Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-29

New YORK, June 27.-Lieut. S. +. Spauld-
ing OF the Sth Vermont was killed at Port
Hudson, and Sergt. John BiSbee slightly
injured. A New Orleans letter of the 18th to
the Tribune says :-''Y eSterday Gen. Banks
issued an order for one Thousand volunteers to
make final charge the enemy's works
The 4th and 9th Wisconsin volunteered, and
were repulst and afterwards all or nearly all
taken prisoners"
ALBANY, June 27.-A letter received in this
| city to-day from Col. Lewis Benedict of the
| l62d regiment of state volunteers, dated at
| Gen. Banks headquarters, June 10Th, the
same day as the New York Tribune, says that
| two Wisconsin regiments were captured at
| Port Hudson, but makes no mention of any
fight as stated in the said letter. Col Bene-
dict says that all was quiet, and that it was
quite certain there would not be a renewal of
the attack for several days.
The New York Sunday Herald has advices
from Port Hudson to the goth inst. Gen.
Banks, on the 10Th, issued congratulatory
order to his troops, over their steady adj
vance upon the enemy's works, stating that
he is confident of an immediate and triumph
ant issue of the conflict. ave are at all
points upon the threshold of his tortiica-
tons. One more advance and they are ours"
He then summons the organization of Il
storming column of 1000 men, to yindcate
the flag of the Union and the memory of its
defenders who have fallen, promising pro-
motion to the officers, and medal to off
GERS and privates. A letter of the goth, re-
ports no material change in the position of
affairs. The camp rumors about assaults by
volunteers, and general assaults, have proved
unfounded. We are steadily Advantageous
first parallels completely encircling the outer
rebel breastworks, and our skirmshers are
4 E III
entertainments. There arv nightly skirmishes,
without definite results Battery No. Z, to be
mounted with twelve 32-pounders, has been
erected, commanding an entire line of the
enemy's river works.
One heavy shot from the enemy had
pierced the heavy plating Of the Essex. The
gun which effected this had been dismounted
by battery No. Z. The citadel on which it
was mounted was expected to be soon re-
duced. 1t was rumOred and generally believ-
ed that an assault would take place on the
night of the goth, to be led by Gen. Grierson
and Col. Van Petten of the 10th New York,
the assaulting party to be supported by Gen.
Weitzel's old brigade and that of Col. Dudley.
A rebel bearer of dispatches has been cap
tured with dispatch, it is said, from John
ston, who promises to reinforce Port Hudson
and capture Banks entire army, if the place
would hold out till the following Tuesday.
This may be ruse, however, to induce
Banks to make an immediate assault, that he
may be REFUSED, or determine his ability to
carry the place and not await the slow process
of starvation which stares the rebels in the
face. A deserter reports Il consultation of the
rebel officers, who unanimously requested
| Gen. Gardiner to surrender. He replied that
large reinforcements would arrive within a
week, and if they would only hold ont few
days longer, the siege would result tavorably
to them. The dlsatfected officers returned to
their camps and told the men if Gen. Gard-
ner did not surrender in week, they would
compel him to. Another deserter reports the
rebels have but forty head of cattle left to feed
on. 1t is reported that quite number of wo-
men in Port Hudson were accidentally killed
in the fight of the 14th.