The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-03
WAR MATTERS
From New Orleans.

NEW YoRk, March 80,
New Orleans advices state that on the ad-
vance of Gen. Banks forces the rebels retired
to Port Hudson.
Col. Clark, OF Con. Banks staff, was seri-
ously wounded in tho leg while roconnoiter-
ing. Tho man who shot him was subsequent
ly killed.
Gen. Banks was at New Orleans on the
23d, On the return of the army to Baton
Rouge he Issued general order announcing
that the "entire object Of the expedition was
accomplished, and that it was complete
success" The movement is understood to
have been mere diversion to enable Farra.
CUTS fleet to pass the batteries, and not the
reduction OF Port Hudson
Another account says:
The army now extends from Baton Rouge
few miles outside.
It is said that information was received by
Gen. Grover that the rebels were about to
attack Baton Rouge, which rendered retro
grade movement advisable.
Our feet is now few miles above Baton
Rouge, the Essex being near Port Hudson.
The rebel force there is said to NUMBERED 600.
A report says the Mississippi before her
destruction silenced two Of the rebel batteries
which opened on her, except one gun, and
that the Richmond, which had passed Port
Hudson, returned, and installing her for q
rebel gunboat which might have come out
of one of the bayous, fired on her so rapidly
that she nearly swept her decks The mistake
was not discovered until tho Mississippi was
aground and her destruction inevitable.
A semi .official account OF the naval en-
gagement says: After the arrival OF the
army from Baton Rouge and the skirmishes
of Saturday, Admiral Farraguts feet, which
was at anchor five or six miles below Port
Hudson, prepared to pass the batteries. The
signal for the advance was made ut half.past
0 O'clock. 1t was beautiful starlight night.
The Hartford, with the Albatross alongside,
took the lead, and both successfully passed
the batteries, but with what damage we IRE
not informed, rs there has, of course, been no
communication with them since their pass
age. The Richmond and Genesee followed.
The Richmond was exposed to the fire OF all
the batteries and received shot through her
steam drum, and was Obliged to fall back
out of the range of the batteries. She dropped
down tho river and anchored. Her loss was
thrco men killed and seven wounded. Lieut..
Commander Boyd Cummings was mortally
wounded. A shot from the batteries took of
his left leg below the knee, and the same
passed through tho smoke stack OF tho gun
boat. He died on the 18th at New Orleans.
The Monongahcla and the Kinco went up
next in order. Capt. McKinstry, OF the
Nlonongahela, was standing on tho bridge
when 1t was shot away from under him, and
no was vcry.seriOusly injured. 1t is gener-
ally reported that in his case the amputation
of one leg will be necessary. The entire loss
on the Monongahela was seven men killed
and twenty.one wounded.
The Kneo was under severe fire. Her
rigging was badly cut, her rudder post shot
away. and hawser was entanged about her
propeller. She became unmanageablo and
was obliged to drop back out OF the fire.
The Monongahela also fell back QUITO range.
The loss on board tho Kinco, if any, is not
reported. L..
The side.wheel gunboat Genesee was some.
what damaged, and also fell back. The
amount of damage on board this boat is not
known here ut present.
The Mississippi went up last night and
grounded on the bank in u position which
placed her nearly in the centre OF the range
of shore batteries, which extended nearly
3 Ia miles. She grounded Mt twelve O'Clock
at night. and stood the fire forty minutes be-
fore she was abandoned. Acting Master
Robert Z. Kelley was killed, and forty.6yc
men are killed or missing. When the ship
was abandoned 1t was set on fire and destroy.
ed. Some of the men took to the boats and
pulled for the 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 fleet. OF those who landed ON
the shore Capt. Fontaine oil the marines and
three men were taken prisoners. The Others
walked down the levee and were taken OF to
the fleet in boats.
The naval engagement lasted from about
ten O'Clock until about one in the morning.
The rebel batteries at first fired badly, but
after the Mississippi grounded and the range
was attained the firing was very effective.
While the gunboats were under the batteries
the six mortar schOoners and the iron clad
Essex lay below the point and fired across,
keeping up continuous Smelling OF the reb-
els during the entire engagement.
Of course there are no means ut present
of learning tho amount OF the rebel loss on1
shore. Fires were built all along the bank
of the opposite side throwing glare OF light
across the river, and bringing the entire fleet
into full view of the batteries during the
engagement.