The New York herald., 1864-03-25
CAPTURE OF FORT DE RUssY
WEIGH GENERAL SIITH IS THIS?

Exciting II ace Between Yankee Smith
and Dick Taylsr,
&C.. &c.. 30.
CINCINNATI, March "a, 1864.
despatch from Cairo says have good news from
Ne Red river expedition, which comes undoubted
authority.
General A. Smith landed his forces from transports
Isw miles below Fort De Russey. The rebel General
Dick Taylor promptly marched against him with his
whole force, and attacked him In his rear.
General Smith, instead OF attempting to keep up com.
river proceeded by forced marches
towards the fort.
when Taylor the trick started for the
sination and for time the race seemed doubtful But
analy the Yankees in about three hours ahead,
sapsurng the fort and eleven guns OF them Par
eevsn-nch, and several thrtytwo pound.
srs, and also 300 prisoners.
This gives General Smith strong foothold n the
sry, and will enable Admiral Porter proceed Alex.
sndrA with his gunboats without opposition.
CAIRO, March %, 1864.
The Avenger arrived this morning from the mouth
q the Red river, where she mot by the gunboat
Cricket which received dispatches order
from Rear Admiral Porter return to the fleet, which
reached A,cbafalays river Monday, the 14h, where
General A. j. Smiths force dsembarked 10 operate on
she land against Fort De Russy, where General Dick
szTior eucamped With II $50
A as Taylor heard OF General Smiths landing he
attempted to reach the and attack skrmlshing
sammenced on General Smiths ef. flank before ne was
Of the exact whereabouts of the enemy. Being
hf3rmed Of Taylor's design, he exclaimed, snow for
between the rebels the United states to the
serin
BY quick movement, General Smith, with his army,
erseded reaching Fort do Russy three hours before
p4ck Taylor up. charge made, and some
ksnting occurred, during which the Union forcc bad
sbccs forty killed and wounded
rne fort easily taken, with two hundred and
eighty three prisoners, inch gun which tho
sstes had OF tho sunboat Indanoa and mounted
Also thirty FOUNDER PARROTS from the Queen Of
L. Vest laag thrytwo Founders from the Harriet
Lane, and four other guns.
TIE fae, IN the meantime steamed up tho Red river,
and TIE Eas,gos cred two shots after tho capture Of the
fprercatit ns.
The expedition moved on 20 Alexandria, whero the
boats lay when tho Cricko. left
Particulars az tho Capture or Fort DE
Eussy.
Foar DE Ruesy, Ia, March l5,l
via Cairo, March "A 1864,
Tnis fort was captured to-day by the United ststcs
forces under General A. j. Smith The expedition left
y7Ssourg on Tho iOn inst landed summorsport L.,
on The 18th marched Bayou Gaco, whers General
surrs rebel brigade had been encampod, which ned on
approach transports, leaving considerable camp
couipage and comnissary stores.
General Smith pushed forward Yellow Bayou. whore
strong fortacetions had erected but the rebels
again fed. As we up the enemy pressed, and
some ssirmshng occurred resulting the capture Of
several prisoners and o small wagon train.
A. daylight yesterday the entire command start
Cd for Fort Dc Russy, twenty-egh. miles dis
tsnt, and at four. o'clock In the afternoon
The Third and Ninth Indiana batteries opened
on the fort, which replied vigorously with threo
u It's heaviest guns The cannonade continued hour,
when General Smith ordered tho First and Second Illinois
regiments, Sixteenth corps, under General Mower, 10
charge the enemy's rife pits and storm the fort
The one Hundred and Nineteenth and Eighty In.
diana and Twentyfourth Missouri regiments charged
ever deep bitches and thick abattis In the face Of
calling re and within twenty minutes after the order
was given the color sergeant Of the Fifty eighth Illinois
Volunteers planted the American Gag upon the enemys
wcrks.
The victory was complete resulted in the capture
q three hundred and twenty 1--WE prisoners, including
twenty four commissioned officers and two nne-inch
D.hsren gans, two four.pounders, four tnIrty.two-
pounders two six.pourders, lot OF small arms, two
shous,nd barrels OF nne powder an immense quantity OF
assorted ammunition several thousand dollars worth
u commissary stores.
Fort De Russy lie most formidable work II 10 quad.
ranguar shape, with basons bomb proofs cover.
cd with railroad iron Apowcrfu battery connects
with the fort the Of which are capable Of re
sssing the hesvie, shot aud shell. Tho position Of tho
guns capital for direct rapid fire upon oil boats
sismrtIn psss up down the river. About eigh.
hundrod negroes employed year in constructing
Che earldworks
General smith will superintcn5 tho thorough destruc.
tioo OF the fortihcations tomorrow. win take thrce
thousand men two or three days to destroy them.
Glorious news may bo expected from Generals Banks
ana Smith within secsl All details Or their designs
strength or position are coutrsband at present
Amcus ue captured are two rUos belonging TO
The Morning Light, two rned guns from tho Harriet rAuo