Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-03
FRoM 1HE SourH WEST.

The steamer New Brunswick has arrived
from New Orleans, the 23d The steamer
Biobio arrived on the 23d from New York
and Havana, totally destroyed by hre
that morning, with passengers baggage and
cargo, while lying at the wharf. The origin
of the tire is unknown.
Advces from New Brunswick report the
return of Gen. Growers forces to the vicinity
of Baton Rouge.
Three hundred and fifty bales of cotton,
1,200 to 900 hogsheads sugar, and over
5000 bbls. of molasses were secured, and
much more can be readily obtained.
Captain Youngblood. chief of Gen. Gard
ners staff, and five members of the rebel sig
nal corps were captured. Youngblood says
the rebels have force in reserve which can
readily be thrown into Port Hudson or
Vicks burg. At latest accounts Gen. Dudley's
brigade was encamped at head OF Profit Island.
Gen. Growers headquarters are on the cross
roads leading from Taylors house to the
Bayou Sara road. The Hartford and the AL
batross appear to have been the only vessels
that passed Port Hudson. The Richmond
made gallant attempt to get by, but failed.
Destruction Of the Mississippi is confirmed.
Sixtysfour of her crew are missing, forty-two
of whom are prisoners, and the remainder
killed
A semi-ofcial account says after the ar
rival of the army from Baton Rouge and the
skirmishes of Saturday, Admiral Farragut's
fleet prepared to pass the batteries. The
signal for the ADVANCE made at IL o.
clock. 1t was a beautiful starlight night.
The Hartford with the Albatross along side
took the lead, and both successfully passed
the batteries, but with what damage we are
not informed, as there has of course been no
communication with them since their passage.
The Richmond and Tennessee followed.
The Richmond was exposed to the fire of all
the batteries and received a shot through her
steam drum and was obliged to fall back
She dropped down the river and anchored
Her loss was three killed and seven wounded.
Lieut.. Commanding Cummings was mortally
wounded. A snot from the batteries took off
his leg and the same shot passed through the
smoke stack of the gunboat. He died on the
18th.
The Monongahela and the Kineo went up
next in order. Capt NJ Kinstry of the Mo-
nongahela was standing on the bridge. when
it was shot away from under him and he was
very seriously injured. The amputation of
one les will be necessary. The entire loss
on the Monongahela was killed. and 2l
wounded. The Kneu was under severe fire,
was badly damaged became unmanageable, and
dropped back out of the fire. The Monon-
gahela also fell back.
The side wheel gunbost Tennessee was
somewhat damaged, and also fell back.
The naval engagement lasted from ten until
about O'Clock in the morning. The rebel
batteries at first fred very irregularly, but
after the Mississippi grounded and the range
attained the fire was very effective. While
the gunboats were under the batteries, the
six mortar schooners and iron-clad Essex,
lay below the point and fred across, keeping
up a continuous Smelling Of the rebels during
the entire engagement.
The Mississippi went up last night and
grounded on the beach in a position which
placed her nearly in the centre of the range
Of shore batteries. She grounded at Y
o'clock, midnight and stood the fire thirty
minutes before abandonment. Robert T.
Kelley was killed and forty-fve men are
killed or missing. When the ship was aban-
doned il was set on FIRE and destroyed
Some of the men took to the boats and
pulled for the shore. One boat went "a
one OF the other vessels.
The New Orleans Picayune of the 22d
says "The Monongahela, whose machinery
was uninjured during the fight of last Satur-
day night, has repaired the damage done her
woodwork, and is in good order again. She
is now in the hands of Capt. Meancthor
Smith and Executive Officer Lieut.. Dewey
late of the Mississippi On Friday she
steamed up the river to point near the lower
batteries and threw several shells from her
200 pound Parrot"