, 1863-04-01

our correspondent iCEoHplIl1eu Tuslst@
quits feet from New Orleans, and CAME up
-on the Hartford to Ycung's Point.
Gen. Banks left New Orleans on the 9th |
inst, arrived at Baton Rouge on the 11tll and
18th, disembarked and reviewed the troops At ]
that pest. On the 18th and 18th the forces. |
were put again on transports, and the fleet
steamed up until within SIX or seveu milesof
Port Hudson. Here VIC lost sight Of the land !
forces.
On the night Of the 14th, expecting support
from Gen. Banks, Farragnt started with the
following steamers in pairs:
HARTFORD. ALB4THos5.
RICHMOND. E1SEO.
GESEsEE. M0sCHGAHELA.
3i1ssIssIPpI.
We started up the river at IL o'clock at
night, arrived off Port Hudson, aud furious
bombardnent commenced. 1tts not known
whether General Banks co'opcratcd or not
The steamers Essex and Sachem aud ak nor
tar boats arrived three miles below Port
Hudson, and also kept up constant fire upon
the rebel batteries. While engaged under
the batteries two rebel rams endeoyorcd to
engage the Hartford and Albatross, but
we're beaten. of By a succession Of heavy
broaasides. This engagement was
1 kept up briskly on both sides,
and lasted for some timo Then, fnr1ly,
the heet steamed boldly past the batteries, un
der fire. Aftar passing, the Hartford and AL
batroes being lasl.cd together, grounded, the
former sticking tight for five minutes, all the
time subjected to a CALLING cannonade. She
finally got OF and steamed above. After
t wards the Richmond ran aground at the same
place, MS did the Mississippi The Inter boat
| did not escape go well, for while trying to get
clear she took dre from some unknown causes.
| THIS caused momentary confusion, and all
efforts were made to extinguish tho fire and
save the crew.
While this was going OF, all the fleet but
The Hartford and A1batross, along with tue
burning steamer, driftcd down before the
entire length of the rebel batteries, all the
time under the same scathiag fire. The guns
Of the Mississippi exploded as she passcd, as
though in scorn Of the rebels on shore, to
| whom the spectacle must have been sublime
in the extreme. Finally, all were out OF
sight Of the batteries.
At five in the morning, the burning wreck
OF the Mississippi still tlouted. Tho magazine
exploded sixteen miles below Port Hudson.
The Hartford aud Albatross were out O.
range at anchor, above the batteries. Los:
On each, three men killed and two wounded
). No serious damage occurred to either craft
, The casualties and injuries arc on the remain
der of thc fleet, at present unknown to us
The Richmond probably suffered as much Il
any.
At 10 o'clock the ensuing morning, tn
= Hartford and .albatross steamed up rs far q
the mouth Of the Red River, and there ascel
= tanned that four or five rebel rams had jus
= . passed up, the smoke from whose chlmnie
y could yet be seen in the distance also, taa
/, | fifty Of the crew of the Mississippi had bee
- taken prisoners. Still passing up, at Natehci
:. :, the steamers destroyed the telegraph liEe, b
;. Farracut's orders. This was on the 18th.
~ On Thursday, the 18th, VIC passed Gran
=, Gulf, and were fired upon the battery OF
teen field pieces, but the boat was uninjure
Three men were killed and eight wounde
). The loss ou the rebel side Is not learned.
=, -, the same day, Farragut distinctly saw, as
- thought, the wreck Of the 1ndlanola, shatte
=, ed as though she had been blown mp near Il
-, shore.
:, On the goth ourgoyernaent steamers PISS
- Wazyen,on, shelling tha batteries vigoronsl
~ but no enemy was seen, aud no reply ma
~ to tho cannonade. The same dayewc report
to Rear-Admiral D. .. Porter, of Eicksbu1
On the 2lst ne received coal from abo1
loated to us in ba,ges, as before related !
terwards, on the 22d, the Abatross madt
n reconnaissance to Wa1renton, and destroyed
VI unfinished casensated battery which the reb
had commenced, under slight oppositi
n from riacmen and few field pieces. The
" suiue day the Hartford paid the same plac
visit, and found about s, 600 riacmen entren
On cd, who were quickly scattered by dose
shot ard shell.
This ends the adventures Of the two stea
E,r. ers, which were at the foot Of the canal vi
nts your correspondent left
~ Commodore Farzagut Is confident Of his a
thc ityto silence any battery on the river; {
oo. tainly himself and the crews Of all his ste:
'ort ers evidenced the possession Of most undt
nce able pluck. All the officers and men
hayed nobly; Pilot Carol, Of Hartford, is
The peclally mentioned, and many others will
;,st. in the Con,modore's official dispatches vi
our have gone forward to Washington.
presence Of Farragut and his gunhoats
mer infused new ,igor and spirit into the sold
ar. at Youug's Point.