New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-16
FROM THE RED RIvER EXPE-
DITEON.
Gen. Mowers Advance-How . Rebel
Force was Flunked on6 CuptWred-
Gen. Banks's Forces Coming Up-A
Mysterious Ham.
From Our Special Correspondent.

mysterfous Ham.
From Our Special Correspondent.
ALEXANDRIA. LA, March g. 1864.
There is much TO write about with us out
here bat there few opportunities to forward let
ters that. whenever chance TO communicate with the
world VIC left behind does your correspondent
constrained TO give but summary Of the great
mutation of items and incidents In his rote book and
serve more extended notice for events Of superior in
terest otherwise bis communications would reach an
almost unreadable length
Ny last letter. dated 10TH from the feet of Fort
De Russy giving detailed account OF the capture Of
that important fortifcation the day before and OF
the starting Of the gunboats 10 Alexandria or TO whef-
ever the Conederstes might ft TO show themselves
From that time until the 2lst (Mondsy) the feet was
busy engaged in removing obstructoDs Of which there
were many natural but only few artificial ones, and In
sounding the channel Alexandria, where 1t was thought
we would meet with strong resistance from t1e COM
bined Sorces Of Taylor Walker. Harrison ara others
was being occupied without opposition, almost ut the
moment that your correspondents was closing his letter.
and the rams ana gunboats were occupied as above
preparatory the further advance which was only de-
ayed on account of the nonarriVaI Of Bankss army
On the 20th having learned. through citizens and
refugees the direction taken by the aeoes a,tef eyso
them tangible reminder Of the presence OF the stars
and Stripes in that region, and ordered Gen. Mower.
whose division was now augmented oy the addtlon OK
two regiments of mounted infantry. regiment and
one battalion Cd Massachusetts Of cavalry, and Dat
terry Of light artillery all from Gen Lees mounted
forces, TO make reconnaissance in mat alrecuoh-
Early on the morning Of the 2lst forces were in
line and by clock the last of them were en- route
strong advance guard Of mounted infantry and cav
airy was thrown forward and covered tne %sren o.
advance which was several miles ahead Of the man
tiorce camo upon body OF Rebels about 2oO strong,
that was guarding crossing on SaySH u.s. SDGys w.
airy, which was ahead opened the affair and ahyely
skiImish ensued, lasting for quarter Of an hour.
The timber and underground In this state. ana
esnecay IL this part of il is extremely dense and web
suited the kind Of warfnreskrown as bushwhsekng.
But in this case that peculiar feature OF the country
afforded no sided advantage for although our men
were unnecessarily reckless Ia exposing themselves,
the brush was much OF cover for them rs or the
Rebels. A rapid exchange Of shots resulted N the
Arht OF the Rebels who mounted. bat In no Sc
rims casualty In the mean time the main body was
pushing forS ard with rapdity. but probably failed 70
get within earsbot VI the diminishing party Deiore LIE
The cavalry advance now started IN pursuit but ss
IL was raining heavily and sometimes In torrents the
march was slow. just before dark our troops a. ain
overlook the enemy about eight miles from where they
were first encountered. They were In position on
considerable eninonce on the road with tour pieces %
light artillery, and seemed disposed 10 stand then
cronnd II asl been satisfactorily ascertaned that tie
enemy in our Immediate front was only the rear gusro
| of the main body. which was several miles further
on Oar force was ut divided one part oe.
in front while the other. under cover o.
| tne increasing daTkness, made dstour around the
right Of their position for the purpose oi cutting Ine
| Asdarkusss came on, al demonstrations in front
vero of course useless In the Eean time the deacheo
force vas feeling its way through the woods, wnlcs
were now doubiy dark from their own foliag:
| and the oysrhangiDg clouds. About o'clock one OF
Dick Taylor's "OTderlies" was captured. from WHOM
much information was elected to iacntste our Iots
meuts half hour later wore among the keoei
guards and than 30 yards fToL theli camp
ares Coming from the direction which fhey did, the
s1or an the been
made known 10 them, there but Little occasion u
use it, The guards were picked up one after another
until nearly the whOle line was unOccupied, yhen ths
IJniOnists moved up 10 tie camp here, OF course
their identity became known al once, and Tor lew
minutesS greatest excitement prevailed Cries OF
To arrls - The Yankees are upon US J &C., re-
sounded through the camp and could they have done
so the disconnected Rebels would have dsgraoed them
selves by isnolniuious fight But the boys would M
let them and In minutes the entire force was dis
armed moro than 20 escaping. Our captures wers
2O cayalrymen, with horses &c. and four cannon and
eouipnelts The cannon were not dangerous. ss they
were pointing in the opposite direction from wherewe
came In Col II. B. Sargent Of Bankss stan was saos
il the knee. This Is our oniy casually. 90,
On the afternoon Of tie 2ith the advance OF General
Bsuks's Army under command Of General Franklin.
arriy ed here alter a march of iteon days. The men
we're much jadod, but in good spirits They had a
sksmsh at IDervie and spirited brush 81 fEahAn'
After leaving these places no Rebels were seen.
ON tie 9Th. Gen. Banks ald stan arrived on the
transport Black Hawk his arrival was tae oscasios
OF much rejoicing among the men, as 1t was known tha'
the campaign would be continued ut once IN eonsuta
too with Gen. Smith, ii was determined that smitns
Soa,s as oould get through the channel while Banks
torces should remain behind holding this point as
base. The movement commenced On the 10Th. and On
the next day the whole column was IN motion. Ihs
ta, of the river however prevented the heavier gun
boats from going along but the water in the channel Is
increasing rapidly. and there now depth Of eleven
90, i'm II AZ this p.aoe There are several vague, but
annarently unfounded in circulation, concerning
torpedoes and other distractions sboye here I"ers
hours hence their truth or faisiiy viii be settled.
AS an closing my letter report Is current tnat
Smith. forces are returning 10 tlis place, though
seems TO have no known foundation. Is al the same
sme known that the remaining gunboes, upsn one oi
uhiob YOUR correspondents viii be passenger, are 70
nroceed up the ris er without delay and the runor L.
therefore, most likely unfounded We hear tremendous
stores OF tie strength and speed Of the Rebel gunboa
waiting for Us above here. II Il said there ene u
ran1 so strong that our heaviest guns can make NO I'm
nrsson on her and swift that she VIII be able 70
run down our gunboa feet before 1t can get ha,
way back to the Mississippi Our vars are extremely
n ~