Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-22

Sabine pass on hef way. Inc r0Dels WelS Acf
ively employed in forlifying the harbor.. w
could see rail cars busiiy running from For
/ point to the city. taking ordnance stores, etc
/ for the Notifications Pelican island is rapidly
/ being placed in a state Of defense. 1he hache
! Seamen isBiali0ned at Arkansas pass.
On the morning Of the 18th the Cireassisl
I proceeded to Sabine Pass, where she found tn
4 United States steamers New London end Cay
ugs. From them We received some prisoner
recently captured By those ships Among then
/ Is Commodore Fowler, G. S. n, who command
ed the hotiHa at Sabine Pass He was in com
mand Of the steamers that captured the Morn
ing Light and Velocity.
CONFEDERATE OFFICERS CAPTURED.
/ We learn that when Gen. Weintzel's troop
were advancing up the Teche, Captain semmes
of the celebrated Semmss battery, was ordered
TO take command Of the Diana, and cover tn
rear of the retresting Confederates. 1n tn
meantime, q battery had been planted fnrthe
Up by our forces, thus placing az obstruction t.
the navigation of the Teche by, this steamer
finding himself between two fres, and unable
to run the gauntlet, Semmes blew up the Diana
and was captured. Captain Semmes is said 4
be son Of the notable Raphael Semmes, of tbs
rebel steamer Alabama. He is now in ssf
place,
ADy sFARRAGUT HEARD FROM
Morc Is felt in the fortunes Of Admi
raj Farrs 'ery loyal man in the country
and his assured safety is a source Of coBgratu
iation among good men everywhere.
Not the least gratifying intelligeaee in this
news, is the fact that the renowned Colonel Ell
let Of the ram feet is in command of the Switz-
erland, with Admiral Fsrrsgut. The rebel pa
pers up The river trumped up very ingenious
theory some time ago, by which tho writers
proved TO their own great satisfaction that Col
onei Ellet was lost, with everybody else on
board the ram Lanesster, while attempting to
pass the batteries at Vicksburg:
Tuesday morning, April 18th, Lieutenants H
B. Skinner, and c. G. Dssn, Of General Dad
ley's stsff, and Lieutenant Tenney, quartermss.
ter of the 30th Massachusetts volunteers, went
MP from Baton Rouge to Pert Hudson, in the
Richmond they having volunteered to 90 across
10 the point opposite Port Hudson, and csrTy
dispatches from below to the admiral who was
to be at the mouth of False river Wednesday
morning Capt. Roc and Lieut. Herbert, Of the
signal corps accompanied the expedition.
During the sal up an additional mast was put
sbrve the msis topmEst Of theEl Richmond,
with a crows nest" in the top, from which it
was proposed to signal over the trees covering
the point with the admiral, which plan proved
entirely successful. On the morning of ths 18th,
Lieuts Skinner, Dean, Tenney and Herbert
went up the river a couple of miles to recon.
noiter. They found that the enemy were cross.
ing cavalry over from Port Hudson Return,
ing to the Richmond, the welcome signal gUng
were heard from the Hartford, whose r1ssta
were plainly visible from the crows nest y
They were quickly answered by Cspt. Alden, and
in a few minutes the expedition started BesiIes
the above mentioned off ssrs, Mr Shaw. acting
master Of the Richmond, snd Mr. Gabadan.
IN
down last week, and returned to the Richmond
from New Orleans, put IN kege to accompany
Us over. Also hr. Graves, purseT's clerk Of the
Albstros, accompanied the expedition. A negro
was taken along as 3 guide. The party was
well armed, and started about noon. They
struck t5e woods some two miles below the
river, embarked in two skiffs and for Eve usiles
proceeded through the woods, ovsr1owe ed with
water 10 the depth ranging from three to thirty
feet. II was q novel scene. Silently they pad
died through the forest-jhe only no ses heard
were the voices of numberlsss birds and tho
low TUstling of the leaves. Arriving near the
False river, the boats were hid in the bushes,
and the party waded waist deep through tae
water a mile farther in, when they strnek the
old State levee, following which for short dis
taOee, they came cut into the open road in full
sight Of the ener8y's batteries, which were 40
longer to be feared, for fight ahead was the
welcome sight Of the fsg-ship The Alhstros,
Captain Hart came quickly down and took as
on board. While waiting for her to reach us,
the enemy fired a few sbsIl at the party,
which vent harmlessly over Ia 9 few moments
we were alongside the sdmirsl's ship, who gave
us q most cordial welcome. The officers We'd
with each other iu making US comfortable, ami
eagerly asked numberless questions about the
news below. Aiter a good nights rest, the
party, decreased by the officers belonging above,
early next morning started TO return, which was
: much more dangerous matter thaa going, for
the enemy having OWNED our intentions had /
during the night, sent sI0all f0rca over, evil
deHtly with the intention of gob5ling the party;
but we struck a different road from the one we
came, and reached our boats in safety, having
but one of the enemY's piekets,
who was mounted, and quickly Red on our firing
at him We got back tothe Richmond at noon,
thus in twenty-foBr hours accomplished an OBJ
ieet full Of importance snd danger, aud one
which Yankee pluck and perseverance, alone
eonld accomplish.
The admiral is woll. and has sssn eonsidsra.
bic service since passing tie Port He reports
heavy batteries st Grand Gulf, which fred
On him in going up and coming down. There
are batteries also at Wz;reuton, Just below
The ram Switzerland is with
him He is now bloclading the mouth Of
Red river, down which a large amount
1f the enemy's supplies come. He reports that
.he rebels Rave only four days provisions at
Port Hudson, and is Of opinion that there are
not more than fifteen thousand troops, and that
# invested it must fall in weeks time at most
There is no particular news from Gen Grant
There is a large force st the canal opposite
The admiral had only one man
killed in passing Port HUDSON, but has lost sav-
aral in the numerous attacks he has received
rom tie river batteries