Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-31
Particulars Of the Capture of
Fort DE Russey,
FoRr De RUssEY, La, Msroh is.

FORT I'm hUbSEf, LA, M0rCn 10.
Via CAIRO, March "a, 1864. I
This fort was captured to-day. .sby the
United States forces under. @ Geperal Al.
Smith. The expedition left Vicksburs on
the 10th inst, landed at Summersport La,
on tho l3th, and marched to Bayou Glaze,
where Gen. Seurri's Rebel brigade had been
oncamped, which fed on the approach of
our transports, leaving considerable camp
equipage and commissary stores.
Gen. Smith pushed forward to Yellow
Bayou, where strong Notifications had been
erected; but the Rebels again fed Aswe
came up, the enemy was pressed and some
skirmishing OCCURRED, resulting in the cap
turo OF several prisoners and small wagon
train. XIV -r--t-s,'- .a..-ss i.-..-s,r-.,
At daylight yesterday the entire com.
narm started for Fort DE Russey, 28 miles
distant and ut clock in the afternoon the
Sd and 9th Indiana batteries opened on the
fort, which replied vigorously with three Of
its heaviest guns.
The cannonade continued an hour, when
| Gen, Smith ordered the lst and I'd Illinois
Regiments, 10th Corps, under Gen. Mower,
to charge the enemy 8 riae-pits, and storm
the Fort, -,
The 10th and seth Indiana and the oath
Missouri regiments charged over deep
bitches and thick abattis in the face OF u
Calling IRE, and within twenty minutes after
the order was given, the Color.Sergeant Of
the 5Sth Illinois Volunteers planted the
American flag upon the enemy's works.
The victory was complete, and resulted
in the capture OF 325 prisoners, including
"a commissioned officers, and two sincb
Dahlgren guns, two 4-pounders, four 80
FOUNDERS, two 6-pounders, lot of small
nln ha al. &c Eoa IL.
mense quantity of assorted ammunition, anc
several thousand dollars worth Of commits
sary stores, ..,,,.... st
Y Fort DE Russey is most formidable work
1t isiquadranguar in shape, with bastions
and bomb7proofs covered with railroad iron
A powerful water battery connects with tn,
fort, the easements of which are capable o
resisting the heaviest shot and she'll. rs.
The position Of the guns was capital fo
direct and rapid fire upon all boats attempt
ing to pass up or down the river. Abou
$40 negroes were employed year in con
structing the earthwofks. ..',,.
: Gen. Smith will superintend the thorough
destruction OF the iortifcations Tomorrow
: II will take 3,0UO men two OF, three days t
destroy them. -. ,f, .,....} ..., ,..,,.,..,
Glorious news may be expected from Gems
Banks and Smith, within two weeks. A
! details OF their designs, strength, or positio
are contraband at present. .,.. i',. -,
Among the cannon captured are two gun
D belonging TO the Morning Light, two rifle
D guns from the Harriet Lane, and one hesv
gun from the lndianola, sunk ip the Missi
p sippi last year. '... ..,.... Fl, p"
The Rebels boast that their iron-plate
: ram Missouri, now in this river, can sin
e any gunboat in our Navy. The Webb an
h Mary Jane are still considered impregnabl,
t admiral Porter has been busily engage
$ for the past three days in removing obstru
Q tions from the Red River, consisting of raf
i and piles driven into the channel. Tran
$ ports are now proceeding up the river witt
It out interruption. Pa -.- IT,. ......,..
1t Fort De Russey is a strong earthworl
p situated at bend of the Red River. aud
o famous as the place where Col. Est 10
t the ram Queen of the West, in Februar
e 1858 through the treachery.of pilot who
y he had impressed. Red River is the Soutl
h ernmost Of the great tributaries of the Mi
e sissippi. Its entire lSngth, including j
3 South fork, is about 2,l0O niles, the ma
d stream being 200. 1t is navigable Il
/. eight months In the year TO Shrevepor
* near the Northwest boundary Of Louisian
y and all the year to Alexandria, about h,
!" the distance. ~.