New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-04


beauty and maenifconce and it is doubtful If finer
morine speotacle was ever witnessed. The gorgeous
tnts Of the declining sun gded the Picture while the
grim and somber iron clads rested quietly upon the sur
face Of the water their black dogs Of iron PoKlns
their from out each scovlin port'hoe' "nn'
the center Of the pictare Stood motionless Admuai
Porter's monster floating naval palace Vi wa '"'
BLACK Hawk, forming a prominent object with lS Pc
cbar monrnfu colors Puny little snorjng steasntngs
shot to and fro shrie,ing and puaing With the" as
natchos while in strange contrast were the delicate
river steamers loaded 10 the waters edge with Dlue
coats their decks adorned with rcgimonta hags gold
en- eagles and other national devices
DISCRIMINATION OF THE TROOPS.
On Sunday the 18th inst, after waiting tw,ntyfonr
Ihours for information from Gen Banks Gen smith DIS
embarked portion Of his troops and sent brigade IN
der command Of Gen. Mower to reconnoitre in the
vicinity Of yellow Bayou where the enemy had partially
erected ouls strong fort at the intersection OF Bayou
DE Cloce and Yellow BAYOU Gen Mowers advance
exchanged a few shots with portion Of Gen. Scurrys
Rebel BRIGADE rear-euard. The Rebels had Abandoned
their comfortable camp in the greatest haste leaving
large quantities Of commissary stores, camp equppage
aud q number Of tents behind them. party OF seven
stat officers gaoped ahead of the infantry ADVANCE
ard chased thirty Rebel cavalrymen several miles cap
turing four or five prisoners aad few wagons These
Icnyarous cavarymen fled before three armed men, the
lbaanee Of the staff being unarlned.
RAPID MARCHING AND ITS RESULTS.
| A. daylight on Monday morning, the march was re-
sumee after the troops had marched 10 miles Oh sun
day and enjoyed twohoursrcpose Our advance pressed
tho rear guard Of the retreatng foe very closely not
vilstanding they had gained 20 hours start OF our
tre,ps Gen. Smith resolved to push tie enemy and
thereby preyep, him from concentrating in any order.
From deserters We know that Gen. Scurry's Brigade
ard Gen walkers Division composed principally OF
Texas and Louisiana troops the number OF COCO or
coo were our opponents. We marched rapidly
through the little French villages Of hancheron
and Cocoavle reaching the pretty town OF harks'ne
at o'clock the afternoon Of Monday. March u.
The post-oihce was searched for cenraband inforina
ton but we found it depleted not letter or paper ~
naming. Although Gen Smith had marched his men
q miles since Sunday night without hating long
enough TO allow them 10 make their coffee and this
march over dusty roads with quite weather, yet
he determined at once to finish up the good days wor:
by assaung the enemy behind ais formidable fortsca.
a ;ions.
THE GALLANT ATTACK.
To accomplish this grand and bold undertaking four
miles more must be trayersod before Fort DE Rsssy
was reached. Gen. Mower, commanding the LIST and sd
Divisions OF the 10th Corps, was ordered forward at
doubleQuick" 10 open the engagement. He immedi-
ately depcyed the l4th lowe Regiment, Col Shaw.
then under the command Of Lieut. Col Ecwbold, as
sklrmishers This regiment was the fret TO draw the
FIRE o. the enemy, which opened on them quite vigor
ouy Ms they boldly advanced to long line Of rfeits
on our right wing Gen. Mower at once ordered Col
W. T. Shaw commanding I'd Brigade. Sd Division 70
rapidly to the right and left Of the road which
was raked by severe artillery IRE. The l4h, 2sd and
a2d Iowa ard cath Missouri were engaged In quite
brisk mpskoty fire for nearly two hours during which
time onf sa-r-haoiss had ssceeeded In sIlcncing one
OF the enemys - Founders which threatened consider
. able trouble on our left
THg VICTORIOUS CHARGE.
At 81 o'clock Gen. Mower ordered the stcrIniug
Of Che fort and, with prolonged cheers, the gallant
men rushed bravely TO the almost impGssabe
ditches defended by abatts strongly fastened to the
q ground rendering it impenetrable TO men Of weak
nerves but 10 such victorious troops as composed Gen
Smiths force it was charged. in the face Of terrific
imuskeiry fire from Rebel rGmp0rts Those who have
never witnessed a grand infantry charge upon the
enemys chosen position and have never heard the long
fearful roll Of musketry dealing death and destruction
Willie the savage pcals of artillery, mingled with the
ond cheers Of determined men bent only upon victory
or DEATH can form but feeble idea Of tn thrilling
tabloaux which the rays Of the declining sun gilded
upon the parapets Of Fort De Russy
CHAGRlg or TIE ENEMY.
Tie Rebels were 80 incensed at their defeat that they
.screamed in demoniac tones even after banners
iaunted from their bastions and ramparts They were
wild with rage but dared exhibit except in this
peculiar manner We soon agcertained that the chief
cause OF their anger was account OF the surprise
movement Of Gen. Smith, who had danked them whore
they were least prepared 10 defend themselves. They
we're also enraged because the gunboats we're not en-
gagged in the fight nasmuch their nonaIpearancc
the river prevented them from testing the power Of their
formidable water battery, which Of the strongest
positions naturally fortified, Willie AL the strength that
the best engineering skill could possibly invest water
battery with, layis.ed upon hi their chosen and
ayore point Of defonse. The approaches to the bat
terry were protected by long lines Of rife pa while ther
pet casemae was marvel Of strength II finished
in the most thorough Manner the outside being
with iron L rails dOyetaied together mounted upon
the heaviest timber From three port holes prOrUded
one 9-inch Dahigren gun and two J2pounders The 90
pOund1 was the gun taken from the Harriet Lane OFF
Sabine Pass last year at the time Of the disaster at
that point The Upper works connected with the water
battery mounted three guns 9inch DahlgTen and
two Founders the latter pieces having been captured
from the gunboat Indianola on the Mississippi and the
| u. s. schooner Morning Light at Galveston.
THE CAPTURE A SEVERE BLOW TO TIE ENEMY.
The Rebels had been hard at work for nearly twelve
months certifying this point. intending 10 control the
passage of Red Riyor. Our attack most nntimely
for the enemy who if left unmolested for three months
longer would have erected such formidable barrier
AZ wonld have deed the efforts of 1900 capture the
NJ Gufp hall Qnha