Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-25
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIspArcHEs
FURTHER OF THE RED RIVER nv
PEDITlON

The Federal Success Complete-Fort DE-
Russey to be Demoiished-Geod News to
be Expected. sI
CAIRO, March e4.-The ram Ayenger has ar
rived from the mouth OF the Red river, where
| she was met by the gunboat Cricket, from
which che received dispatches and an order
| from Rear Admiral Porter to return to the
| feet which reached Atchafaiaya river on
Monday, the l4th instant, where General A, J
| Smiths forces disembarked to operate on the
land against Fort De Russey where Dick Tay-
lor was encamped with II $50 men. As soon
as Taylor heard OF Smiths landing, he at.
tempted to reach the rear and attack. Skir.
mishing commenced on Smiths flank before
he was aware Of the exact whereabouts Of the
enemy. Being Informed of Tayior's design, he
exclaimed. Now for q race between the rebels
movementr' Smith, with his army, succeeded
| In reaching Fort DE Russey three hours before
Taylor came up. A charge was made, and
some fighting occurred, during which the
Federals had about forty killed ard wounded.
The fort was easily taken, with 2S3 prisoners
| one 1l-inch gun, which the rebels had taken off
| 3U.pounder Parr0ts, from the ram queen OF
TIE West two long 32-pounders Harriet Lane,
and four other guns.
The feet, in the mean time, steamed up the
Red river, and the Eastport fired two shots:
After the capture OF the Notifications, the ex-
peditien moved on to Alexandria, where the
boats lay when the Cricket left.
The Victory Cenplete. .-..
CAIRO, March A.-Admiral Porter's feet,
comprises one hundred and sixty guns entire.
FORT DE RUssEY, RED RIVER, La, March
15-V1A CAIRO March 2l.-This fort was cap.
| tured to. day by the United States forces under
General Smith, which left Vicksburg on the
10th instant, and landed at Semmesport, La,
on the 12th, and marched to Bayou. Glace.
where General Scarris' rebel brigade had been
encamped, but which fed upon the approach
| Of our transports, leaving considerable camp
| equipage and commissary stores Gen Smith
/ pressed forward to Yellow Bayou, where
| strong forufications had been erected but the
Rebels again fled as We came up The enemy
| was pressed and some skirmshing occurred:
resulting in the capture Of several prisoners
and small wagon train. AT daylight yester-
day the whole command started for Fort DE
Rus sey, twenty.eight miles distant, and at four
O'Clock p. m. the Sd and 9Th Indiana batteries
opened on the fort, which replied vigorously
win three OF it's heaviest guns one hour, when
General Smith ordered the Ist and I'd Illinois,
under General Mower, to charge the enemy's
rifle pits and storm the fortficauons. Tae
5Sth, l19th, and o9th Indiana, and 2lth nj issouri
regiments charged over deep bitches and thick
aoattis, and CALLING fire and within twenty
minutes after the order was issued, the colsr
Sergeant OF the 5sth Illinois planted the Ameri-
| can flag on the enemys works. The victory
was complete, and resulted in the capture Of
325 prisoners, including "a commissioned offi-
GERS, 9-1nch Dahlgren guns, 2 4-pounders, q
lot of small arms, 2.GG0 pounds OF powder an
immense quantity of assorted ammunition sew.
eldi tuouSdAu OQllaIS worm OF COmmlSSary
stores. .
Fort De Russey is most formidable work,
quadrangular make, and bastions' and bomb.
proofs covered with railroad iron. power.
ful water battery connects it with the fortihca.
tons, the classmates of which are capable of
resisting shot and shell of the heaviest calibre
The position of the guns was capital for a
rapid and effective fire on all boats attem ptipe
TO pass up or down the river About eight
hundred negroes were employed tor year in
constructing the earthworks.
Gen.. smith will superintend the thorough
destruction OF the Notifications to- morrow It
VIII take three thousand men two or three
days TO destroy them.
Glorious news may be expected from Gems.
ranks and Smith within two weeks Their
design, strength and position are contraband
at present. q .---.'- -7
Among the artillery captured arc two guns
belonging to the schooner Morning Light two
rified guns from the Harriet Lane, one heavy
gun rom the Indianoia. The rebsis boast n, at
their 1ron. PLATED ram Missouri, now in this
riyer, can silk any guuboat in our navy. =
The Webb and Mary Jane are also considered
Impregnable to any OF our fiotilla Admiral
Porter has been engaged for the past three DAYS
IN renewing the Obstructions from the Rad
river, con sisting of RATS and piles driven in 10
changel Trans ports are now proceeding mn
the river without interruption, ...'7' ''-"