Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-06-04

oorr.spepdsnee Mobile Adrsrtiser and Rsrlrtsr-

Correspondence Mobile Advertiser aud Register
Houston, May 13, 1s64.-If you have my
letter of April 24sh, 1 need net repeat what was
therein told of the condition of affairs in Louis
lana and Arkansas. IF you have that, you also
have letter from your Shreveport correspond
ent of about the 10th inst, lest both have mis-.
carried. viii give you az briefly as possible
birds eye view Of the situation.
April Sth found Shreveport threatened By
Banks from below with $4,000 men of the 18Th
snd 18th army corps and 10, 900 under A. ]
Smith, of the 10Th and l7lh, and By Steele from
above with 10000 of his Little Rock army
joined by Thayer from Fort Smith with Blount's
army, 6,O00-msking in all 16 600. Steele was
at Washington, Ark and Banks at Mansfield,
La. On that day fighting begun, and it has
continued almost necessarily ever since.
At this moment Banks is in Alexandris, OF
rather his army Is there, what Is left of it, to.
gether with some five thousand reinforeements
that have reached him. Porter's feet is partly
there, and partly above the falls, which are some
miles above Alexandria. Steele is rapidly re-
treating on Little Rock, whipped all 70 pieces.
OF these two armies there have been over $500
prisoners captured, some 10000 killed and
wounded, "a pieces of field artillery captured,
1900 sgagons. and near 90O0ssmaa aE1as.
Six pitched battles hsve been fought, in ali of
which our sIms have been victorious. We have
* q
We hold. Ste is oHs Of Patus' finest ironelsds.
She is above the falls. The Essex, another IRON
clad, has been blown up. Tires transports have
also been captured above the falls. Our forces
have possession of Red river below Aexaniris,
and have captured sad suak two gunbOats, the
C07ington snd SguAl, at Wilson's landing also
three transports at the SAND place. The sinking
OF these boats has so obsructsd Rsd river IS 10
cut OF communication. We have heavy force
oh aagl. CfR Ra1v Z Al
of provisieus, short of transportation, and sur
rounded If the river does not rise SOON it must
be captured
Oae of tAe most brilliant Gffsirs of The war
ocouTred At Calcasisu Pass On the 9Th inst. I
cannot do better than copy the following de-
scription from leltsr to the Houston TsIe-
graph
G. S Qate U. 81 GUEBoAT GRAsrrs Cry,
CAiessieu Pass, La, Mey l. IS64-Editors
Telegraph; l wrote you from Sabine Psss, Nav
"a, that the enemy were al Calcasieu Pass.
now have the pleasure to inform you that we
are here on visit to them, and arc living ike
lords. From the information received rom our
scouts ol the Sd inst, Col GIifia decided 10
call on the YAnks end EtcsTtain By whose invi-
tation they were occupying q portion of tho
country under his command, and accordingly
issued orders for dstsehments of the 2lst Ts2as
infantry, SpAights battalion, Days battalion,
ana CIeOH0auTs battery OF light artillery, TO
cross over Sabine Pass ead march to this plaea
the movsmsnt to commence at daylight yss!er.
day morning, and the attack to be made al dsv-
light this morniog
In accordance with his order, the troops sbovs
mentioned commenced the movement ss ipdi-
Gated, but, from he delay necessary in build
ing bridge across Mud Pass, did not get into
position until later than intended; but tbe
enemy, resting quietly in their fancied eeeuritv.
our batteries were planted and infantry in posi-l
tion without their knowledge, and at halfpast
four this morning shot from Creuxbsur's bat
tsfy struck the gunb01t Granite City, warning
the FsdeFals that something unusual was tax
ing place. The enemy soon got to work, and by
the time our batteries had fred some three OF
four shots, they commenced sending shot and
shell ct our little army from the ganboaks
Granite City and Wave. Our Bbarpshootars
charged mp to the bank of tho river opposite 10 |
the boats, snd whenever an arm or any portion |
Of Yankee became exposed, shower of en- |
isld balls would immediately compel kim to
Draw back.
Ia fact, so warm did our sharpsheoters make
1, that the Ysakess finally cease firing, aad |
liter q sharp engagement of one hour and 4
twenty-five minutes, the Granite City fred = /
ee gun, in token of surrender, and almost i'm
Aftsr = white bunting was seen on the
flagstaff Of the Wave. Thus ended one Of the
many brilliant engagements of the war; result
ng in tho capture Of the gunhoats above men
ioRed