Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-30
CAMP FAIR, BAYOU GENTLY, LA, ,
April 10, 1863.

CAMP FAIR, BAYOU GENTILLY LA,
April 10, 1868.
You undoubtedly get full and authentic
news of the operations in this department
from correspondents who have much better
means OF gaining reliable intelligence than |
have. A correspondent in the ranks of the
army has very little opportunity to learn any
thing whatever III regard to those great move
ments, the accounts of which perhaps occupy
columns Of the northern papers, and most
likely the soldier stationed in the department
first know of the affair, or, at least first get
an idea OF its Importance, from papers sent
from home, which perhaps do not reach him
for weeks. But still | will venture to write n
few words of the recent change in the loca-
ton OF the troops here, and of the change in
the chase of operations" The river move
ment, which resulted only in the passage of
the Hartford and AlbatroSs above the Port
Hudson batteries, has come to an end, and
the troops have been transferred to Berwick
bay, which gives US another point of attack of
1ort hudson, and leaves force in position to
repel Gen. Magruder, who is sald to have
started out from Texas on Don QuIxote ex
PNNitANii' ~ uONo iiOl stGll pTODdDlp Indt he
should leave Texas with any force of magni-
tude, but such are the reports, and possibly
his tremendous victory at Galveston has given
nm courage to venture forth In this expe-
dltion are great many Worcester county
boys scattered among the different regiments.
the ODD, 3lst, 3Sin, Co. X of the 42d, and
Doubtless others. The sd has the greatest
number Of them, and their duties have been
pretty severe tor this department Their
marches and exposures, added to the linger
ing remains of disease contracted on board
ship, have reduced their numbers fit for dutv
amazingly. One of the officers told me they
had not more than $50 men present fit for
DUTY and most if not all the companies were
to3ether. While at Algiers, after returning
from Baton Rouge, and just previous to
their start for Berwick Bay, they had but
about one hundred men on battalion drill
Three divisions nf tl.o ~-..-s, at tho Gulf ara
supposed TO have gone towards Berwick bay,
and the first result is reported this morning.
The news is given under date of April 18th,
and is reported to Gen Sherman and the Era
as follows =
''rhe expedition of our troops in this quar-
ter has Ethus far proved a complete success.
There was good deal of skirmishing yester
day and this morning, when sthe enemy was
found to have evacuated his works at Centre
vile, and to be in full retreat. He cannot es-
cape, it is believed, as Gen. Greene is on his
flank, for the purpose Of cutting of his re-
treat"
THE Queen of the West, the capture of
which by the rebels, caused us much uneasl-
ness, has been destroyed by our gua5oats this
morning, and her WhoIe cTeV captured.
The gunboat Diana is in tight place, and
will probably be either recaptured or de-
strOyed."
= "Our troops are in splendid fighting tr i'm,
and in the best of spirits"
The following is the despatch sent to Gen.
Sherman =
"The captured ram, Queen of the West,
was destroyed this morning at ten O'Clock, by
our gunboats on Grand Lake. Her whole
crew were captured"
"The enemy evacuated his works at Cen
treville last night, and retreated up the Teche.
1t is expected that the rebel force will be cap
tured."
"Hhe enemy is now between the forces of
Gen. Emory and Gen, Greene. Gen G. sue
ceeded in gaining the rear of the enemy, and
will intercept his retreat"
A still later dispatch says -
''Our forces skirmished with the enemy
until late hour last evening, driving him
back to his intrenehments. We halted witbin
four hundred yards Of his Notifications, and
rested on our arms with the intention of as
saulting the works at day break; but during
the night the enemy abandoned his works.
He left his guns and ammunition behind him,
q1hich hare fallen into our hands"
That closes up the record thus far, but
hope to be able to send you further particulars
before the mail closes The destruction of
the Queen of the West will be an immense
gain to our side, and will leave the rebel fleet
in its former insignificant state. But that ia
tai delay in assaulting the enemys works !
There is present loss to us, similar in char
acter to those repeated losses before Rich
mond and elsewhere. What is the use in let
ting a captured bird fly?
Experience proves that Co. A and Co. of
this regiment have very important stations, at
least so far as preventing supplies for the reb-
els reaching their hands is concerned. This
correspondence has mentioned few of the
captures made at the points. occupied by these
companies, and cases of like character null.
tiply. The 9th Connecticut was formerly
placed as guard on tile borders of Lake Pont-
chartrain, but recently strong suspicious have
existed that the members of the regiment were
untalthtul to their trust, and that supplies were
allowed to pass our lines. do not know that
any proof exists for this statement but it is
certain they were very summarily relieved
and this regiment, together with the 47th now
perform the duty. 1t is also certain that q
regular contraband trade has been carried or
across the lake, and that the game is now be.
ing etfectually blocked under the strict watch
kept by the new guard. The last capture
made occurred on the night of the 18th inst
when gentleman and lady were overhaulet
on the shore by the pIckets, who had with
them a trunk, and who were supplied with
passes-the female to go to Boloxi, and the
male to Ship Island Before allowing then
to proceed the usual search of the baggage
took place, when it was found that the trunk
had a false bottom, which was LIBERAL,
packed with such things as would gladdeI
the hearts of the females of rebeldom
Needles-the most rare article in Seces
sia-were found in abundance. But it wa,
not in fase-bottomed trunk that all thu
ingenuity of the pair was expended. A
very shrewd game was attempted by the lady
in endeavoring to palm off number of hun
dred dollars worth of silk as silk dress
Here was the n,oduS 0perandt. Out of tn
depths of the capacious trunk was brought
lady's garment, which, at first sight, any ont
would pronounce to be a silk dress-and on
of tine material and workmanship. But
was heavy one, and closer examination
was made, when 10! the dress was found t.
be of several thicknesses. One breadth q
the fine black silk covered another, in ever
breadth, (Which, instead of running length