Daily national Republican., 1863-03-31
News from New Orleans respecting the
Port Hudson EHpedIttOn

News from New Orleans respecting the
Port Hudson Expedition.
On the advance of General Banks's forces the
Rebels retired TO Port Hudson. Col. Clark, of
Gen. Banks's staff, was seriously wounded In
the leg, while accommodating. The man who
shot him was subsequently killed. General
Banks was at New Orleans on the esd. On the
return Of the army to Baton Rouge he issued a
general ords' announcing the entire object Of
the expedltions as accomplished, and that It
was complete. The movement 10 understood
to have been mere diversion I'd enable Adml-
raj Farragut's feet to pass the batteries and
not for the reduction Of Port Hudson.
Another account says that the army now ex-
tends from Baton Rouge to point few miles
outside. It is said that information has been
received by Gen. Grover that the Rebels were
about to attack Baton Rouge, which rendered
the retrograds movement advisable. Our fleet
Is now a few miles beyond Baton Rouge-the
Essex, however, being nearest Port Hudson.
The Rebel force there is said to number 90, 900.
Lieut.. Com. Cummings, Of the steamer Rich.
mond, was mortally wounded and died at New
| Orleans on the nth. The Richmond had three
/ men killed and seven wounded The Monon.
gahela lost seven killed and twenty-onC
| wounded.
! We learn the following additional particulars
! from passengers by the steamer New Bruins.
wick, from New Orleans:
The rebels at New Orleans were openly iubl.
| liant at the news from Port Hudson, and there
were many parties given by leading secession.
| lists to mark the event.
Detachments of the First and Fourth Louis.
| ana regiments (colored) arrived few days be.
| fore the New Brunswick at Baton Rouge, from
New Orleans. Their presence created much
feeling among the white troops, and they were
at once sent to throw up entertainments outsid,
the city, to prevent raid Of the rebels on 1t.
wit at M UNA nj Ms
leans on the 23d inst.
II Is positively stated that the Mississippi
shortly before her destruction, had silenced thu
two rebel batteries which opened on her, will
the exception of one gun, and that the Rich
mond, which had passed Port Hudson, with tn,
Hartford, returned, and mistaking the Missis
sippi for a rebel gunboat which might hay
come out Of one Of the bayous, fired on her 8,
rapidly that she swept nearly all on her decks
, The disastrous mistake was not discovered Ill
the destruction of the Mississippi was inevita
Bile. The fated steamer soon struck Agrounr
and a cross-fre from the rebel batteries pierce,
her sides and deck, for nearly an hour.
large number Of the officers and seamen jump
ed overheard to escape the flames, and sRfel,
landed near Port Hudson, from which they eS
capped to Baton Rouge.
The secessionists a. Orleans openly pro
claimed that it would be attacked In a shor
time by the rebels.
Our feet are now a few miles beyond BatoI
Rouge. The mortar-boRt Essex, however, /
nearer Port Hudson. The rebel force ther
number, it is said, twenty thousand men.
The destruction of the Bio Bio, by fire, q
New Orleans, was, it Is said, caused by oil
falling on a furnace, which quickly burst int
flames. She was burned TO the waters edgt
, despite every effort to save her. The steamer
Mcclellan and New Brunswick lay alongsd
of her, but moved out into the stream, to e
cape danger.