New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-03

MINIS abov9 this point ordering US 70 % y.
The plantation and attack the Rebs IN the rccr, While
the boats were engaging their attention in TIE front
Our little column marched slowly down tne roau WIN
line OF skrmshers in the advance until IL was "lthin
| Rsi,ol pickets could be seen. We thought W.
were surely in for a fight when suddenly
command sent from the boat TO hat. we iay 'iel,
about tw cnty minutes expecting every moment 10 hea
shots wlzzng forth from the hedge IN front OF u.s. wheL
were ordered to retreat back to the boat ~ seemed
that shortly after had left the boat few men Were
seen irving To attract notice from the opposite pahK
the stream They taken ON board, and proved u
be the pilot and or two OF the passengers OF the
Warner and they informed the General that the war
ner and one OF the gunboats had Deen cnptured .na
morning, after severe fight while the other gunDoa
had been blown up The scene OF the action was Dut
half mile below the point near which our boats were
| then lying . q
AS the Rebel force was described as being from five
to ten thousand strong and well provided with artillery
Gen. Nckerson did not think 1t advisable 70 attack
with but 40 men and one battery 10 our Doats We
turned up stream again, and We "retrcatcd In good
order" Just as fast could CO. We were fortunate
enough to get back TO Alexandria without being ired
upon from the shore and now again encamped on
our old ground The Warner was the largest and
strongest Of the four boats had on the expedition
and was well protected with bales Of cotton around her
engines. pilot house, and guards she had guhpoaat
ahead TO feel tho way and one behind to protect the
rear and we had rather enyied her apparent safety
just az she passed the bend around the plantation
three batteries opened upon her one from the rear and
in front and one from the side. She was soon com
plctey rddled and driftcd hepessly aground, marx
| for a thousand nuskeis. g.,
The gnnboats attempted TO return the fire, but It
was found almost impossible 10 elevate the guns suf'
centy to do any execution a. the banks OF the river
steep and high, while the rifed tarrotts OF tho
Rebels-capturcd from US at Manshen-sent Dolls
punging through the decks which did fearful cu.on
| The Coyington soon completely disabled. Her
escapepipe cut rudder shot away and wheel shat
tered. The pilothouse demolished two or three OF
the guns rendered useless and many OF the men killed
In the mean time the Warner had struck her flag and
the Captain Of the Coyngton sent some men tc burn
her; but the officer whom he sent found her decks so
completely covered with dead end dying that be
could ut DO anything with her. The coylngton was
finally abandoned by her crew md set fire to. She
blew up In few minutes.
The other boat the Signal, not much more fortu
nate. She disabled after about an hours lighting.
and finally surrendered. The few that escaped from
the Coyinston and the Warner had to the gauntlet
of n thousand muskets in running up the bank, and
many were SHOT in making the attempt. The two
engineers from the Signal aud reached
the shore Two Of the pilots escaped and all but one
81 the officers Of tie COfngtOn escaped. But almost
all the officers OF the Ohio regiment and large NUN
Der OF the men were either Killed or wounded, few
escaped the woods, and snch we've 10, recaptnred
by Rebel cavalry were either picked UP by our Doas
made their way 10 Alexandria,
The plot ol the Warner, knowing that we were on
the way down had kept close 10 the bank Of the shore
IN order 10 warn US Of the danger We were approaching
and If !; had not been for him the 10th New York
would now in all probability be among the things OF
the past. The Ohio boys II appears fousht bTavely
hut coopcd UP ~ a narrow boat while the Rebels were
securely sheltered behind the levee they taken at
fearful disadvantage. Every shot passed completely
through the boat, while the she'll bursting inside scat
tered around splners Of wood and glass, and spread
death and destruction on every sllc.
The Warner WAS used by the Rebels as ferry boat,
and they crossed large part Of their rcc to the lett
bank Of the river In order 20 make the blockade more
perfect. The Warner was qunricrmasters boat, and
carried the IT, ; mails IL happened unfortunately that
the mail she had contained very many OF the monthly
reports and returns forwarded 10 the Adutant
in Washington which AN afraid will afford the Rebels
valuable information We learned that the steam
boat Cry Belle with the 2rh Ohio board, had been
captured day or two before while coming up the ryer
and the Emma on Ter way down. II never ruins but
!, pours' The river is now blocked up and We must
light Wy through.
Everything to-day looks like preparing for move.
MORGANZA, La. MAY -. lst4
The move has been made. and the work connected
with the has completely occupied my time and
attention that with the exception of hasy sent
TO you from Semmosport. have not been able 10 write
line before TO day. After fortniehrs hard work the
dam hBaly proved a success. and the gunboats were
brought safely over the shoals and anchored opposite
the town.
Our laboring night and day, and the negro
troops especially proved OF great service Once por
ton Of the dam gave way. and several lives were lost
by the rush Of water but our engineers, although de-
aycd were not di.heartencd and their perseverance,
was finally rewarded with success: The iron plating
taken OF tho sides VI the turtles, and tho guns
placed on tenders.
This nghtened them two or three inches and the
rer, rushed them over the smooth soaps,one bottom.
The evacuation OF TIE town commenced On The llth
inst Our division marched out Of the town about
nine miles and them having marched too far We had
10 go half way back again We then enoamped for one
day. awaiting the remainder II the army.
Selt ~ came the lst Division Of the 10Th Corps
the wagon train the 10Th and 18th Corps another
train, and finally the 18th CorPs. protecting the rear
We had II couple of days rather dusty marching
without special interest.
There Was continual skrmishng by the cavalry In
III. front and rear Of the column but encountered
no opposition Of Importance until the third day march,
Early IN the morning Of the 18th the cavalry. closely
follow ed by brigade emerged rum the woods upon
series Of rolling plains short distance north Of the
town Of Marksyi.le. The Rebels opened upon US with
artillery from the further side Of the plain aud several
Of the cavalry killed and many wounded. We
therefore halted until the remainder of the division had
come up when formed line of battle and advanced
Gcross the plnin
q The Rebels did not wait for Us but withdrew in a
hurry into the town Of Marksylle.
Our army advanced TO some high ground overlooking
the town, where again halted. The advance was
YOU see made most cautiously for Banks had not for
gotten Mansfield, and 1t was thought possible that the
same army which had rcpulsed him there now pre-
pared 60 dispute his retreat 10 the Mississippi Our
men had suffered severely during the day while march.
ing in line Of battle across the hot plains without water
and the needed rest About dusk two brigades OF
division ordered TO advance through the town
ON the doublc.quiek, and feel the way. Our brigade
WAS the first designated but aftcrward re-
cctod on account Of showing too short line for the
work. The other brigadcs charged past ana
over u.s. and down the slope INFO the town.
and In few minutes heard rapid voleys
Df muskeiry. intorsperssd with cannonading. The
sound gradually reccdcd toward the further end Of the
town and finally ceased. WHICH showed that the
Rebels had again been driven. and our boys were in
peaceabe possession. We bvouackcd for the night on
he ridge, and the next morning advanced through the
Own and formed line Of battle on the plains the
urther side.
Marksyie Is by far the most thrifty the most North
,rn.looking place have seen In Louisiana.
The houses large. low and well built and the
gardens we're tasteiully laid out and well kept.
The fields were Of great extent but well nclOsed and
intended Tor pasturage. The town lies live
niles east from the Red River aud had thus far been
III untouched BY the tide OF war.
The inhabitants were mainly French and as far
IL. emf