The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-16

GEN. BANKs's OPERATIoNs.-The follow
ing is Gen. BankS's official report of opera
tiOns in Opelousas River:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF GULF,
10TH ARMY Corps, Opelousas, April %,
lS63.-GENERAL: On the evening of the
18th, Gen. Grover, who had marched from
New Iberia by a shorter road and thus
gained the advance, met the enemy at
Bayou Vermillion.
cradle number of cavalry, 1000 infantry,
and pieces of artillery, masked in strong
position on the opposite bank, with which
we were unacquainted. The enemy was
driven from his position, but not until he
had succeededsinh destroying the bridge over
the bayou by fire. Everything had previ-
ously been arranged for this purpose. The
enemy's flight was precipitate.
The night Of the 18th and the whole of
the next day were occupied in pushing
with vigOr the reconstruction of this
bridge. On the 10Th the march was resu-
med, and continued to the vicinity of
Grand Coteau, and on the following day
our main force occupied Opelousas, the
cavalry, supported by one regiment of in
thrown forward to Washington, on the
Courtableaus, distance OF six miles. The
command rested on the Dist.
Yesterday morning, the I'D, sent out
Brig. Gen: Dwight with his brigade of Gro
ver's division and detachments of artillery
and cavalry, to push forward through
Washington toward Alexandria, He found
the bridges over Bayous Cocodue and b.
cuff destroyed, and occupied the evening
and night in replacing them by single
bridge at the junction on the two bayous,
The people say that the enemy threw
large quantities of ammunition and small
arms into Bayou Cocodue, and that the
Texans declared they were going to Texas.
Here the steamer Wave was burnt by the
enemy, and the principal portion Of her
cargo, which had been transferred to a
flat, captured by us.
A dispatch was found by Gen. Dwight
In which Gov. Moore tells Gen. TAYLOR to
retreat slowly to Alexandria, and if press
ed to retire to Texas. Gen. Dwight will
push well forward to-day, and probably
halt tomorrow, to continue his march or
return, according to circumstances.
An expedition consisting of the 162d New
York, Lit. Col. Blanchard, one section of
artillery, and Barretts Company B, lst
Louisiana Cavalry, accompanied by Capt.
Durham, Assistant Adjutant General, and
First Lieut.. HARDWOOD, Engineers-botho of
my staff-was sent out yesterday morning
by way of Barras Landing to examine the
Bayou Courtableau, in the direction Of
Butte Ia Rose.
Last night Capt. Durham reported the
road impossible four miles beyond Barres
landing, and that the expedition had cap
tured the steamer Ellen in small bayou
leading out eff the Courtableau. This cap
ture is a timely assistance to us.
informed you in my No. 50 that had
ordered the gunboats to lake Butte a la
Rose. This was handsomely done without
serious loss on the morning of the 10Th inst.
by Lieut.. Com, Cooks, U. S. N, with his
gunboat and four companies Of infantry.
We captured here the garrison of sixty
men and its commander, two heavy guns
in position and in good order, a large uuan-
tity of ammunition, and the KEY Of the
Atchafalaya.
hope not to be obliged to lose a moment
in improving the decisive advantage gain
ed in this section. We have destroyed the
enemy's army and navy, and made their
reorganization impossible by destroying or
removing the material. We'hold the key
of the position.
Among the evidences of our victory are
:, 1000 prisoners, 2 transports, and 20 guns.
including one piece ofthe Valvade Battery
taken, and gunboats and transports
destroyed.
have the honor to be, General,
Very respectfully, your ob't ser't,
N. P. BANKS, Maj. Gen. Com'dg.
Maj Gen. HALLEcK, Gen. in Chief, Wash
ington City.