Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-25
OFFICIAL REPORT FROM ADMIRAL PORTER.

The following report, received at the Navy
Department from Admiral Porter, shows that
our navy is actively engaged in following up
the good work achieved in the capture OF
Vicksburg:
U. S. MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, Flag Ship
Black Hatck, off Ficksburg, July 1S.-Sir: have
the honor TO inform you that the expedition
sent into the Red river region proved very
successful. Ascending the Black an the Ten
sas rivers, drumming parallel with the Missis-
sippi,) Lieut. Com'r Selfridge made the head of
nayigation-Tensas Lake and Bayou Macon,
thirty miles above Vicksburg and within five
or six miles of the Mississippi The enemy
were taken completely by surprise, not expect
ing such a force in such quarter The rebel
troops that have assembled to that region will
be obliged to move further back from the river
If not go away altogether.
Lieut.. Commander Selfridge divided 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 the Marian and Rather up the Little Red
river "a small tributary of the Black and the
Forest Rose and Petrol up the Tensas
Inc night was dark and raining very hard,
and the Marian and Rather succeeded in cam
turing the rebel steamer Louisville, one of the
largest and perhaps the best steamer now in
western waters. Up the Tensas, or one of its
tributaries, the Forest Rose and Petrol can
iured the steamer Eimlra, loaded with stores,
sugar and rum for the rebel army.
Finding that the steamers which had con-
yoyed Gen. Walkers army had returned mn
the Washita, the expedition started up that
river, and came suddenly upan two rebel
steamers but the rebels set them ON fire and
they were consumed so rapidly that their naraes
could not be ascertained. One steamer loaded
with ammunition escaped above the fort at
Harrisonburg, which is q very strong work
and unassaiiable by wooden gunboats It is
on an elevation over 100 feet high, which ele-
walton covers what water batteries Of heavy
guns there are.
Lieut.. Commander Selfridge was fortunate
enough, however, TO hear of large quantity
of ammunition which had recently been
hauled from Natchez and deposited at or near
Trinity, {nearly due west Of Netchez) aud
from whence stores, provisions, cattle, guns
and ammunition are transported
He captured 5000 rounds OF smooth bore
ammunition, LOCO rounds OF Enfield rifle and
22i rounds Of fixed ammunition for guns, a
ritied 80 FOUNDER Parrot gun carriage, So hogs
heads OF sugar, III punchsons of rum, . barreis
flour, so barrels of sait-all belonging to the
Confederate Government. At the same time
he heard of large amount of ammunition that
had been started from Natchez for Trinity, and
was lying in wagons on the road about half
way across. He despatched boat around to
inform me OF it: but Gen. Ransom, who had
landed a few days before at Natchez hearing
OF II, sent detachment of cavalry and cap
tured the whole-thus Walkers army is left
almost without ammunition.
The people in the whole OF that section are
very hostile to the Government, rank rebels.
ID. ID. PORTER, Act'g Rear Admiral
Comd'g Mississippi Squadron
Hon. GIDEON WELLS, Sec'y of Navy.