The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-05-21
Success of Gen. Banks and GriersOm's
Raid.

New York, May 1.-THE steamer George
Washington from New Orleans, arrived this
morning.
An Opelousas letter Of the 9TH states that
information from Grand Gulf and the gunboat
fleet had been received there, with details Of
its capture, and the capture Of Port Gibson by
Gen. Osterhaus.
When the latter was nearing Port Gibson,
he was met by hundreds Of families fleeing
from the interior to escape the raid OF the IL
linois cavalry, and the prevalent opinion among
the sece~ssiOnists was that Port Gibson was
the safest place in that region. The damage
done by the cavalry raid was irreparable. 1t
was rumored at Opelousas that Port Hudson
was evacuated.
John Z. Hays and G. g. Tracy of the Era,
had been expelled from New Orleans for writ
ing and publishing a questionable article
Another editor. A. Hills, had been arrested.
Quite an excitement occurred on the evening
Of the 9TH, at the opera, occasioned by the au-
dience demanding national airs to be played
but nothing serious resulted.
Gen. Sherman has ordered all places of
amusement hereafter to submit their program
mes to the Provost Marshal, previous to their
performance, and suggested that national airs
be played.
The Ero,o Of the 18th, mentions a rumor that
Port Hudson was bombarded by our fleet, on
the night Of the 8th, and all day on the 9Th.
Col. Grierson had arrived at New Orleans,
and has been presented, by the Unionists, with
a magnificent charger.
Admiral Farragut arrived at New Orleans
on the afternoon of the 9th, from Brashear
City. The Admiral and his officers left the
flag ship in the Red River, and brings the I'M
portant intelligence that Alexandria was cap
tured on tine 4th, by Admiral Porter's, and a
portion Of his own fleet. Prior to the capture
of Alexandria. Fort De Russo. on the Red Riv-
er, was demolished, after a fight, and a rebel
gunboat also captured.
After the capture, OH the morning of the 9Th,
of Alexandria, by our gunboats, the advance
cavalry of Brig. Gen. Dwight, dashed into the
place, thus forming a junction of Farragut
and Gen. Banks forces.
Opelousas dates of the 9th state that our ar
my was then on the march. Gen. Dwight's
brigade was supposed to be in Alexandra, and
Gems. Emory, Weitzel and Grover with their
forces, We're close behind.
\ Baton Rouge letter of the I'd, says that
Col. Grierson's force, the 9th and 18th Illinois
cavalry, and a battery numbering some 900
men, followed by a large number Of prisoners,
rode into that city that day. They left La
grange, April 10th, burnt rebel stores and the
railroad depot at Okolona the depot and two
heavily laden freight and commissary trains
and an ordinance train at Newton, on the
Charleston and Vicksburg Railroad. The ord
nance train contained 1000 loaded shells
for the Nicksburg batteries, which exploded
terrifically.
From Newton they followed the railroad to
Meridian, burning all the bridges, thence south
on the Mobile and Charleston r. r. to Enter
prise, where they destroyed the rebel ordnance
works, thence back to Newton, burning all
the bridges, from thence to jackson, incIud-
ing the great bridge over Pearl River, and
near jackson tore up two miles of the track.
Thence they followed the jackson and New
Orleans railroad south to the Louisiana line.
a rebel force Of 500, at Clinton, was evaded
by making a circuit around them, our force
destroying their cam, equipage, stores, and
capturing 300 prisoners. While crossing the
branch of the Amite River, Lieut.. Col. Black
burn was severely wounded, and left in the
hands of the enemy. They crossed the Amite
River on the morning of the LIST, ten miles
from Baton Rouge, captured a rebel cavalry
picket of 100 men and horses, burned Capt.
Wetherby's house, and captured his horses.
They then rode into Baton Rouge, looking
rough, but in good condition. Every railroad
in Mississippi has been cut by them. They
have supplied themselves with fresh horses on
the route, and broughtin over 300 c~ontrabands
on horses. Nearly the latter also leading hors-
es.
The Era of the 9th gives the particulars of
the burning of the ship-of-war Preble, at Pen
sacola, on the 9th of April. The fire took
accidentally. All hands were saved. The
vessel, after burning for several hours, blew
up.