The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-05-19
Operations of General Banks in
t.;-.,. Louisiana. a Gitt 80
THE SUMMING UP OF RESULTS.
BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS.
[From the N. Y. Times. May 7 !

[From the N. Y. Times, May II
The remoteness Of Gen. Banks department
and ibfrequency Of communications with him
render it difficult to keep the public supplied
with accurate and connected details Of his op
erations, or to accompany the accounts we dc
publish with the requisite explanations of BIZ
plans and purposes. His late campaign from
Berwick's Bay TO the Red River was in many
respects complete surprise to the country
The first movement of Gen. Banks in field
operations was his advance from Baton Rouge
to cooperate with Admiral Farragut, as it ap
peared, in an attack upon Port Hudson. Blu,
be speedily withdrew to Baton Rouge and tc
| New Orleans, foiled, as it seemed to the pub.
| lie, and without military glory. His return
to Now Orleans was an occasion not unim
proved by rebols for rejoicing over his suppos
ed discontinue. But General Banks had mol
Withdrawn TO New Orleans TO fortify and de.
fend himself as tho secessionists had begun to
imagine. On the contrary, he returned to
break the coil that the emboldenel enemy
was attempting to form around his depart.
ment. Leaving tho Mississippi River, aud
leaving the gunboats TO defend New Orleaus
from tue fabulous thousands that were to des-
cend upon it from Mobile, Jackson and other
slrongholds on the East, Gen. Banks set out
10 attend 10 person to the Increasing bands
that had begun to threaten his outposts at
Berwick's Bay, on the West. The bulk of
the rebel forces in Louisiana had gathered
about Pattersonvills, Centreville and Frank.
lin--the former a town almost in sight of the
Union picket at Berwick, aud the two latter
of Bayou Teche, few miles further west.
They had become Sd bold as to mediate an
advance in force upon New Orleans from this
direction, and by gunboat fleet from the
bayous into the Mississippi, and believed that
Gen. Banks had hurried back to New Orleans
TO defend that city. But without waiting for
their advance, Gen. Banks suddenly appeared
at Berwick's Bay, with nearly his whole army.
And, not pausipg there to fortify or defend
himself he Immediately sought the camps
where the rebels were in force and organized.
A day or two OF rapid advance and skirmish
ing brought him to Camp Beasland, near
Centcrvile, where the rebels in force were en-
countered, under Generals Sbley, Taylor and
Mouton. After severe fight, on the 18th
and 9th of April, the rebels evacuated their
position at night, leaving two cannon and con-
siderable small arms and ammunition, with all
their sick and wounded, Jehind. This battle
called the battle of Bethel Place, was one of
the most credilable engagements Of the war.
It was skillfully manGuvred on the Union
side by Gen. Banks in person. Every arm of
the service except cavalry was engaged, six
batteries of artillery having been in full play
within rifle range Of each other. The gun
boat Clifton, closely beset by rebel torpedoes,
did gallant work in the fight. The rebel de
feat and demoralization was great, as exhbi-
ted by evidences of panic in their flight.
q On the l4th of April the enemy was again
struck Two miles west of franklin, anil after a
brief but severe contest compelled to retrea,.
By tho time Gen Banks had reached New
Iberia twenty miles west Of franklin, he had
captured abou. 500 prisoners; a rebel steam
boat, the Cornie; about 500 horses, mules
&C.. (; had caused the destruction by the rebels
of theil gunboats Hart and Diana, and the
steamers Newsboy, Gossamer, Era No. 2,
Louisa, Derbo, Uncle Tommy, Blue Ham
mock and Cricket, all of which were burned
on the Teche to prevent them from falling in
to our hands. Seven miles from New Iberia,
Gen. Banks took possession Of the celebrated
island of rock salt in the middle Of mud
lake, from which the rebels have been sup
piled by way of the bayous connecting with
the Red River, at Alexandria, and thence by
Red River to Vicksburg. The rebel works
at this salt mine Gen. Banks destroyed.
Eysn at this point in his victorious march,
the public in New Orleans did not understand
the intentions Of Gen. Banks, and the papers
were discussing the probability Of his return.
But he still moved on, fighting detachment
Of the enemy again near Vermillionvile TWEEN
ty miles above New Ibcria-the gunboat feet
in the meantime redu,ing strongly fortified
place on his right flank, called Butte la Rose.
The nexS place we hear Of Gen. Banks, he is |
at Opelousas, sull thirty miles further on the
chief town of the Altakapas country, the
great sugar district, and one Of tho richest in
all the South. This seemed fit stopping
place for the victorious General. But no-he
pushes on and does not stop until he reaches
and occupies Alexandria, on the Red River,
near seventy miles north Of Opelousas. Here
he finds a foundry aud exclusive machine I
shops OF tho rebels, one of the chief depots for |
the gathering Of supplies for the rebel armies
at Por Hudson and Vicksburg, aod tbs head
quarters for tho time being OF the Rcbel Gov
Of the State Of Louisiana.
Gen. Banks is now master Of all, or nearly
all the bayous Of Louisiana; he is above Port
Hudson, and ready TO co operate with Farra
gut 10 clearing Red River and the Mississippi
banks of rebels, aud reducing Port Hudson.
The rebel forces at Pattersonville, Franklin,
IBERIA Opclousas and Alexandria numbered
fully 10000 men. These have been beaten
in detail, and dispersed by the rapid marching
Of General Banks, who moved his army about
l6o miles in two weeks time fighting battles
On tho way, and in all his fights not losing a
total Of two hundred men. His achievement
IS extraordinary and his laurels may beproud'
y worn. ..,f, I'D. .n,s sa-t4sf
aAsA."-The X. G.. C.'s It is known have
A rallyug signal, and doubtless an alarm sig
nal as thew expect 10 be apprehepded in their |