Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-12
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
Admiral Poraer's official Report
Interesting Account Of the Naval
Operasions-Reflec upon the
Campaign. L


Campaign. g"
Admiral Porter's official report of the
naval cooperation with Gen. Banks
expedition, given in full below, throws
light upon. some parts of the movement
which have hitherto been but imperfect
ly understood
MIss'pI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP CRIKET,
Orr GRAND EcoRR. La, April Ia.
Sir, l had the honor of reporting to
you the movements of the squadron as
far as Alexandria, and the intention of
Gen. Banks to move on to Shreveport
He deemed the cooperation of the gun
boats so essential to success, that / had
to run some risks, and made unusual
exertions to get them over the falls.-
The army started on the appointed day,
and | pushed up the gunboats to cover
them (if there should be needy as fast as
they got over the falls. The vessel ar
rived at Grand Ecore without accident,
and had good water, the river apparent
ly about to reach its usual stage at this
season. n s. .1 IL.
The Cricket, Eastport. Mound City,
Chillicothe, Carondelet, Pittsburg, Ozark,
Neosho, Usage, Lexington, Fort Hind
man and Louisville were the vessels sent
up, and fleet of thirty transports fol-
lowed them. saU os
Grand Ecore was occupied by our
forces without opposition, the works
having been deserted. Mathematician
mander Phelps captured one thirty-two
FOUNDER on the river below Grand EcOre,
which he destroyed, making twenty-five
guns captured from the enemy since we
entered the river The army had arrived
at Natchitoches, near Grand Ecore, when
| got Up here, and were preparing for an
immediate march. AS the river was ris-
ing very slowly, l would not risk the
larger vessels by taking them higher up,
but started on the 7th of April, for Shreve-
port, with the Cricket, Fort Hindman,
Lexington, Usage, Neosho and Chilli
cothe, with the hope of getting the rest
of the vessels along when the usual rise
came. Twenty transports were sent along
filled with army stores, and with por-
ton of Gen. A. j. Smiths division on
board. 1t was intended that the feet
should reach Springfield Landing on the
third day, and then communicate with
the army, a portion Of which expected
to be at Springfield at that time. 81
I'D EFFECT OF BANKS REPULsEs.
[ found the difficulties of navigation
very great but we reached the point
specified within an hour of the time ap-
pointed. At this pointwe were brought
to a 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 a Sc
rious obstruction; but went to work
to remove it. Before commenced oper-
ations, however, courier came in from
Gen, Banks, bringing the unpleasant and
most unexpected news, 'Our army has
met with a reverse" and was falling
back to Pleasant Hill, some sixty miles
in our rear. Orders also came to Gen.
A. j. 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 present, and we re-
luctantly turned back, after having
nearly reached the object we were aim
ing at. 7a m s 81
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. sh
RETURN OF THE FLEET - RUNNING THE
rac GAUNTLET W iAi
It would be very difficult to describe
the return passage of the feet 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 eve
ry point by the enemy's land forces, and
we were not disappointed. They COM
menced on us from the high banks, from
a place called Conshatta and kept up
fire of musketry whenever an opportu-
nifty was offered them By a proper dis
tribution 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 in
creased in numbers, and as we only
made thirty miles 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 Harri-
son, with nineteen hundred cavalry and
four or FIVE pieces Of artillery, was ap-
pointed to follow US down and annoy us.
It was very fortunate for US that this
person and his command were lately Sc
verely handled by gunboat few weeks
ago, which made them careful about
coming within range.
On the evening of the 18th inst, we
were attacked from the right bank Of
the river by a detachment of men, of
quite another character They were a
part Of the army which two or three
days previous had gained success ever
our army, and, flushed with victory or
under the excitement of liquor. they ap-
peared suddenly upon the right bank
and fearlessly opened fire on the Usage.
Lieut.. Com. f. O. Selfridge, (iron clad),
she being hard aground at the time, with
a transport (the Blackhawk) alongside
of her towing her of. The rebels OPEN
ed with two thousand muskets, and soon
drove every one out of the Blackhawk,
to the safe classmates Of the monitor
Lieut.. Bache had just come from his
vessel, 1.-THE Lexington,) and fortunately
was enabled to pull up to her again.