Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-26
THE MILITARY MOVEMENT ON PORT HUDSON

Correspondence Of the Nep York Erening Post.
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH Is, 1863.
Our news from Baton Rouge is meagre in detail re-
connoissance in force took place days since We
learn that this accomplished by three brgades which
advanced slowly from Baton Rouge the road leading
wards Port Hudson, removing felled timber, etc. with
which the way obstructed until they reached stream
some six IN lis from Baton Rouge The bridge over which
had been destroyed The force then returned to Baon
Rouge, and further Of forward movement has
reached New Orleans.
THE REBEL POSITION AT PORT HUDSON
Army officers sat sed that the strength Of the rebels
Port HUDSON has been much underraed and that the
place is occupied by at least forty FIVE thousand men,
large proportion Of them well drilled and accustomed to
service 1t sad that Gen. Joe Johns be in
command Port Hudson, with the Daua al advantages OF
its position, s Notifications skully constructed and laid
out it's large body Of defenders and its experienced and
able cOmmandaBt will undoubtedly prove dearly boue hit
acquisition when it into the hands of the Govern
ment is matter for grave doubt whether this depart
ment can at sent spare effective force sufficient for
its reduction The danger of flank movement by the
emy, bringing force between the advancing army aud
Baton Rouge falling suddenly upon that place. not to
be lost sight of for instant In word, Gen. Banks has
not men enough under him 6t for service to undertake
forward movement Of great magnitude the time pro-
pery protect the territory already occupied aud keep up
his connection with his base of operations.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MOVEMENT
am informed by official Of very high position that
the movement against Port Hudson is merely fent
attempt to be made within few da if il did
not take place last night to the feet under Admiral
Fausgut past Port Hudson for the purpose of taking pos
session of that grest highway for the passage of Conf
ate supplies the Red river, aud Of stopping the o
the Queen Of the West aud her associates between Port
Hudson and Vicksburg If the feet should succeed in
this enterprise they would nc. damsge upon the feoe
lion hardly to be overestm ted The amouDt Of supplies
of provisions ani manufactured goods crossog he Ms-
sisppi for the CoDfedeacy, within this region wholly
uuder rebel control il prodigious.
To obtain permanent possession a the Red river and
the Mississippi along this region would be worth TO
the United States the present and the future than
almost any other possible The rebels fully
Of hs the presence of two great armies Vcks-
burg and Port Hudson and the force under Bragg before
Rosecranswhch aso prote cts the Mississippi by guard
iug the TANKS Of the armies its Enthusiastically at
tests The time not long passed since few gunboas
actively cruising up and down the river south Of Vcks
burg could have kept it open from the Deta To that point
and have prevented the erection o the Notifications which
have made Gibraltar OF Port Hudr on. Even there
five six bluffs unprotected by strong deences be-
tween Vcksburs and Port Hudson aud the advent Of
few heavily armed steamers upon that part If the river
would prove a godsend TO the Union Give the
rebels time and there doubt that they will make the
most of the natural strength Of these positions Vicksburg
aud Port Hudson in hands would be necessary
To occupy those intermediate bluffs without delay build
strong works upon them and place strong garrsons therein
Then rs 900 men would too few hold the river
and keep it's navigation possible until the Of
arms ia the interior houd render it that the
enemy could attempt regain the control Of the great
aorta OF our Western prosperity.