured
$1,000 rounds of smooth bore ammunI-
milton, 10000 rounds Of Enfield rifle and
224 rounds of field ammunition for guns,
rifle 30-pounder Parrot gun. carriage,
81 hogsheads of sugar, 10 puncheons Of
rum. 9 barrels of flour aud so barrels of
salt, all Belonging to the confederate gov
eminent. At the same time they heard
of large amount of ammunition that
had started from Natchez for Trinity, and
was lying in wagons, on the road half
way across.
He despatched boat around TO inform
me of it, but Gen Ransdon, who had land
ed "a few days before at Natchez, hearing
of it, also sent a detachment of cavalry
and captured the whole. Thus Walkers
army is left almost without ammunition.
The officers ana men have shown great
energy on this expedition, and have met
with no mishaps. They procured good
deal of information, by which future
movements will be regulated. The people
in that section are very hostile to the gov
eminent.
have the honor to be, &c.
DAVID ID. PORTER,
Rear Admiral.
To Hon. g. WELLEs,
Secretary of the Navy.