Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-24
1.-THE EXPEDITION TO TEXAS.
THE NAVAL FIGHT AT SABINE PASS.

cesstated the return to New Orleans Of Gen Fraukns
command New Orleans letter says that the naval force
was not adequate to the OCCASION either in the number
the character of the vessels They originally canal
and ferry boats good for the purpose for which they
constructed, but not for men-ofwar
1t appears that the expedition, when it left New Or
leans under Generals Franklin. Weze and Emory con
sstng of three thousand men, tkteen Transports
and two gunboats The STEAMERS Sachem and Clifton
joined it Berwick Bay On arrvipg at the place de-
signed for the landing of the troops outside The snemys
Notifications it found impossible to dsembark owing
t the maraby nature of the ground and excessively shall
low water Upon the gunboats Clifton sachem, and Arr
zona therefore devolved the whole task of attacking he
batteries and they calamity up to the work The
two fret named disabled and surrendered and
the Arizona then Withdrawn and the troops returned
to New Orleans on the I2h Instant.
We copy he following account of the engagement from
correspondence of the New York press:
The expedition of the Nineteenth Army Corps NJ jor
General Frank III command ng, VIII ch left NV Oresns
lnstan, has urued, without accomplishing the
object for which it patched All the pr -llminarJ
arrangements were made in the mort expeditions I'd
cret manner aud tn, promise OF ia ter
ing up to III. very last moment, WHEN comb natl Of
those unurtu ate acci ents which human foresight
detr prevent turned victory
defeat and rehd nuvatury all tn rta Of the gallant
fl ers and men composing the expedition compelling
them eiuq for the present the attempt aud return
to the b Sc OF op~ra ions at this place.
The Of the exp dti,n the occupation Of Sabine
City situated the tight bank the mouth Of the Sa
bine river the viang line OF Louisiana and Texas,
point of great strategic importance as base OF operation
~ either Western Louisiana Eastern and Central
L. kos The city only frty to forty five mites from Gal
by land, and about sky miles by sea; from Hous-
ton, the capital of Texas it is distant about sixty miles,
aud ed with by branch railroad from uu
fort This railroad is not in operation at present por
ton Of the track having been torn up The distance from
the mouth of the Mississippi is two hundred and eighty
miles The strategic Importance of the place thus be-
comprehepded glance, and it's occupation doubt
less intended the frat step IN campaign the uts OF
which promised to be Of the most brilliant and lasting
character.
Accompanying thu land force was naval force of four
ghdraught gunboats, consisting of the Clifton Arizona,
Granite city, and Sachem, aud the plan for these to
sill the batteries drive back the enemy and the
dIDg of the troops.
At the last place of rendezvous off Berwick Bay it
determined that the entire feet should endeavor reach
the pont of destination by midnight of the 7th and the
attack to take place st three four o'clock on the
morning of the Sth With this understanding, the long
line of vessels moved their way poted by the gunb9at
Arizona, Capt Tbbes which was followed by the trans
port Brvdrre, Capt Fletcher having board the vete
Brig. Gen Godfrey Weitzel, commanding the first d
vision of the corps and the gallant members OF his staff
the General being assigned to that post Of honor and
danger which he not Only willingly accepts but modrsty
reque ts the command Of the advance The bockadinR
vessel stationed off Saline Pass the object, aud
the fleet st AIMED swiftly while bright lockout
constantly kept to discover the vessel Hour after hour
ed and vessel appearing three o'clock thr
morning of the 8h, the fleet hove to, and upon
animation became apparent that the fleet had by th
designated point quite distance, in consequence of the
absence of the bckader 1t was of too late in
the day carry the original pau and the consequence
delay of entire day, thus giving the enemy if ad
weed OF the expeaiTon oppo tuniy of receiving rein
forcements and making all necessary preparations either
for evacuation vigorous defence. would add,
ia this xion that the block der absent acruse
from which she re urned before the battle.
During Monday night therefore, the entire feet were
collected in ,he uea hb 'rhood Of Sabine The gnnSoa's
aud ghest draft is of the transport et cross tn
bar aud made for the attack
the unavoidable delay pecesitaug some changes in the
mode Captain Cracker, of he Clifton, a. gallant .aior
ever fought ship to nau urat- the acton by feel
ing uucOyerng the enenys batteries ascertain h
number and disposition OF The opposing foce aud
their FIRE, while Genrrals Frnukn aud W-tze pers naly
examined the shor- Of the and ascertaaed the
aibe int or dis .mbarki x the land forces Accord
i ely the Clifton st-amt up The pss' throwing she
and then rom her huge fl gus at the only work
visible Gan earthwoIk containing sx avy gun.,) aud
making careful reconno tnce of the sur olndpg oca
ty Shr received sonse to her hume, .hos ana
with daring bravery steamed within easy of the fort
turued about and eisurey returned 10 her former position
The face OF the enemys works from hundred To-
hundred and fifty yards in length and supposed to
be open at The
On the return If the Clifton the order of battle wa
arranged aud rapidly perfect d. The gun
boats Clifton, Ariz,ua and Sacnem to engage the
enemys work, h- the Granite uity which carried on
bradside Of .mall bras guns TO the landing
Il advance force u FIVE Lundred men, of Gen W-itzel,
dvis selsc ed from the Of T. TT Hudson, aud
OF companies Of thu Que HuDd cd and Sky
& tb New York four companies OF the Oae Hundred
Sxy first New York, aud deachn Mt from the seventy
fifth N Yok regiments under command Of Capt Fitch,
of the last named regiment. The General himself
board the last moment tO euperntend personally the
operation of dsembarkIng his troops.
"Al ready" the signal, and about four o'clock p.
the guuboats steamed slowly forward the Clfton adj
vanclng directly toward fort followed by the Granite
City, aud she in by the transport General Banks
having board the advance of the army The Sach-u
aud the steamed off 10 the ght and nearly
opposite the battery he Clifton opened he engagement
with shell from of large pivot guns which burst
de enemy's rks raising cloud Of dust aud dirt;
ano her sh followed then the Sachem opened
broadsde from her gus, next the Arzoua followed.
The firing exosns from thirty to forty shells had
xplo3ed toe fort Of the enemy Not shot had been
tired n retun-boJ sol er cyian could be seen
The ony evidence that the ncgbborho,d not deserted
the movement Of couple Of vibrating be.
tween the city aud The fort
Presently heavy shot fred at the Arizona passing
hrr another directed the S,chem and at
the Clifton, but without feet Son the conflict became
general and stomy, the shot and shell rs-l
making terrible havoc in the parapet just the Sach,m
passing out OF range aud victory seemed about TO
perch a. shot hit her amiships rendering her
useless, her flag lower, aud the enemy concentrated
fought bravey until shot passed through her boiler, aud
she was compelled To raise the white nag
The Clifton had beside her crew. seventy sbarpshooers
on board The Sachem bad detachment OF thirty sharp
shooters FIVE soldiers, salSr, aud one signal man
escaped down the beach from the Clifton The number
of killed and wounded is not known The loss Of the
enemy have been very great for their works
al. AL 81 l.