Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-21
1HK KXPHDirlOR TO rRxAs.

YHk kXPADirION TO rRXAS.
Return Of Gen. Hra.klin's Isnna.d -
| the Ineny's Batteries at ssbins PssI
Dies bling and ptG . Of the q. b. Stsa ~
ere tiIftsn and AacAea.
| lfrom Correspond. nee N. Y. Herald, Sunday.
| Sept. goth
HIAp0UARrlKs Ii Al WIIFznL's DIyIayop
| ht"thsntI AFEt C0rps, SteoAsr BsSpsders H,,-
"srpps Rs.e-, Sept 1.-THE sxpedition vf me
| !sth army corps, Major 9snsrai Fran kiln oon-
| niaudlnE, which lett New Orleans on TIE a. h
| inst, has returned. without Accomplishing the
| object for which 1t VA despatched Ali the
preliminary arranxements were made in tho
most expeditions and secret manner, and The
| promise OF success Wa most datt-riug up 70
ne very last moment when o com oipation az
| those unfortunate accidents which NO hum An
| fofeelsnt OF determination can prevent or YER
| G. me turned victory into sf-at, aud rendered.
| Lug s.tory ali the rforA OF the gallant oso..r.
| and men compos,ng the sxpsdItIon, aud COM
| peliing them To rplinQuish for the present TIE
attempt, and return 10 the base OF operations ss
| this place.
The Aim Of the expedition wa. the o.cups-
tioE OF Sabine City, situated on the right b ins
| at the monih OF the Sabine river, the dividing
line OF Louisiana and Texas, a point OF greas
slTateeic importance as . base Of operations
against Western louisiana or Eastern and
U-ntrRl Texas. The city is only a. /, t5 miles
from sfslveston by land, and about 50 miles by
see' from Hou ton, the capital or rsxas, IL is
distant about 60 miles, and is connected with
It hy branch railroad from Btaumont. THIS
railroad is not in operation a. present, a d r.
ton OF the track having ha-n torn M Ths
distance from the mouth OF tn Mis,i.s,ppi ia
20 miles. The strategic importance OF tho
place can be compreheu ded at a gla nee, AMI
ss oceupanon was dounIl'ss intended ss tue
first ST p in q campaign the results OF whI,
promised to be OF the most brilliant aud la. 81
ing character.
Accompanying the land fore. wa. a naval
lorce OF four light draft gunboatS, consisting OF
The Clifton, Ar'Euna, Ora ,!ita CITY AMI StcheIn
and the plan was for th~se 10 silence III. ba:
Z rles, drive back the enemy and cover ths
landing Of the troops. The drst Accident a.,
CURED Oh account OF the abseDc ce OF III. bIo r.
ader of the mouth OF the Sabine on the nora
InE OF tie Sth, which caused thu ex = ID ition,rv
Heei 10 run past the place OF cestiua,iou and
tie Consequence was delay OF an .ntlr. d,y
" as nee ssitateC, thus giving the enemy IL
advised II the expedition, an opportunity Of
receiving rein for cements aud m .king II nices-
sary preparations either for eyacuauon or =
more vigorous d. fense.
During Monday night therefore the q nj tir.
Meet were coilected IN the neigh norhood Of Sa
bine. The gunboats and lighl.s. draupht yss
sells OF the transport feet crossed the bar ana
immediate preparations were made for IN al,
Ack, ne unavoidable delay Recessitatin ng some
Chal ses IN the mode. Captain Croker, OF tas
Clfton, as gallant q sailor as ever fonpht "a
snip, WAS 10 insusurate the action hy feeling
aEd uncoVerlng ths enemys batteries as,.r-
talHlns th~ numbeO aud disposition of the op-
posing iorce, hnd drawing their fire. while
Generals rank in and Weitxpl prrsonaIIv az
amin.d the shore OF the pass and a certsinef
the most eligible point tor disam barking the
lanC forces. Accordingly the Clifton steaaasd
up tne pass, throwing shell now and then
Vi eeFa ah huEEss r{HIw,ork continuing ,x hsaTrk
guns, and making q careful reconnaissance OF
tie surrounding locality. She received no re-
tponse TO her numerous shcts, and with daring
bravery steamed within easy range OF tha for:
turned about and Ieisui ely returned to heP
former position. The facs Of the snarny's
work was frem one hundred to one hundred
ard hfty yards in length, and WAS supposed 10
On the retHrn OF the Clifton the order
battle was Immediately arranged and rapidly
perfected. The gun boats Clifton, Artzona aua
Sschsm, were to engage the snemy's work,
while the Granite City, whian carried only q
broadsids OF small brass guns, was 10 cover th0
LANDING Of an advance force of hvs hundred
m-A. OF General NeitAeis di vision, selected
from the heroes of Port Hudson, and composed
OF two companies OF the losth New York, fou1
companies Of The lslss Ne " ork, and . detach-
mt nj from the 18th New York regiments, under
command OF Captain Fitch, of the last named
reg mont. The General himself came on board
at the last monent 10 supsrintsnd personally
the operation OF dissmbarkins his troops.
About four O'Clock p. N the gun boats sseaued
slowly forward. and after aring thirty or fsrty
she'll at the snemy's works, they returned The
nrs from one OF Asir most prominent batteries.
The spsaEsAsnt aoW became general and
very warm, the Clifton and Arizona novina
very slowly forva7d and hack, while The brave
little eachsm pushed steadily for ward, snd-e-
rear, which wss sappos.d 70 10 snproncssd.
This novsnsnt tie sn.my OWNED, And re-
doublsd thstr Ire 81 hss, An, ,wersd shot for
shot BY the three hoAH, and in q fsW moments
ihs sAchsu Wa disabled and was obliged to
strike her Gag. The Oiifton Was then the snly
Elective boat engaged, and, although she
fought dsspsEstsly, YET sas. TOO, wss Qaiakiy
obliged to strike hes 1AG under the terrific IRE
OF the enemy; ana tAs Engagement was con-
cludsd.
The Arigona was then the only boat min
jursd, aAd she Wa incapable OF o4snsivs cpe-
rations against works OF such strength. She
was Immediately Withdrawn from the UNEQUAL
contest. and the order rsluctsntly issvsd 10 the
dest to withdraw.
Considsring the nunbsr Of The forces %.
gagged, It ts doue etful II any AFFAIR of the whole
war can compare with the battle OF SabnS
PeAs in obsGnacy Of 4Ghtn&, loss OF lils and
tbs amount OF interest In volved. To ths enemy
II was . matter OF life and death, and 10 NE
Union forces IL was the opsnlnG battle OF @
most brilliant campaign. The enemy retained
their prize but their loss has been undoubtsdIy
without the precedent In the annals OF Tho
war, and they will. In the midst Of theiY Psloic.
ing, Ienble at the thought OF Arspetition OF tha
attack
Where the blame is to rest In this affair i. is
difficult to determine, as the arrangement ap-
peared TO be Of the most perfect chara .teF
throughout, anc the action Of all sngaaed 1u-
surpassed in determination.
LATER FROM CHARLESr0N.