Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-04-28
From the Columbia, 8 c., Guardian.

we have published for several days past, dispatches
more less positive in expression to the effect thai
Commssary Banks bad sustained o crushing defeat
near Shreveport, Louisiana from General Kirby Smith
and that the Red River expedition would IN conse-
quence be abandoned. The Baltimore Gazette says
that there doubt that the Teche and La Fourcht
regions will once be abandoned to tie Confeder
aes The loss of the enemy is reponed in the last dis
patches received to have teen fourteen thousand.
In order that our readees may appreciate hat the
abandonment Of this expedition means, and the depth
of that humiliation which such signal defeat involves
copy letter in the ST. Louis Republican, by which
we learn the immense preparations made for the move
ment up the Red River The easy success of the Yan
KEGS in taking Fort De Russy at the outset prepared
them nicely FOR the finale Gain Riyer near Shreve
port. The following is the letter
On BOARD FLAG SHIP FoRr DE RUssEY Tuesdav
March l5-To understand the importance of the great
expedition up the Red River is necessary to review
the military situation in the beginning OF March,
Sherman had returned to Vicksburg from bis grand
but disappointed raid into Mississippi, and instead OF
directing his forces towards Mobile, the point of the
greatest and almost the only position of vital concern
to the rebels, he detached portion of them to Gen.
Banks assistance who, it appears had predetermined
on scattering or demoshing the force in West Louis
lana.
1t is altogether probable that something in the
sons had dictated this choice to Gen. Banks For ex-
ample the Red River is only high enough to be navi-
gable by the largest vessels during this month and the
next while the task of taking Mobile is one which
might be undertaken at any tme though it is unac-
countaby strange that it was not begun in December
instead of May.
AS is well known, the columns under Gen. Franklin
crossed from New Orleans to Brashear City aboutthe
ls inst, and thence took up the line of march along
the bayon Teche, substantially the route pursued
nearly year ago, via Opelousas to Alexandria. The
forces under Gen. A. j. Smith, from the depar rtment of
the Tennessee comprising the brigade under Gen. F.
4. Smith, Thomas and Eilet, embarked at VicEsburg
on the 10Th, sud proceeded down to the mouth of Red
River, where they found an immense fleet of gunboats
ready for the ascent.
The twenty transports, preceded by the twenty gun
boats, started from the Mississippi on the 10Th and
assembled the Red river far what is called the Old
river, when we turned it into the Archataays, instead
of continuing up Red River. We found it, for twelve
miles, deep and navigable stream.
Touching the naval force it may be we'll to remark
that formidable feet was never under singe
command than that the western river under Ad
mi;al Porter,
The following geographical detail, taken from the
Richmond Enquirer, will also be acceptable to our
readers,in connection with this news:
Shreveport is the capital Of Caddo Parish, Louisi
ana situated the foot Of Caddo Lake, in the north
western part of the State 1t is finely located for bu
siness on the Red River, being surrounded by an ex'
ceedngly fertile planting region about thirty miles be-
low the "great raft"
Since the war Shreveport has been an extensive de-
pot for commssary and Other stores for the Trans Mis-
sissppi Confederate troops and up to the time of the
siege ol fcEsOuTg, lOrHeu an Important llnR III Tic
" chain OF supplies " for our Western army There s
military prison there, which has times contained
large number of Yankee prisoners. 1t is two hundred
and thirty miles from the mouth of the river
Alexandria, one hundred and fifty miles from the
mouth, is, we believe, the highest point Red River
visited by the enemy before the present exped
tion. Eighty miles above is Nachitoches, an old
French town. settled in l7l3. 1t is noted in history
as the scene OF hard battle between the inhabitants
and the Natchez Indians 1892 resulting in the ex-
tinction of the Natchez as distinct nation.
From Shreveport there runs railroad Westward to
Marshall, Texas, and sixteen miles beyond, making a
line in all sixty miles in length Many years ago
a route projected to Vicksburg, which was com
peted from the latter place West far the Washta
River.