Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-29
OPERATIONS OF OUR NAVAL FLEET
IN THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION


run some risk, and made unusual exertlons 10 get
them over the falls The army started on the NP-
them az there should be need) as fast as they got
over the tAlhj the vessels arrived at Grard Eoore
without aooident, aud had good water, the river
apparently about TO reach its usual stage At this
neaaon.
The Cricket, Passport Mouud City, Chlllieo,hs,
Carondelst, PttsbuTE, Os srk, heosho, Oaage, Lex
ington, Fort BindmSn, and Louisville, were the
vessel, sent up and neet OF thirty transports fol-
Grand Eeore was occupied by our foruca Without
opposition, the works having been deserted.
Lieut. Com, Phelpe captured one s9-pounder on the
river below Grand Ecore, which be destroyed
enteIea the river. The army had arrived at
Natehitoshss, near Grand Eeore, whom I 90, up
As the river was risiuE very slowly, would not
but started the 1th Of April for Shreveport with
Neosho, and Chilheothe, with the hope Of getting
the rest OF the vessels along when the usual rise
S1S .ry ma we're ssn, a. slSas @
| Smiths division on board. Il was intended that
the ieet should reach Springfield Landing on the
portion OF which expected to be At springfield a,
Hound the difncultis. OF navigation very great,
but we reached the point specified within an hour
Of the time appointed. At this point we were
brought 10 . stops the enemy had sunk = very
the river, her ends resting on each bank, and her
hull broken in the middle, resting on the bottom.
This was serious obstruction, but went to work
| TO remove II. Before l commenced operations,
however, q courier came in nom General BtBkE,
bringing the unpleasant and m, at unexpected
was falling back 10 Pie.ssnt Hii some siIty nile.
In our rear. Orders also came to General A. J.
Smith to return TO Grand Eeore with the trans.
an end TO our expedition for the present, and We
reluctantly turned back, after having nearly
refsseS Ss ins Sssot We were s,s.S siSSiGG a.
satisfactory kind, and We did not know really
what was the exact state Of Affairs no letters haV-
II would be very dlHicult TO describe the return
passage Of the neet through this narrow and
.nasgy river. A. long as our army could advance
reason to suppose that our return would be inter.
rupted In every way, and at every point, by the
They commenced on US from the hiEh banks, from
place called Conshatta, and kept up q ERE ol
musketry whenever an Opportunity was offered
had no trouble in diving them away, though
nom the high banks ttfey could fire on our decks
.y SumSa sSS
point to point and be ready to meet us on our ar
name Of Harrison, with nineteen hundred cavalry
and four or nye pieces OF Artil cry, was appointed
to follow US down and annoy US. II was very for,
were lately severely handled BY gunboAt Ia few
weeks agoJ which made them careful about coming
On the evening ofthe 18th instant we were at
tackled from the tight bank OF the river BY q de-
tAehmsnt Of men ofqulte another character They
were part Of the army which two or three days
previous had gained susces. over our army, and,
flushed with victory, or under the excitement Of
liquor, they appeared suddenly upon the right
bank, and feaflessly opened Are on the Usage,
Lieutenant Commander =. Q. selfridse, (ron-olad,)
she being .,S hard AErCHHd A. the time With trans;
her otr Tho rebels opened with two thousand
muskets, and seon drove every one out Of the
Lieutenant Bache had Just come from his vesse
1.-THE Jexington) and fortunately was enabled 70
pull up to her again keeping close under the bank
poor, deluded wreti hes, who, maddened by liquoI
and led on by their oificers, were vainly attempt
am told that their hootings and actions bAfis
descriptions force after force seemed to be brought
up to the edge Of the bank, where they confrontet
down BY grApeshot and canister In the meantime
: Lieutenant Roche had reached his vessel, and
, he opened a erosE-nre on the infuriated rebels
. who fought with such desperation and courag,
against certain destruction that II could only b
accounted for In one way. Out opinions were Vsri
fed on inspection OF some Of the slain, the me-
actually smelling of Louisiana rum. This afIai
brought up two pieces OF artillery, one Of whic
was quickly knocked over BY the Lexington
hc CfSs. they @sHSFsS to carry G III
riouI affair Of nght between Infantry and CUR
n boats.
!. The rebels were moved down by her canister
Al a
u had come to the attack, leaving the space OF
y mile covered with dead and wounded, muEket
9 and knapsaeks. dying rebel informed our me-
Il do not voueh for true; II true, It is IetiOu
loss to the rebels. Night coming on, we had n
+ rebels. We were troubled no more from the riSh n
@ss, Who Ssr. marching Z ~, u. "sf o. Wsps GS PeI
a | unfortunate termination OF the nrst expedition
a That same night ordered the transports to pro
a eesd and, having PLACED The Eun693sts 3 At Poia
were passed safely the rebels not firing shot Il
II return to the many that were bursting over tn
hills.
The Hext morning, (the 18th inst.,) followe
= u down myself and nndinE Ind At Car, C.1e,te, SH mile
n proceeded d.wn In this vessel to Grand Eeor
y and got Gen. Ranks to send up troops enough /
i were nrsd on, as usual, after we started dowr
Q but when had the trooTs sent up, the transport
Il came along without any trouble. This has bee
q expedition where great deal OF labor has bee
expended great deal Of individual bravery IhowI
q and on such oecAaioAl the CommAnder-in-Chiefi
apt 10 ind out the metal OF which his office. 8 ar
e made, and future occasions 1t will enable hir
70 offered. To Lieutenant Commanding T. o. Sell
, = ridge, commanding Usage, and Lieutenant Geerg
:. NJ. Baehe commanding Lexington, am partiel
" larly indsbted for the gallant manner In while
ment during the expedition, always AntieIpa
1T ing and intellisenty carrying out my wishes an
orders
9. found the Meet at Grand Etore somewhat In a
4 unpleasant situation, two OF them being above III
bar and not likely to get away again this seaAoi
unless there 10 rise Of foot. could not ptoVd
against this when over hundred miles up the rlV
" II nature does not change her laws there will n
r doubt be rise Of water but there was one yea
Is I9l6 when there was rise in the Red river, or
~ IL may happen again. The rebels are cutting @
,1 the supply, BY dIVeTtlnE erent sources OF wat
I. into other channels, all OF which would have bee
stopped had army arrived as far RG shFeVepoF
10 have done my best land so have the officers AI
men under my oommAnd) to make this expedition
n- success throughout and do net know that we hAl
"a | failed In Snythlng we have und FtAken.
- "a Had we not heard OF the retreat OF the army,
ID should have gone on to the end. wise Prov
dence, which rules and directs all things, b
Of thought proper TO stay our progress, and thro
nj lmpedlments In the way for some good reason.
na We have nothing left but TO try II again, a
ae hold on to this country with all the force we
% raise. II 10 just as valuable to US, and lmportA
to the cause a. any other portion OF the Unio
or Those who have interests here, and are faithful
he the Government, have right TO expect our pl
er teetionj aud when this part OF Louisiana 10 %
~ quered, we hold Arkansas and all the right bA
ne OF the Mississippi without firing another gun.
ID There 10 . class OF men who have, during Il
an war, shown good deal Of bravery and PATRIOTS
4 and who have seldom nst with any notice frC
- those whose duty II IL to report such matters.
- speak Of the pilots on the Western rivers. wi
'rt out any hope OF future reward through fame,
ad apecuniary way, they enter into the business
Ter plotting the transports through dangers Il
- | would mAka a faint hearted man auAil Occul