The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-10

through Southern Mississippi len the main body OF his
army In the neghoorhood OF Canton, carry out
further pans-vhch, however, did not require his per-
sonal with escort OF about three
hundred cavalry reached vcksburg on Sunday morning.
February 49, On the evening he left, board the
United States Mississippi river marine steamer DIANA for
New Orleans, and reached that city the I'd o.
March. Immediately . consultation was held be-
tween General shermRn and General BANGS upon
the subject Of expedition into the Red river
country. In the course OF few days, al
preliminary arrangements being perfected and complete
understanding existing, General sherman returned to
vicksburg. to complete the fitting out OF the troops
which wore TO start from that point
As the troops were to move by water al boats from
above or below were detained at vicksburg by military
authority. After Selling about twice as many boats as
needed-the surplus being released after several
days or week useless and expensive detcntio1the
petition was embarked.
am not at liberty TO give the numbers, but II may be
said considerable part OF the Sixteenth corps, under
General A. J. Smith and smaller from the Seven
teenth corps. under General T. Kilby Smith. con
sttuted the land force from vicksburg The chief
command was entrusted 10 General A. J. Smith.
While these preparations were going in vicksburg
troops also tod out from The Department OF
the Gulf the cavalry OF that department, under Gen.
L. Ice, being ordered to prepare for moving
On the evening OF March 10 the vicksburr forces
under Gen. A. J. Smith, departed from vicksburg on
twenty transports and the day following At the
mouth Of Red River. Here Admiral Porter had al
ready rcndezvoused feet or about twenty gunboas, OF
which the principal the Benton the Neosho. East
rort, wachita, Usage Conestosa Lexington, Fort Hind
man, Con. Price and Cricket.
On the morning OF March 10 the dee, weighei anchor
and being led by the Admirals flagship proceeded the
Old River, and thence passed into the Red Some days
prior 70 this movement Admiral Porter had sent
at.
butary the Red and thence MP the Wacha aud Tensas
rivers This expedition highly successful succeed
Jog In drawing the enemy out and capturing the towns
and fort OF Harrisonbug and Trinity. with little loss.
This being Effected no enemy or Importance was let In
the rear aud the forces proceeded at once TO demoish all
barriers on the Red river.
BY noon on March ~ the transports had reached the
entrance to Achafaava river. II was ARRANGED here
that escort OF gunboas should accompany the trans
ports whlo the rest would push directly up the Red.
Tho transports accordingly moved miles down the
Ahaaaya river To the mouth or Bayou Dc Glaze Ia the
nephborhood OF Simmsport The eunboats having set
out early in morning. had arrived there advance
and reported upon the coming up Of the transports that
the rebel cavalry evacuating. On the morning OF
the 18th General Smith ordered decentralization and
marched with General Mowers division and General
kiby Smiths brigade on 9 Reconnaissance towards
strong position the enemy had chosen Yellow Bayou,
about three miles Distant Tor the landing Upon ar.
irving incomplete and evacuated fort was found tho
ehcmy having dccamped some time before. However,
General smith succeeded in capturing seven wagons
loaded with camp equipare. thirty mules and
teen prisoners. After accomplishing his purpose that
direction General Smith retraced his steps 10 the boats
n
small guard for the boats, had landed and were
ready 20 march. BY ten O'Clock on the same morning
the entire column In motion the country to-
wards another fort situated Red river and already
known. called Fort dc Russy. Al two In the afternoon
the exrediton csmped six miles out.
On March Ia, nj early hour tbc command was again
10 motion marched twenty-five miles, brdged
bayou and a attacked Fort de Russy nud 10 short
tmc stormed and took possession OF the works. with
little loss.
Our casualties win reach ton killed forty wounded
Our forces captured two hundred and Hfty prvites
clvdine one Lieutenant colonel six captains. and
about fifteen lcutenants. Our forces also took
eight siege guns and two field pieces. enc
OF tho heavy cune once formed part OF the
mcnt OF the Harriet Lane, and another was from
lndlanela We also took largc quantity Of awmu.
milton and cnnmssary stores The troops Of the enemy
were all Texans The fort described OF consider
able strergb having with three
end covered with railroad IRON double ncd with four
feet OF solid oak Mounted within the
nncinch gun and large red piece the other run
was not IN pnston The enemy evidently bespw ci an
immense amount 81 labor upon the fort and ccpa,e9
and properly rarrsoncd II could doubt have held
against vastly superior force II vs. described az SO
situated that II commands the many mites the
encmyR troops said 10 be on excellent character,
but poorly oincered Genera, Walker who was the
or SHIRT tire before upon The approach ~ our troops
decanprd Tor Aeynnora.
Let rs now take glance ~ the operations " gun
ooas and Transports ON the morning ~ the 14h Adml
raj Porter with all the runboats ports moved
obstructions discovered Tho Of the Faspot
immediately set W Work upUn them, and M short tire
mad Erected vat Thence the gunboets moved ~
10 toe tort ava cic I'd bmbardtncnt from the
meantime Genera smith Surrounding iaut.
When ~ arfangeu, rad bcsn irado Tor s,ofmiup
body Of tie enemy. wasxI. when o before