New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-04
sECEsH REPORT.
A Successful Expedition Ia REJon Rnpides
ard lrcnderson's IIilI-A GencrnPr
Tricks Results Of the Expedition-Thc
Prisoners and thcir Negro Guarde-A
plot TO Escape Bamed.
HEADQUARTERS RRD RIVER R1PEDuIoR, }
OK BOARD STEAMER CLARA BELL
ALEXANDRIA. La, March "a. 1854.
From Our Special Correspondent.


ALEXANDRIA La, March "a 1854.
BY steamer Luminary, Capt. Weaver, / am
enabled to send the details OF the successful expedition
sent out by Gen A. j. Smith, commanding Red River
Expedition on the morning OF the 2st inst Long be-
fore this reaches you the telegraph will have drawn the
outlines Of this handsome victory gained by Sighting
General. John A. Mower whose inherent Yankee
Im' was 40 strongly manifested on this victorious e1
petition From eoonts and Rebe deserters Gen. smith
received suf:icen. information regarding thu Rebel
forces In this vicinity 10 warrant him in ordering
thorough reconnaissance toward Bayou Rapides and
HendeTsons Hill the latter point being "a miles from
Alexandria A midnight on Sunday, Gen saith had
natuTed his plans and orders were forthwith sent 10
Gen Mowers headquarters ou board the steamer Des
hones, TO prepare for an early march. Gen. Mower
promptly set his necessary military machinery IN run
ming order and by working hard all nga th. commits
saYy ordnance and medical oecessafor the eI
petition were supplied and In osnpicts rcadnbcss.
/. wa d aoa ss ms
al and Sd Brigsdes Of the LIST Division. the 18th Indi
volnntesrs and the 9th Indiana Battery rom the e
Brigade 81 Division 10th Army Corps toget'nr with one
brigade Often Lees cavalry under command ofCo LII
css the cavalry being portion NJ Gen Bapls forces
Without unnecessary delay TIE expedition marched sa
Rebel pickeis and drove them In capturing seyeral;
1t was At Bayou Rapdes that Col Sargent OF the 81
in his left high while he CALAMITY eadrg his men
on "a n charge Arriving N Hender0ns Nm nj y
O'Clock Monday night Gen Mower left the airy force
10 harrAss and threaten the enemy while he me- rapid
de,ou Of ~ miles through mad and mils for he purpose
OF turning the chemys right flank To do this1 was nee
essary march round an impassabe swamp whchthe
Rebels relied upon as natural barrier Without cals
ing any alarm, cen. Mower very quietly gained Ills de-
sired position having fret captured two mounted Rebel
cOuricrs, who were hurrying TO Gen. Walkers head
quarters with important dispatches from Gen. DICK
Taylor who ordered infantry r, sment to be sent u
reinforce him together with 6OVl rounds or Enfield
rifle ammunition At the tine these couriers we're Ia
ken prisoners Gen. Walkers forces were Xix miles III
Gen. Mowers rear.
THE TRICKS OF A YAHBEE GENERAL
should not omit mentioning the maneuyer which
Gen. Mower practiced upon the Rebels and bv which
he gained the victory over the boHidered chiyalry
Oyertlking one od the c,uriers Gen. Mower In very
Indignant tones accused him OF behs a id Yankee
spy at which the dispatch bearer became alarm d. and
protested his innocence asserting tat be was good
Confederate. on bis way with highly important dis
patches A. proof OF his identity I've handed over his
apers for the General to examine, asking him "a read
Them quickly as he did not with 10 be detained. Gen
Mower pronounced the documents ors"ries' and said
You are Yankee, Sir and i intend 10 take You be-
fore the Colonel. am Gen. Walker. and you cannot
deceive me in this way The astODshed soldier replied
" Very well General viii lead you 10 tho Coono's
headquarters and be will explain that am rot Yam
kee Smng the action 10 the word, the deluded Rebel
piloted Gen. Mower and his staff some two miles As
ft a the General neaIcd The cavalry pickets who were
seated In picturesque groups around their camp Tres
scarcely noticing our troops ~ they passed. they were
ordered 10 the rear. Approaching the enCampment on
ar irutrv 10 march forward Before giving this order
he stoned tho courier about the disposition of the
cavalry and artillery telling him the YANKEES were
NOT far oil Eager TO be Of service, the messenger ex
blamed the precise location Of each gun AZ s0on as
The courier overheard the order for infantry to advance
he discuyoteJ his terrible stuatOn but II was too Late
The terrified soldier expected 10 be shot and he became
highly excited telling the General 10 hurry and take
that gun that road" pointing out the various posi-
tons Of each cannon.
HOW TIE MUDslIS BEHAVED Is REBEL CANT.
We were the cavalry camp, capturing prisoners az
a rapid rate when sose of them attempted to take u
basy departure. The report Of the muskets frightened
several OF the artillery horses. who dashed of at
furious rate among men. IL became necessary To
shoot several hOrges in order 10 the guns and
caissons from destruction. The firing awakened sew.
cra of the officers Of whom asleep In fine
mansion the plantation, and rushing out ~ ascertain
the OF the trouble they met at the door b.
Gen Movers staff officers, Who demanded them to sur
render. Staggered with unuttcrablc disnay, the
" Chyalry stood for moment speccbless. they be-
held DE Aboti0niss driving OFF the entire Texas
battery while Yankee bay0nets cleaned in the light Of
their Rebel cdmp-ires DiscO,e ring their dilemma, |
they sueniy delivered up their side-arns, occasionally
bursting ont into wild paroSysms of rage. accompanied
with great deal Of profanity. desperate attempt
was made 10 discharge one OF the l2.pOUndor guns
which was loaded with grape among men, but the
design was thwarted. by the time the last prisoner
secured the storm had ceased and the moon began
CLEAN its silvery light upon the romantic but 10 the
prisoners disagreeabe scene. II was one O'clock and
Inc long and weary march OF thiTtytwo miles such
lcult roads lad well nigh exhausted the energies
II these iron OF the West After rebuilding the
bridge over Bayou Rapides which tho Rebels had par
Tally destroyed, Gen. Mower, having accomplished his
,bect pushed i've miles and encamped for the night
starting on his return at daybreak Tuesday morning
he expedition reached Alexandria at noon yesterday
he I'D ut the troops marching with much apparent
Elasticity though on their return from short feyew
sETURN or THE vICTORs WITH THE REBEL sPoiIs
There was an eXutaDt air about these determined