Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-04-02
From the New Orleans Picayune, March ls
THE PTGHT AT FORT nUDSOR--COMPLFTI

FEDERAL ACCOUNT.
Advance upon Port Hudson SKI, missiles on L,,l
Passage of the Batteries by the Hartford and n, A.
batros-Fight on tbs riuer-Rsturn of the Anu.
Baten Rouge.
By the IberviLe, which arrived Tuesday noro,
from Baton Rouge we have very full particulars Of H
advan:e sPon Port Hudson, which we are permi,tedo
publish. The movement so far as the land force is con,
cerned is complete. Gen. Banks has returned to Baon
Rouge, and has issued printed general order arpop,
cling that the entire object of the expedition j, A.
complished, and that it is in all respects success
1t shond be understood that the movement by lard
upon Port Hudson not intended for the redUcljor
or occupation of that place. but as diversion" fin
military term) to enable Admiral Farragut's fleet Ia
prss the batteries on the river.
The movement from Baton Rouge commenced BY fine
advance OF General Growers division at 3 O'Clock
NJ, on day General Enory's division foloReIot
o'clock Z. NJ, and General Augurs division kN
Baton Rouge at O'clock on Saturday morning The
cavalry force thrown out in advance Gen Banks
was in command OF the army.
lie advanced on the road without molesatiop r.
Springfield road crossing, where General Banks mad.
his headquarters at first in the field near the church
the angle of the roads, and afterwards in near By
house. The cavalry sent around the country IT,
coDnoitering Soon after the arrival OF the divisions
at this point, they met in the woods force of about
five hundred Confederate cavalry, who retired before
The advancing columns without skrmish
In the course of Saturday afternoon, however there
WeTc Two SNAIL SRlrmS0(S between portions q the
Federal divisions and Confederate cavalry and infantry
scattered about in the woods There is no means q
estimating their numbers Singularly enough so fara
We can learn of the Federal soldiers were killed
or wounded. There nothing like general engage
nent and no lighting on the iaRd after Saturday after.
noon. The Confederate force, largo or small, toward
evening, retired to Port Hudson.
Reconnaissance we're made in the direction OF Por,
Hudson, along the Bayou Sara road and towards Ra
ead Springfield landings. 1t on the road toward
Springfield landing that Colonel Clark, of General
Banks staff was wounded. He was recounoterigg
with small number of orderlies and officers, wben
rifle shot from the woods struck him in the leg and the
wound is represented to be serious. HSf an hour after
wards, Confederate cavalryman was killed in tie
woods at that point, and he is generally supposed oJ
the man who fred the shot at Colonel Clark.
After the skrmshes of Saturday evening the Fed.
raj forces remaiDed on the field near the Springfield
road crossing, all night. At ten O'Clock on Sunday
morning Gen. Augurs division commenced the return
march to Baton Rouge, Gen. Covers and Gen Emo
rvs divisions followed, leaving distance of five nils
between each OF three divisions.
1t should be stated that when the advance was made
Col. Chckering Of the 4lst Massachusetts acting az
brigadier-geLera left with an entire brigade 10
hold the bsse at Baton Rouge. On the retHrn Of The
divisions some of the giments were encamped outside
of the city.
After the arrival of the army from Baton Rouge,
and the skirIaishes Of Saturday afternoon, Admiral
Farrsguts feet, which at anchor FIVE or six miles
below Port Hudson, Iepared to pass the batterei-
The signal for the advance was made at haf-pas
e'cock-a beautiful starlight night The Hartford
with the Albatrcs alongside took the lead and both
successfully passed the batteries but with what damage
we are not informed, there has, of course been 10
communicat on with them since their passage
The Richmond aud GeDesee followed The Richmond
vas exposed to the fire of all the batteries and received
shot through her steam drum, and was obliged total
back cut of the range of the batteries She droppd
rIV and TTo, Ia. Al
killed and seven wounded. Lieut.. Com Boyd Cum.
mlngs was nortaly wounded. A shot from the batter.
les took of his left leg below the knee aud the
shot passed through the smoke stack of the gunboat
Leut Cummings is an excellent officer and most e.
Unable man.
The Monengabea and the Kinneo went I'd next il
order: Capt. McKinstry, Of the MonongaheIs, was
standing on the bridge when it Shot away from 40
der him, and ne was very seriously injured 1t is gen
orally reported that in bis the amputaton Of ODe
leg will be necessary. The entire loss on the MonOn
ganeia was seven men killed and twentyone wounded
The klnneo was under a severe FIRE. her rigging was
badly cat, her rudder post shot away hawser Waen-
tangled about her propeller, she became anmanageabe
and was obliged to drop back out of the fire. The No
nongahela also fell back out of range The loss Oh
board of the Kinneo, if any is not reported.
The sldewheel gunboat Genesee was somewhat dan
aged, and also fell back. The amount of damago'
this boat Is not known here at present
The Mississippi went ap last aGd grounded on tl5
bank in position which placed her nearly In the cen
tire Of the entire range ofshore batteries which exen
cd nearly three and half miles. She grounded at Il
o'clock at night and stood fire forty minutes before s
was abandoned Acting Master Rsbt. L. Kelly was
killed. and sixty-fve meR are killed or missing
When the ship was abandoned it was set on fire and
was destroyed. Some of the men took to the boats and
pulled for Shore One boat went to one of the other
vessels Several men jumped into the water and were
picked up by the boats of the feet Of those who LAND
ID on shore, Capt Fontane, OF the marines was taken
prisoner The others walked down the evee and were
aiken of to the feet in boats
The naval engagement lasted from 10 O'Clock TIL one
nthe morning. The Confederate batteries at first heu
BADLY but after the Mississippi grounded and the ra3
vas attained, the firing was very effective. While .n'
unboas were under the batteries, the mortar scDe
rs, and the ironcad Essex lay below the point aLs s
lred across, keeping up continuous Smelling Oh w
lQntederata hattarea durin0 the antira anpapenelk