The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-06
admiral POrter,s OfleIaI Despatch.

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAG SKIP CRICKET,
Orr GRAND EcORE, La, April Il, 1864.
SIR had the honor of reporting to
you the movements of the Squadron as
far as Alexandria, and the intentions of
Gen Banks to move on at once to
Shreveport. He deemed the co-opera-
ton of the gunboats 50 essential to sue
cess, that had to run some risks, and
made unusual exertions to get them
over the falls The army started on
the appointed day, and l pushed up the
gunboats to cover them (if there should
be needy as fast as they got over the
falls; the vessels arrived at Grand Ec-
ore without accident, and had good
water, the river apparently about to
reach its usual stage at this season.
The Crickett, Eastport, Mount City,
Chillicothe, Carondelet, Pittsburg,
Ozark, Neosho Usage, Lexington, Fort
Hindman, and Louisville, were the yes
sells sent up, and fleet of thirty trans
ports followed them.
Grand Ecore was occupied by our
forces without opposition, the works
having been deserted Lieutenant Com
modore Phelps captured one 81 2pounder
on the river below Grand Ecore, which
he destroyed, making twenty-five guns
captured from the enemy since We en-
tered the river. The army had arrived
ut Natchitoches, near Grand EcOre,
when / got up here, and were preparing
for an immediate march. As the river
was rising very slowly, would not risk
the larger vessels by taking them high
er up, but started on the Tth Of April
for Shreveport, with the Cricket, Fort
Hindman, Lexington, Usage, NeoshO
and Chillicothe, with the hope Of get
ting the rest of the vessels along when
the usual rise came. Twenty transports
were sent along filled with army stores,
and with a portion of Gen. A. J. Smiths
division on board. 1t was intended that
the feet should reach Springfield Land
ing on the third day, and then commu-
nicate with the army, q portion Of
which expected TO be at Springfield at
that time.
l found the difficulties of navigation
very great, but we reached the point
specified within an hour Of the time ap-
pointed At this time we were brought
to stop; the enemy had sunk very
large steamer, the New Falls City, right
across the river, her ends resting on
each bank, and her hull broken in the
middle, resting on the bottom This
was serious obstruction, but l went to
work to remove it Before 1 commenced
operations, however, a courier came in
from General Banks, bringing the un-
pleasant and most unexpected news
our army has met with reverse, and
was falling back on Pleasant Hill, some
sixty miles in our rear Orders also
came to General A. ] Smith TO return
to Grand Ecore with the transports and
the troops he had with him. Here was
an end to our expedition for the pres
ent, and we reluctantly turned back,
after having nearly reached the object
we were aiming at
The information we received was OF q
very unsatisfactory kind, and we did
not know really what was the exact
state of affairs, no letters having been
sent by post courier
1t would be very difficult to describe
the return passage Of the heet through
this narrow and shaggy river As long
as our army could advance triumphant
ly, it was not so bad, but we had every
reason to suppose that our return would
be interrupted in every way, and at
every point, by the enemy's land forces,
aud we were not disappointed They
commenced on US from the high banks,
from a place called Conshatta, and kept
up fire of musketry whenever an OPP
portunity was offered them. By pro-
per distribution of the gunboats / had
no trouble in driving them away, though
from the high banks they could fire on
our decks almost with impunity.
As we proceeded down the river they
increased in numbers, and, rs we only
made thirty miles q day, they could
cross from point to point and be ready
to meet US on our arrival On the left
bank of the river man by the name
of Harrison, with nineteen hundred
cavalry and four or FIVE pieces Of artil-
lery, was appointed TO follow US down
and annoy Us. 1t was very fortunate
for US that this person and his com
mand were lately severely handled by
gunboat Ia few weeks ago) which
made them careful about coming within
range
On the evening Of the 18th instant
we were attacked from the right bank
Of the river BY detachment Of men
Of quite another rcharacter-Theyw were
8 part OF the army which two OF three
days previous had gained success over
our army, and, flushed withhvictory, or
under excitement Of liquor, they ap-
peared suddenly upon the right bank,
and fearlessly opened FIRE on the Osage, /
Lieutenant Commander +. D. Selfridge, /
(iron-elad), she being hard aground at .
the time, with transport (the Black .
Hawk alongside Of her, towing her of /
The Rebels opened with two thousand I
muskets, and soon drove every one out I
Of the Black Hawk 70 The safe case I
mates of the Monitor. Lieut. Bache 4
had Just come from his vessel (the Lex I
ington), and fortunately was enabled to /
pull up TO her sgain, keeping close un--i
der the bank, while the Usage opened .
a destructive fire on these poor deluded 4
wretches, who, maddened by liquor and
led on by their officers, we're vainly at
tempting to capture an iron vessel
am told that their hOOtings and ac-
tons battle description force after
force seemed to be brought up 20 the
edge Of the bank, where they confront
ed the guns Of the iron vessels, only 70
be moved down BY grapeshot and can
ister. In the meantime Lieutenant I
Roche had reached his vessel, and i
d