New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-13
THE RED RHyEH EXPEDITION
Cooperative Naval Movements Omeia'
Report Of Admiral Porter.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP CRICKET
Drr ArINIrnHiA IL. Anil -. ltli.

SIR: | had the honor to inform you, III my
comm unication No m IL the sinking OF the Passport
while preceding down TO Alexandria caused % we we
explosion Of a torpedo under her bottom and near her
bow On hearing this bad news proceeded at once 70
the vessel and found her sunk TO the gun deck the wa
ter over II on one SIDE. A.,
andria In hopes Of finding one OF our steam paHP
bosts then due. Lieutenant Commander fAelis Ina
already sent tug down for the same purpose anu -
pasged over the Falls the pumpboat hove Ia sght ana
proceeded on I'D An hour after tie other boat came
10 and sent her mp also being confident that the
PASSPORT would now be raised.
had ordered MI her guns taken out and al her am
uunion transferred 10 other vessels which was done
By the time reached her again, ioriye:ht hours after
the pump boats went up. ,,,
was detained day in Alexandria making dlfer
ent disposition Of the vessels IN the Mississippi OWING
10 the report Of the capture Of FoTt Pillow by the Ken
els sent Of the heavy ironelsdr up there WIN
orders remain and also changed the destination o
various vessels in the different rivers. -
When returned 10 the Eatport found her In fhI
way Of being ahoat though all tho heavy steam puup
together did do more than slightly decrease the
water The leak had % be stopped Ivy bulkhead!hg
Lieut. Com Phelps went 10 work vigorously % en-
deayor 10 save his vessel and he seconded by bis
oncers and crew | don't think ever witnessed hard
n r,,ort and II seemed 20 bs tho determination OF
All on board that she should not ia Into the hands oi
the enemy, II IL could be helped
fet confident that the Eastport would be saved. II
time permitted but bad faint idea that our army
wa, about To fall back Alexandria, when II would be-
necessary 10 destroy the EasiPoF or perhaps lose
some other vessels.
On nv arrival AT Grand Ecore found that prepare.
tons were making 20 the army IN the direction OF
Alexandria and ordered the large vessels at once be-
low The bars with orders to proceed slowly 10 Aexan.
dria keeping with the ghtcr draft vessels "a cover
the land io4ce and give protection 70 the transports
Tie day after my return 10 Grand Ecore orders were
ssa ned for the army TO move TO Alexandria The East
mort was not vet ahoat and | thought our chance 81
saving her very small unless we're certain Of having
M enemy 10 annoy us after the army len Tn the ath
OF April down 10 the Easirort again and, after
informing her commander how matters Stood We con
cluled that was necessary 70 run some rlsEs we
wished 10 save the vessel She slightly resting
on the bottom side. AID steam had been raised
on her.
Champion No 2. and with the pump of Champion No
transferred Ia the Eastport, aud connected with her
boilers This arrangement with the addition OF one or
two syphonplmps Kept TIC water out Oh INC hfeIoO"
and confined IL 10 the bow.
| waited at II point eight miles below Grand Ecore
and sent up a guubOst To- convey down all the trans
ports that were left ul-this vessel bringing up the
rear towing q lat on which were all the haslpOrts
Ga the fret day the Eastport made twenty miles
down the river but at 3 O'Clock IN the evening she
grounded from not being in the channel aud the lrst OF
our difficulties commenced in getting her over the bar
ard other distractions which abound In this river.
Ii would be impossible TO give al adequate idea OF the
difficulties Of the navigation from the 2st OF Ann up
TO the roth the time when IL was no longer considered
possible to get the PASSPORT over the sand bars anu
iogs now increasing, unless time was allowed 70 re
move them, and the enemy were kept from hhno!iB uS
while were at work.
The Lieutenant Commander commanding the East
port s. L. Phelps had done all that man could do W
his vessel aud ie IL 10 Dc matter VI pIluc W be'
her 10 Alexandria .
She had grounded eight times badly, and each timc
under circumstances whore IL was very doubtful u she
,r.ud come of bat the commanders confidence never
deserted him. and could not help but admire bis cool
and fifth in getting his vessel TO Ale1hndri when
there were places 10 pass below Win nuch less
determined that would never leave this vessel to
her fate long the commander felt hope oil getting
her down.
lie worked with almost supcrhuman efforts to accom-.
psh the object In view, sleeping apparently heithcr
night uor day-everyboiy worked. and went through
priyatons Of all kinds and must say That mentally
never went through 80 much anxiety IN my Aiie
On the sixth day OF this labor OF hauling Tho Passport
the bars and after congratulating ourselves thn'
had passed every impeachment orders were gwen 70
I'll up with fence rails for fuel and We started down
stream with the expectation Of making at east ~ niles
that day The vessel had already been brought o. mics
on her way. and W more would bring her Witlin our
lines. 80,
The army though we're GO miles ahead Of u.s. and the
report was that the Rebels following IN the rea'
also opposing them in front. and We might NATURALLY sA
pect when the army arrived safely Ia Aiethhdta ta'
the whole power OF the enemy would be directed 10 cut
ting off nv small force of three light drafts and the
Eastport without any guns Indeed We had already re-
ceiyed notice that such were their intentions
On April - made n tral 10 ptes down stream anC
had scarcely started before the Eastpoit was hard
aground. and this time Ia position where even the
hopes OF relieving her failed ne uiih'
Guilty here was want Of water and the bed OF the river
filled with logs which 1t would DO impossible
TO get the vessel unless we had the time.
We tried 10 tighten her by removing her iron plating
but this found to be labor beyond our power the
plates could not be removed In short time. and that
plan abandoned ut once.
had determined 10 remain by the Eastpor until she
safe within lines blown up 10 prevent her
falling into the hands Of the enemy.
On two occasions had given the commander pre-.
paratoy instructions relative her destruction think
ing her time had come but, still hopeful aud persistent
greater success.
Every effort was made TO get the Passport of from
what proved 10 be her final resting. place.
The gunboat Fort Hindman. whose commander has
worked 10 SaYe nv Passport With zeal nsvar saw