, 1864-05-09

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tr1bunc.1
WASHINGTON. l1ay s, 1864.
bearer of dispatches from Admiral Porter,
Hkosc character for intelligence and truhfuness ia
established hete who arrived today, gives IN even
more deplorabte account Of Banks' t.aas-3Iiss1s-
sippi operations than any heretofore published, BE-
sides confirming, In all essential respects state
ments Of private letters telegraphed you wsek
ago. He adds fac's calculated TO dlspel whatever
hopes the friends Of Banks may still entertain OF
satisfactory explanation Of his conduct.
On the first dsy column Of thirty Thousand
men was disposed Of on the march In such po-
sltion that they were easily and shsmenl1y routed
BY from $4,000 to 15,00o. On the second dsy Gen.
A. J. Smith whipped the rebels alone, driving
them six miles. He was in hot pursuit and easer
to reap al the fruits Of victory, and hopeful Of
reaching Shreveport, when IN order came from
Gen. Banks directing him to retreat with the rest
Of the army.
Gen. Smith refused to obey. A second order to
fill back he also refused to obey. Finally General
Banks in person brought third order md insisted
that Smith should fall back before daylight. He
begged permission to stay long enough to bury his
dead md care FOX his wounded and sick. promising
to be on the march an hour after sunrise, but
Banks was unfavorable, and the old soldier was
obliged, with tears in his eyes, to leaye his men
who had fallen on the battle fe.d to the tender
mercies Of the.rcbels.
He carried off two Of the thirty-th,ee cannon
which the rebels abandoned, but was not allowed
time even to sptke the remainder, while our forces
were tetreating in one direction and the rebels
were retceattng In another direction. Soma hours
niter General Smiths departure the rebels sent
flag Of truce to the batten neld asking for pe.mis.
sion to bury their dead, aad sought ysfnly for some
time for somebody to receive it.
It may be imagined they prodted By this unlock
ed lor advantage. Five miles out from Alexandra,
Gen. Banks retreattng, found Gen. McClczuand
with d00O men on his war to reinforce him. He
ordered him to fall back to Alexandra at once,
after destroying bis grain and supplies. McClcr-
nand refused twice to obey, but on receipt Of the
third order set fire to part Of his train.
Gen. Smith with :, 600 men took the responsible
ltty Of marching to the spot, and c1tinguIshluR
the flames, which he succeeded in doing before
more than lily bushels was burned. and after re-
maiping thsre Ill night, marched back again
with the grain and Ill the other supplies.
Gen. Banks requested that these ahould b given
up to him.
Gen. Smith replied that they we're his By right
Of capture and he should keep them for his own
use. No general but Banks was blamed IN the
army for the campaign. Stone Is pronounced
without fault in the matter.
At the time the messenger lett, eight f1on-clad
8unboats were all aboTe the fails unable to reach
Alexandra on account OF the lowness Of the water,
and unprotected BY land forces
The Eastport had been blown up.
Admiral Porter's dispatches, while not going Into
80 much detail concerning army operations, fully
confirms general conclusions a. to the character Of
genezalshp Of Gen Banks. The dispatches are On
the way yfa New Orleans.
Gen Candy cannot reach Alexandra for a week.
Private letters have been 1eceived in this city
which render it certain that Gen. Steele has fallen
back to Little Rock.
It appears be had less than eight thousand men
when be lett, and was Joined BY Gen. Thayer with
about sir thousand forces,
Banks vas 90 CERTAIN Of pleasant march through
the county, and OF forming Junction with Steele
and bud such supplies, that Steele moved with the
expectation Of drawing from him at an early day.
rations. and be was obliged to return to Little
Rack tor supphee- he was much h1rrassed By
Price On his rcturn march, and some Of his resf.
msnts were pretty badly cut up.
WASHINGTON. My Sat the latest dates Gen.
Tauls was At Aexandrta, and intmatioa hls hee1
r ven that he DESIGNED to lelve that poa1tton
Positive orders from Gen. Grant require Geu.
Btks to afford protection to the ganboats Ia Red
tent command, TO bid defiance to any force the
r tele can bring against him. Arrangements for
supplies will be made With energy and celeEty by
the Major General commanding, who has gone for
Ta1d 10 the Geld under special Instructions,
Nxw Yon5, May IA telegram to New Orleans
from Southwest Pass, Apr.l 90, received By The
IrIkttEe per tha steamer Morning Star says a
ekirmish hse taken place between Grand Eeore md
i;er. Luca. With our rear guard engaged the reb-
els under Wharton two o. three brigad.s strong,
md fnrght him day and night for three daJs Too
rebels had about ten thousand cavalry, and har-
ff1yFf md