The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-31
An Expedition up Red River.
Steamer and Supplies Captured.
FLAGSHIP BLACK HAWK.
nH NioL Shurr Iul,- IL 1899

Sir: have the honor to inform YOU that
the expedition sent into the Red river re-
glen proved very successful. Ascending the
Black and the Tensas, running parallel with
the Mississippi; Lieutenant Commander Sell
frid sc made the head of navigation, Tensas
lake and Bayou Macon, thirty miles above
NickSburg, and within five or six miles of
the Mississippi river. The enemy were TAX
en- completely by surprise, not expecting such
force in such quarter. The rebels that
have assembled to that region will be obliged
to move further back from the river, if not
go away altogether.
1t Commanding Sefrdge dividsd his
forces on finding that the transports which
had been CARRYING stores to Walkers army
had escaped up some Of the narrow streams.
He sent tho Manitou and Rather up the lit
tie Red rivera small tributary to the Black
and the Forest Rose and Petrol up the Ten
sas. The night was dark, and it was raining
very hard. The Manitou and Rather sue
ceeded in capturing the rebe. steamer Louis
vile, one OF tie largest and perhaps the best
steamer on western waters. Up the Tensas,
or one of It's tributaries, the Forest Rose and
Petrol captured the steamer Eimira, loaded
with stores, sugar and rum for the rebel ar
my. Finding that the steamers which had
conveyed Gen Walkers army had returned
up the Washira, the expedition started up
that river and came suddenly upon two rebel
steamers but the rebels set them on fire, and
they were consumed so rapidly that their
names could not be ascertaiLed.
They captured $4,000 rounds of smooth
bore ammunition, 10000 rounds of Enfield ri
file and pa rounds of fixed ammunition for
guns. rifle ,'0-pounder Parrot gun carriage,
81 hogsheads of sugar. 10 puncheons of
rum. y barrels Of flour, and 10 barrels of
salt, al belonging to the rebel government.
| One steamer loaded with ammunition escap-
ed above the fort at Harrisonsburg. which is
very strong work and unassailable with
wooden gunDoats. 1t is on an elevation OF
over one hundred feet high which elevation
covers what water batteries of heavy guns
there are. Lt-commander Selfridge was for
tunate enough, however, to hear of large
quantity of ammunition that had lately been
hauled from Natchez and deposited at or
near Trinity, nearly due west OF Natehez,
and from whence stores, provisions, cattle,
and ammunition are transported. At the
same time they heard of large amount Ct
ammunition that had started from Natchez
for Trinity, and was lying in wagons on the
road half way across. He dispatched boat
around TO inform me of 1t. but Ransom, who
had landed few days at Natchez, hearing it
also sent detachment Of cavalry and cap
tured the whole. Thus Walkers army is
left almost without ammunition. The Off
GERS and men have shown great energy on
this expedition and have met with 70 mishap.
They procured good deal of information,
by vhcih future movements will be regulated.
Tie people in the whole of that section are
very hostile to the goyernment-rank rebels.
| have the honor to be, etc,
DAVID ID. PORTER, Rear Admiral.
Hon Gideon Wells, Secretary of the Navy.