The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-09
FROM THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION
Rebel Rams-The Explosion at Fort
DeRussy-ExpeditlOn TO HendeFSOn's
Hill.

A correspondent OF the y. Y Tribune
with the Red River expedition, writes
from Alexandria on March goth:
Upwards of four thousand bales Of
cotton have been confscated and res
cued by our gunboates since their arri-
val, and vast quantities are still being
brought in through the instrumental
ty Of faithful negroes, who guide our
men to the places Of concealment
The proceeds of the sale of this cotton
is distributed among the officers and
sailors as prize money. At $500 per
bale quite snug little income will be
realized from these captures.
OUR FLEET UNABLE TO CROSS THE FALLS
Cur fleet are now awaiting patiently
and with considerable anxiety the an
ticipated rise in the river, which will
permit the safe passage Of all our trans
ports and gunboats over the falls at
present The depth Of water is now
six feet and half, and it requires nine
feet for the heavier draught boats to
pass up the river 1t rained a little
last evening and there are indications
Of storm, which will give US the nee
essary rise if it continues a few hours
REBEL RAMS on RED RIVER
The rebels have three very formid-
able iron-clad rams near Shreveport,
with which they expect to annihilate
the Yankee gunboats. The Missouri
is very superior boat, with fine pow
erful machinery and a sharp iron prov,
running three feet beneath the surface
of the water. She is said to be the
fastest boat on the Western or South
ern water, averaging eighteen miles an
hour. Her armament is reported TO be
exceedingly powerful-two l00-pound-
ers, two 9-inch Dahlgreen, and four 81
pound rifle pieces, with one or two car
rouades. The ram Webb is also a mon
ster of considerable power, but is not
so fast as the Missouri She carried ten
guns, the caliber of which is not known
to our forces. The Mary T. is likewise
an ugly customer to contend with; al
through not so large as the two former
With these three rams the enemy ex-
pect to repulse our naval forces, and
then assist Dick Taylor and Price on
land Their expectations will not be
realized, depend upon it, for, from the
admiral down to the ordinary seamen,
there is an intense determination TO
clean Zip this department before this
expedition returns, and, with one good
victory crowning the present operation
of our combined forces, the hydTa-head-
ed monster will be pretty thoroughly
squelched in Louisiana.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAGAZINES At FORT De
RUssEY, AND SAD loss or LIFE
On Thursday evening, Gen. A J. Smith
gave orders to have the magazines of
Fort De Russey blown up with gun
powder. To lay a train for so extens i've
an explosion is a hazardous undertaking,
but the perilous task was performed by
Lieut. Pannis, ordnance officer on Gen.
Smiths staff, assisted by Quartermaster
Ladd The explosion took place at
l04 o'clock on Thursday night, causing
the gunboats and transports in the
river to rock as though an earthquake
had taken place AS there were some
400 pounds of powder in the three mag
azines, which were fred simultaneously,
the report was terrific A sharp, forked
fash shot fercely up into the serene
heavens, shedding fearful illumination
on every surrounding object, and in an
instant deafening roar, louder than
the loudest thunder, reverberated
through the forests Owing to the gross
carelessness of regimental commanding
officers, several men were badly injured
by pieces of timber being hurled against
them Gen. Smith notified every Off
Ger that the explosion would occur at 8
o'clock, but notwithstanding it was de
layed two hours and half beyond the
allotted time, yet there were men who
failed to take proper warning. Shortly
after the demolition Of the earthWorks
and the magazine, Lieut. Pannis was
ordered to destroy a 6-inch iron gun,
which the rebels had mounted upon the
fort. After cautiOning every one Of the
great danger in being in too close proz-
unity at the time Of the explosion Of
the cannon, yet, sad 10 relate, there
were brave men VINO had listened 10
and faced too often the din and danger
of wars alarms, and two men were
struck by the pieces Of iron-killing
them instantly. The victims were q
lieutenant and a private belonging 20
an illinois regiment, whose names l have
not been able 70 learn in season 70 for
ward by this dispatch
THE BAYoU RAPIDEs EXPEDITION.
The same correspondent writes, on
the oath ult, respecting the expedition
sent out by Gen Smith, or the 2lst,
to Bayou Rapides and Henderson, S
Hill, a miles from Alexandra:
Gen. Cover commanded the expedij
ton, which consisted Of the ID
and Cd Brigades Of lst Division, the
S9th Indiana Volunteers, and the 9Th
Indiana Battery from the 2nd Brigade,
Sd Division 10th Army Corps, together
with one brigade Of Gen. Lees cavalry
under command Of Col Lucas, the.
cavalry beiag portion Of Cen Banks
forces.
Arriving at Henderson's Bill st '