The New York herald., 1864-03-25
now In this river, sink any gunooat 10 our navy.
Tho Webb and Mary Jane are sll considered improg'
nable.
Admiral Porter has been busily engaged for the past
three days In removing distractions from the Red river,
consisting OF RATS and piles driven into the channel
Transports are now proceeding up the river without
interruption.
interruption.

The Expedition and Its COmmander.
Tho advices from Vcksburg under the date OF the Sth
OF March stated that force Of troops was then embark
ing for expedition up the Red river Tho expedition,
which had been placed under the command OF General
A. ]. Smith, was 70 bc accompanied by fleet Of gun
boats All the available vessels had been pressed into tho
service to be used Transports and the expedition was
said to be destined for operations up the He'd Black and
washa rivers Mouroe thence by land to Shreveport,
La where was supposed great quantities. OF cattle and
cotton were stored
was also stated that General Steele would cooperate
with tho expedition by movement from Little Rock.
Another report stated that tho cooperation would como
from General Banks command. II appears that In
this operation the Vicksburg forces acted aone at least
without Of any other forces having been en-
gagged except those under General Smith,
GENERAL sMIrH--wmCH sKTI2
As there many Smiths in the army, no small
number Of whom have the title Of general attached to their
Names IL is necessary to give brief sketch Of the
mander of the expedition, in order that no may not be
contounded with tho other Smiths.
Brigadier General Andrew jackson Smith is a native Of
the State Of Pennsy from which State he ap
pointed a cadet at the Military Academy during the year
1884 He officer OF long and varied experience his
connection with the army dating from June 80, 1885,
when he graduated at West Point in the same class with
Bauregard Hardee and others Of the rebel army Gene
rails Barry, Mcdowell, and few other generals In the
Union army were also his classmates. His first CON-
mission that OF second lieutenant in the First dra
goons and dated July 1888. Seven years passed
before no obtained the "bar" which marks the rank Of
first lieutenant. During this time he with his reg
ment in various parts OF the Territories From August to
October 846 he acted as lieutenant colonel commanding
the battalion OF Mormon volunteers under Brigader
General Kearny having succeeded Captain Allen Of his
uf,o r ind Fort
ard being in his turn succeeded by Philip St. George
Cooke then also captain in the First dragons, now
blgadsr general in the regular army In the with
the Indians in South Oregon Captain Sithhe received
his captains commission February 16, 1S47--served
with distinction, and was engaged In various conflicts
during three months harassng campaign. For his
due. in these engagements he specially mentioned In
general orders In 1857.
On the 18th OF May 1861 Captain Smith succeeded to
the majority OF the First cavalry ate First dragoons)
vacant by the resignation Of Major Henry H. sbley,
since rebel general operating in New Mexico, who has
been several times thoroughly whipped by the Union
forces. Scme months afterward Major Smith made
colonel OF the Second California cavalry and afterwards
brgadiar general of volunteers his commission geno
raj being dated March II, 1862.
Genefal Smith was first placed in command Of bri.
gao but in October 1862. he at the head OF the
First division Of General Gordon Grangers Army Of Ken
lucky then stationed near Lexington. Tho enlargement
OF General Grants command in West Tennessee at the
latter end of 1852 caused General A. j. Smith to be at
tached thereto commander OF the Tenth DIVISION then
forming portion Of the Thirteenth army corps.
On the 2sth Of December 1862, General Smith led the
right division in the attack upon vcsburg, and after
wards commanded the Second division OF the Thirteenth
army corps then under General Morgan at the battle at
Capture Of Fort Hndman Arkansas Post January 10
and Il, 1868.
After the return Of this part OF the army TO the vic
nifty OF vicksburg, General Smith placed in command
OF tho district OF Corinth, from which post he was
removed take charO OF the post Of Columbus, Ky,
in order to keep open the communications along the
Mississippi river with General Grants command near
the rebel stronghold Daring December, 1868 General
Smith chased rebel cavalry force, under General For
rest, out OF this district.
Having cleared that part OF Kentucky Of gaeras Geno
raj Smith January "A, 1861, relieved OF his post
command ordered lead the Third division OF the
Sixteenth corps in the Sherman expedition through Gen.
tra Mississippi After Of the forces lately
under General sherman 10 the Mississippi river General
Smith was placed in command OF the Red river exped
tion, which he has so far led to vctJry.