Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-06
Novel Scene on Red Rlver---Fight Be.
tween Rebel Infantry and United
states 6Gnb0at.

rear Admiral Eorttft III DIS oUctat
report 10 the Navy Department, dated
Grand Ecore, April i4sh, says
Il would bs very difficult to describe
the return passage OF the aeeE through
this narrow and shaggy river. As long
az our army could advance triumphant
" il was not so badl bat we had every
reason 70 suppose that our return would
oe interrupted In every way, and at eve
~ point. by the enemy land forces: and
we were not disappointed They com
meneed on US from the high banks. from
a place called Constable, and kept up
u ire Of musketry whenever an oppor-
iunity was offered them. By proper
distribution Of the gunboals ! had no
trouble in driving them away, though
from the high banks, they could fire on
our decks almost with impnnity As we
proceeded down the river, they incr, ased
ia Numbers, aud, as ws made only thirty
miles q day, they could cross fsou1 point
10 point and be ready 20 meet US on our
arrival. On the left bank Of the river,
a man By the name Of Harrison. with
| 900 cavairT and fosr or Eve pieces OF
artillery, was appointed to follow as
down and annoy US. II was very fortu-
nate for Us that this person and bis COM
mand were lately severely handled By
gunboat (a few weeks ago) which made
them careful about coming within range
On the evening Of the 18th instant We
were attacked from the right bank Of the
river by detachment Of men Of quite
another character. They we're e part of
the aFmy which two or three days pre-
vious had gained success over our army,
and flushed with victory or under the ex-
element of liquor, they appeared sud
denly upon the right bank and feaglesslY
opened Gre on the Usage, Lieutenant
Commander r. o. SellFldge, liron clad)
she being hard aground at the time, with
a transport Of the BlaekhAwk along slds
of her, towing her OF The rebels opened
FIRE with two thousand muskets, and sooa
drove every one ont Of the Blackhawk to
the safe easements Of the Monitor Lieut.
Bschs had Just come from his vessel (the
Lexingtonl and fortunately was enabled
to pull mp to her again, keeping close
under the bank, while the Usage opened
q destructive Ere on these poor, delnded
wretches, who naddened BY liquor and
led on BY their officers, we're Vainly at
tempting to capture an iron vessel
| am told thai their hootings and ae-
tons battle description; force after force
seemed to be brought up to the edge Of
the bank, where they confronted the guns
Of the iron vessels, only TO be moved
down by grape and canister In the
meantime Lieut. Roche bad reached his
vessel, and, widening the distance be-
tween him and the Usage, be opened
cross fire on the infuriated rebels, who
fought with such desperation and cour.
age against certain destruction, thai IL
could only be accounted for in one way
Our opinions we're verified on inspection
of some Of the slain, the men actually
smelling Of Louisiana rum. This affair
lasted nearly two hours before the rebels
fed
They brought up two pieces of artil-
lery, one of which was knocked over hy
the Lexington's guns; the other they
managed to carry of. The erossire Of
the Lexington 6nally decided this Curl
Gus affair of 6gat between infantry and
ganboais.
The rebels were moved down By her
canister, and finally retreated in as
quick haste ss they had come to the at
tack, leaving the space of a mile cover.
ed witkdead and wounded, muskets and
knapsscks.
A dying rebel informed our men ths,
Gen. Green had his head blown of
which do not vouch for as true II
true, i, is serious loss to tbs rebels.
Night coming ou, We had no means of
sscertaining the damage done to the
rebels.
We we're troubled no more from the right
bank Of the river, and party Of 5000
men, =ho were marching to cut rs Of,
we're persuaded 70 change their minds
after hearing Of the unfortunate ter
mination of the frat expedition. That
same night l ordered the transports to
proceed, and, having placed the gun.
boats at point where the rebels bad
battery, all the transports we're passed
safely, the rebels not firing q shot in re-
turn to the many that we're bursting over
the hills. The next morning (the 18Th
instantly / followed myself, and finding
At Gazette. six miles from Grand Ecors
BY land, that they had 90, aground and
would be some time getting thrcugh, /
proceeded down in this vessel TO Grand
Eeore. and got General Banks to send
up troops enough to keep the guerrillss
away from the river We we're cred on,
as usual after we started down, but whea
had the troops sent up the transports
same along without amp rsuhlez