Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-01
Capture of Fort DE Russy on Red River.
FoRT DERUsssEY, La, March Is,
via Cairo. March q.

and marched to Bayou Glace, where a rebel
brigade was encampcd, which fed on the
approach OF our troops, leaving considerable
camp equipage and stores. Gen. Smith
pushed forward to Yellow Bayou, where
strong Qualifications have been erected, but
the reoels again fed.
At daylight Yesterday, the entire COM
mand started for Fort D. Russey, eight
miles distant, and at / O'Clock in the after
noon the Sd and 9th Indiana batteries open
ed on the Fort which replied vigorously with
three OF Its heaviest guns. The cannOnade
continued an hour when Gen. Smith order
ed the lst and 2d III. regiments, 10th corps,
under Gen. Moore to charge the enemys
rifle pits and storm the fort. The ll9th and
seth Indiana, and oath Missouri regiments
charged over deep bitches and a thick abba
It's in face Of a CALLING fire and within 20
minutes after the orier was given, the
color sergeant Of the 5Sth III. volunteers
planted the American flag upon the cnemys
works. The victory was complete, and re-
suited in the capture Of 32j prisoners. in
Guiding p commissioned officers, two 9 inch
pahlgren guns. two I FOUNDERS, four 81
Founders, two o Founders, a lot of small
arms, 1000 barrels Of fine powder and an
immense quantity Of assorted ammunition,
and several thousand dollars worth of COM
mIssary stores.
Among the cannon captured are TWO guns
belonging to the Morning Light, two uicd
guns from the Harriet Lane, and one heavy
gun from the Indianola.
Fort De Rus-ey was a most formidable
work. 1t Is quadranguiar in shape, with
nastions and b5mb-proo.s covered with rail
ruad iron. \ powerful water battery con-
meets with the fort. the classmates Of which
are capable Of resisting the heaviest shot
and shell. The position of the gums was
capital for direct and rapid fire upon all
boats attempting TO pass up or down tue
river. About 500 negroes were employed a
year in constructing the earthworks. Gen.
Smith will suVerintend the thorough des-
struction Of the Fort. IL viii take 5000
men for two or three days TO destroy it
Glorious news may be expected from Gems.
Banks and Smith.
A dispatch iron Cairo says
Gen. smith landed his forces from trans
! ports a few miles below Fort De Russey.
The rebel Gen. Dick Taylor promptly
marched against him with his force and at
tackled him in his rear. Gen Smith instead
of attempting to keep up communication
with the river, proceeded by forced marches
towards the Fort. When Taylor saw the
trick, he started for the same destination.
and for a time the race seemed doubtful, but
finally the Yankees came in about three
hours ahead and captured the fort. This
gives Gen. Smith q strong foothold in the
country and will enable Admiral Porter to
proceed 10 Alexandria with his gunDoats
without opposition.
Admiral Porter has been busily engaged
for the past three days IN removing obstruc-
tons from the Rcd River, consisting OF 4
raft and piles driven into the channel.
Transports are now proceeding up the
river without interruption. Toe rebels boast
that their iron plated ram Missouri, now in
that river, can sink any g~unboatIn our navy.
An order will soon be issued consolidating
the lst and Sd corps, to be attached to the
9th under Gen. Sedgwick.
Lieut. Gen. Grant and staff arrived at
headquarters Thursday. lie has ordered the
army to be at once ready Tor inspection.
Gen. Hancock has returned 70 the army
in e~ycellent health, and will ASSUME com
mand Of his corps. During his visit North
he obtained a large number Of men. The
strength Of his corps Is not surpassed by
more than one IN the army.
A large number Of slck are being brought
from the Army Of the Potomac hospitals in
this vicinity.
On the night Of the 7th, a large force Of
rebels approached Seabrook, ;. c in boats,
captured a picket boat with ) members Of
the 10th Pa. Regiment, and were subse-
quently driven of by the pickets Of the same
regiment.
The gunboat Huron has captured the
steamer Sophia, from Nassau. of the Alata-
maha river, with a valuable cargo.
Gen Seymour has gone to Pilatka, Fla
to concert what may be an important move
ment.
A small Union force from Gen. Ferry's
command has made a reconnaissance of Bulls
Bay, 5. c.
Col. Wells, provost marshal general at Al
exandria, sent out a party Of the lst Michi-
gan cavalry dismounted, on Wednesday even
ing, in search of guerrillas. They went bv
steamer to Freestone Point, thence through
woods about 10 miles, where they captured
Capt. Harrington the well known guerrilla
chieftain. and three men. Harrington is a
dangerous man. He has often boosted he
would not be captured alive. There were
found upon him passes and permits from the
rebel authorities permitting him to 20 where
he pleased within the enemy lines.
The Committee on the conduct of the war
find no evidence against Gen. Meade in their
investigation.
The President to-day dismissed Col. VOL
ford of Kentucky from the T.. 5. service, for
certain sentiments expressed by him at a re-
cent sword presentation in that State.
Gems. Sykes and French arrived at Wash,
ington Friday afternoon from the army. On
taking leave Of his command Gen. Sykes is
sued an order in which he speaks OF the or
der relieving him from duty with the army
of the Potomac as wholly unexpected
Psducah, Ky. was attacked by the rebel
General Forrest with 5000 men. on Friday,
captured sacked and burned. Col. Micks,
commanding the post, occupied the fort be-
the city with about 500 men. The reb-
els made four assaults on the fort and were
repulsed each time. Three of our gunboats
opened on the city during its occupation by
the enemy, much OF which was burned, in
the marine railway and the steamer
Arizona, the wharf boat. About 5000 of
the inhabitants of the city moved across the
river upon learning of the approach Of the
Next morning the enemy bad left. The
were returning TO the city.
The amount OF public and private proper
ty captured is unknown at present. hut is
supposed to be large.
Our loss is twelve killed and forty wound
ed. From $50 to 500 rebels are reported
killed among them Gen. Thompson.
Twenty-Five houses around the fort were
destroyed by our troops, as they were used
by the rebel sharpshooters as Il screen. The
headquarters and government storehou-es
burned by the enemy
Alexandria, La, WIS eaptured by Gen.
Banks forces on the 18th inst. Gen. Lee
forces had a fight at New Iberia, and pur-
sued the rebels across Vermillion Prairies
to Vernillion Bayou, distance 10 miles.
For several days past Washington has
been more than ordinary lively with move
nents Of troops of all kinds.
The Worlds Washington despatch re-
peats the rumors that the delegation to the