Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-16
From the New Orleans Era, 22d uit.


yeI retreat 10 lue DauISu UPS vi ChpItuldlLOu.
From the New Orleans Era, 22d ult.
RETURN Of GEN. BANKS AND ARMY.
Il is now pretty we'll known to the people of New
Orleans Il at the Commanding General of the Depart
nert OF the Gulf has reached this city, and that be has
left his army in good health AID Spirits encamped near
The mouth of Red River, where feet Of gunboats
and transports also assembled
As nave already stated, several days age, it be
d evident that our army would be compelled to re-
tire om the strongly fortified and in all respects
c,nt position which it occupied at Alexandria, the
great scarcity Of water in Red River preventing
gunboa5s moving to advantage, and thus laying our
Eight daft steamers liable capture and destruction
hy tie rebels, who lined the right bank.
In order to get the vessels the falls it was neces
-ary construct dam the only alternative presented
hajrg ~ destroy and abandon the feet thing which
U,1eal Banks never had the remoest intention OF DO
!g. PrOvdental rise, it i5 true might have taken
ac- but both army and naval officers were of opinion
lat Providence would be most likely to bel those who
yeipfd III mselvos, and they "pitched in"
Tin dam completed, the boats got over in safe
" and 10 the mlDner before narrated by u3, reached
trFt ie Rlssey without much Difficult y and with very
tyw casualties
The urmy left Alexandria the mounted scouts CT the
eatmy cons antly lowering about all sides The
|n@ sanitary lessons however, which gallant
tfo)ps tInst the rebels at Pleasant Hill aud Monet's
Buff, mad them keep safe distance away, and 10 at
t&ck # consequence made at the start.
On Monday last, The 10th inst, our forces reached
AYoyeie5 prairies, when information brought to
Cen Bar KS that the enemy large force had t6keL up
Il position which army would be compelled to pass
aud that their batteries ready to open upon
Oar ans were Immediately ordered up, and skrInish-
10 draw their FIRE and thus ascertain their
poi'in. This resulted satisfactorily, the enemy
opening ~iih about twenty pieces OF artillery.
Every preparation was made Tor battle by the
Union commanders. Our artillery was placed in posi-
Ion and ttavy cannonadng began and kept Up with
cut cessation for space Of four hours. SO vigorous
AMI VII sustained was this fire, that majority OF the
M rociiap no md If iha
Ok line OF cur army ordered to advance On the
T,0.ls, "ho admirably posted. 4 narrow belt of
dick woods On the summit of gradual rise in the
f field the site the rebel chief had selected, and
Is were protected by the timber.
But the heavy CannOnadirg had proved quite disaG-
IT0us, aud partly unuerved the rebel troops, and the
steady and rapid forward movement of the long lines
of blue coats gave them still greater dstaste for the
work before tbem that after few VOleys of rifle
balls had been poured in among them, they hastily
withdrew from the field carrying their wounded and
many OF tEeir dead with them. Their loss, chiefly
from artillery fire, ascertaned to be quite hea
w 1t vas not the purpose of the Union commander
follow the Ietreat1g foe, and the iue OF march Tor
mspOrt, on the Atchaf8lay9 was once again taken up
I he enemy kept well away from cur column the bal
Of Monday and all of Tuesday, the only lighting
being sonal brushes between the Union and rebel
cavalry. Ga these occasions troops Uniform
y sui and throughout the entire fatigung march
they performed all that required Of them with
tir!ug vigilance aud bravery.
On Wednesday, the 18th inst, the battle Of Mellow
Bluff fought, which for the numbers engaged, and
The short time boys took to whip the rebels, may
DC set down one of the most gallant affairs chroni
ciCd on tie records Of the great rebellion.
The advance Of our army reached this stream and
crossed with sores trains etc. and not until the great
portina la got did the enemy show himself in
tOCe But when the rebels discovered that there
than they could easily defeat their side Of
the sIeam. they began vigorous attack. The re-
be.s were commanded by Maj General Prince Polig-
no nd of
Big. Gen. Mower, than whom there is not Drawer
Solaier in armies After severe fight of about
hours duration the rebels driven from the field
with loss, at the lowest computation, of 500 kile !
and wounded and 500 prisoners.
About two hundred of the prisoners taken in this
gallant affair brought to New OTleaLs the
transport steamer New Dunlieth. Although We could
obtain an official return of the casualties On cur
sde they not i IS than $50 killed and wounded
Tae disparity in losses between the Union and rebel
force engaged is attributable TO the fact that large
number o the enemy were killed during the charge
which the prisoners TAKEN and which broke their
lines and competed their retreat in disorder The Vaor
end bravery OF our troops proved by the fact that
we lost not single prisoner, WHILE above mention
cd, more than 800 OF tie enemy fell into hands
This the last attempt made to interfere with tie
movements of our army and shortly alter the engage
rpent ended the Atchafalya was reached
On the 18th inst. the river was bridged and in a
rather novel manrer Twenty transport steamers were
run up the stream, and with them-the gaDgway
parks ormiDg the conpecton-an immense pontoon
formed, which the trains, artillery and army
hangers even to tie meanest camp follower passed
Friday, the 2Osh inst, safely and with as much
convenience though the bridge had been the most
substantial structure built. Yesterday all reached
the place where they for the present located and
suppose they will rest for time until they recover
from the tatigues of their ardaous campaign.
General Banks arrived here yesterday about noon
accompanied by Brig. Gen. VIM. Wright Chief o
staff, and Col. Jas. Grant Wilson, a. d. O., 1t Col
VIM. s. Albert, Inspector General, Major George B
Drake, A. 4. g.. aud Lieut.. Andem a. D. g. Tht
other members OF the staff arrived later the steamer
Universe.
The dam constructed for the passage of the boats
the falls is work of immense labor, aud the great
part of which was accomplished by the army. The
first dam built bust after being completed and be
fore the boats were ready to attempt the passage,
having been built strong enough to withstand the vol
ume of water that pressed upon it. Thus week was
lost 10 rebuilding if.
When The Dam was q second time complete all thu
water of Red River was forced through channel but
trite wider than the smallest Of the gunbOats AS Ont
steamer followed another into the rapids thus formed
1t seemed though they must be dashed to pieces TIT
waters throwing them about as though they were no
WeSnter than chips. Even our large and heavily pa
ted iron clads tossed like cookie shells upon thu
bosom OF the stream. But oil passed through without
damage.
On or about the 4th inst, the little pupboat SIGMA
was taken by the rebels at Wilson's Plantation Rert
the John Warner was also captured Several NJ tb<
ocers OF the Signal taken prisoners as was alsr
one OF Gen. Banks staff. A letter received from tht
latter gentleman states that they well and kindly
reae1.
a daily line of fast Government steamers between
W Washington and White House, on the Pamunkev, ha
t peen established making the trip in about twent
nouts' they are to carry officers and soldiers am
aSn' stores 10 White House, and bring back wound