The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-10
From Port Hudson.

| From Port Hudson.
Advices from Port Hudson look gloomy
and if the accounts are reliable the public
mind must be prepared for intelligence that
the siege has been abandoned. We make
some extracts from the correspondence
of the New York Herald, dated New Orleans
22d:
"There is no Disgusting the fact that mat.
tiers look gloomy enough in this department
A month since everything presented the
appearance of short and brilliantly success
full campaign, and a certainty almost of Loui'
siana being restored to the Uunion if not by
the act of its citizens, by the force of the
Union arms. Now everything presents a
country appearance. The capture of Port
Hudson appears to be indefinitely postponed
If it will be taken at all. The Attakapas
contrary is reoccupied by the enemy in force
the Opelousas Railroad has been seized, and
our forces at Brashear City cut off the west
bank of the Mississippi is lined with armed
rebels, and every boat that now runs between
this city and Baton Rouge has to be armed
the last regiment has arrived that can be
drawn from any part of the department, and
the hospitals are. filled with sick and wounded.
Such is an outline of affairs here. More
could be said, but it would be con,raband.
The question may be asked, why is this so ?
1t must be remembered that the majority of
the regiments composing the Banks expedi-
tion were nine months men; they left the
North in November last after seven or eight
weeks of their term of enlistment had expr-
ed; they were comparatively green troops,
requiring much setting up before they could
be of use in the field.
The regiments that Gen Banks found here
on his arrival, three years men, had been
subjected to nearly year of exceedingly
arduous duty, and were much diminished in
number by fighting and disease. BY the
time Gen Banks was able to take the field
the term of enlistment of at least two-thirds
of his army was fast drawing to close, and
men necessary for the work to lie performed
The actual strength of Port Hudson has
never been properly understood. 1t is Glib
raltar, or rather Malakoff; and vet Gen
Banks has been expected to take it by assault
without any previous bombardment or siege.
Nicksburg is no stronger than Port Hudson
in its natural as well as artificial defenses
It may have more within the Notifications,
but not many. yet Gen Grant, with at least
one hundred thousand men, finds it necessary
10 approach the position IN regular manner,
erect formidable batteries and use them be-
fore he attempts any further assault. We
may take Port Hudson with the force We
have, but am to-day more than ever inelin-
ed to think that Gen Banks will be compelled
to fall back on Baton Rouge, if not upon New
Orleans and the surrounding defenses. 1t
looks very much like it, to say the least"
The same writer says in another part Of his
communication
"An officer who returned this evening from
! Port Hudson informs me that we are now
doing more fighting in the rear than in the
/ front. This does not sound well, and looks
as if the enemy were concentrating in that
| direction. | hear that train of baggage
wagons was captured from US this morning.
| 90 not know what to think, and dislike
very much to prophecy anything. Our men
are fast feeling the effect of the climate, con-
gestve and swamp fevers are on the increase,
and the sick men number more then the
wounded. This is the natural consequence,
exposed as our men are without even shelter
tents. Well, matters cannot remain much
longer as they now are. A very few days
must decide the affair one way or the other,
and we shall either be within the works at
PortI Hudson, or back at Baton Rouge, when
the work will be over for the summer, and
the first consideration then will be the health
of the remainder of the army. A few weeks
will take home all the nine months men, and
the army then left will be mere corporal's
guard, capable of holding the city and sur
roundings, and nothing more"