New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-11-04

|
and that The forces OF Gen Steele were to cooperate
with us eifectuay at some point on Red RIVER neal
Natchitoches or Monroe. II was never understood
that the expedition, that involved on the part oil my
command a large march OF nearly 400 miles into the
enemys country, and which terminated At point which
we might be able 10 hold either on account Of the
strength Of tue enemy OK the d!iiity Of obtaining
ppnes was to be limited to thirty days d;e,enS, At
ton Of forces and the distance anu onys conntr,
tending the further advance into 'hs e4et q, EVAN,
after the battles of the sh and 9th, tgaihs' ." 49,
superior in numbers to our own. renGSisu ~ -
that could NOT occupy Shreveport withln tne '"''
specified and certain that without rise Ia the river
the troops necessary to sod il against the eneEy would
be compelled TO evacuae n for want OF suppnes Shd
impossible that the expedition should return VI any
event TO New Orleans in time TO cooperate IN the gen
era movements Of the army contemplated LOT lIe
Spring campaign. 1t known at this time that the
feet could not repass the rapids at Alexandra. ana u
was doubtful, If the fleet reached any point ABOVE
Grand Ecorc. whether IL would be able to rctuIn Dy
faul back to Grand Ecore should be able TO ascer
tain the condition of the fleet the practicabity OF con-
tinuDg the movement by the rivers reorganlze part
Of the forces that had been shattered in the battles OF
the th sth and 9Th possibly ascertain the position OF
Ger Steele and obtain from him the assistance ex-
peccd for advance north Of the river or upon lis
southern bank; and perhaps obtain definite Instructions
from the Government 20 the course to DO pursued
Upon these general considerations and without refer
to the actual condition Of the respective armies
at 10 o'clock midnight the 9th cOuntermanded the
order for the return of the tram and directed prepare
tons to be made for the of The army TO Grand
Ecore The dead were buried and tie wounded brought
from the Geld Of battle end placed in the most comfort
able ,as that could be provided and surgeons ana
| supplies provided for them. A second squadron OF
cavalry sent under direction Of Mr. Young, OF the
engineer department TO inform the fleet OF our retro
grade movement and to direct its return, II II had as
cended the river; and the morning Of The 10th tho
army lesurely returned to Grand Ec0re. The wounded
were Immediately visited by DIR. Sanger who took with
him clothing, raiious, medicines and other supplies
aud reported them in a comfortable condition.
The fleet sailed from Grand Ec0re on the IN. and
reached its destination at sOgey Bayou on the 'enlnS
Of the 10TH day after the battle at Iieasart hl
and two DAYS after the engagement at Sabine Cross
roads Gen. 4. Kirby Smith received ver0el message
on evening Of the 10TH and the morning OF the
18th written orders 10 return The transports were N
a crippled condition, rudaets uhshipped ana NheeiS
broken The enemy attacked he feet on It's return
near Pleasant Hill Landing on tie l2h with force oil
500 cavalry, strong reserve infantry! ana Daterl
OF SIX guns under Gen. Greene; but The troops pro
tectcd by cotton bales ana bales OF hay with the gun
boats kept up deadly ire and drove the enemy RON
the river. For tao miles the bank was strewn with
the wounded ard the dead. Among other hcbel ON
Gers killed was Con Greene. who LEFT dead upon
the field. The troops OF The transports saw hui iaL
ard claim that his death was TIE Work O elf hllliel'
the guuboats ard transports all firing az tie same tne
The enemy under IIddel who had occupied the north
bank Of The river with so attacked tie fleet on
the 18Th bat was driven back with loss lie ba'lga'
ton up and down the river was intricate ana diBicut
and The steamers were frequently aground. Several OF
the boats were laden with ammunition ana ordnance
stores but the energy OF the officers ana men brought
of every boat The only loss ~ stores was 10 SACKS %
oats, thrown overheard for the reIei OF steamer
aQrJurd. They reached Compile on the lith, Win q
los Of one man killed end j. wounded, where they met
force from the army sent TO tt,if assistance anu
reached Grand Eclre on the 10Th. without further
oburuciion. Gen. Il. Kirby Smith, TO whose couftes!
am indebted for al tie official Information have re-
ce.yed Of this part Of the eApedinon mentions WIN
commendation Major II. e. Houston oi the Engineers.
WHO had IN charge the ordnance stores and Lieut. Col:
W y Albert. officers Of by stan Nho accompanied
him. and. also officers and men Of MS own command
I mi 4 ma fgrs n
Gen. smith, who commanded tho land forces ana
TRANSPORTS H entitled 10 the bighcst communication Tor
the energy skill AID success with which lie managed
this most difficult affair Lines OF defense were esiab
I.hed ~ Grand Ecore the l2ih Of April and orders
given 20 attack the enemy II they nppiuachel. n pom
tom bridge YVES thIown across the river curing tne
night 1ur pickets we're driven in on the 18Th but the
et,mv appeared upon reconnaissance made IN i"rce
10 have gone below for the purpose either OF nIh'hh
our troops al Alc1nudTa or occupying MoLs' blli,
I or Gan, River On the day Gen smith crossed
lie river with bTigadcs. two batteries ana strong
cavalry force 90 all The Meet siiu aDo', pINnu
u.n.frh,s were sent 10 Gen steele informing BAN OF
% eoudlt Ion uf affairs and requesting hin 10 JON Us
M zone point in thc ryer. oders were seht 10 NeN
Orleans fr rcGnlorctmeuis and the litueLIitne en-
I er.l commanding the army was Informed OF rue con
dillon al Affairs by TELEGRAPH, ana 81 my intention 10
advance uron Shreveport, Gen Steele cona eout 70
our as isiancc and ny determination not 70 "HhdraW
bc et returned on the 18th in safety. without loss
81 vessels or matcri. Of war. Admiral Porter WIN
whom / lad aconleience on az nm 81 ~ sno
1
without rise ~ The river. aid bus counsel was ioi'
loved The river bad 1ecn steadily falling Sapllsss
/ were brought TO Grand Ecore WIKI very tlea, I'm
eulfy A. vas found that tive 81 the guhhchr ouhu noI
"a below Grand Dc0rc ana II was now certain mat the
neei could not poet le falls a. hieiandEa' lieu5eh.
AM ommandef scirdge. len IN eoinmand OF ,ne nee'
~ he Admiral WHO had gone TO Alt1andrla' ad
dree.cl 10 M Is dispatch. dated the Ith VI Alil,
.,atine that lie bad been Informed me army was 10
withdraw immcd. tely and that u Nou!e oo
", ,bai case 10 gel the gunboas down 'he nvcr IN.
hrnel him al once that the amy bad no intention OF
Withdrawing from that positions that Aud sen. 10
New Orleans for troops. and by special messenger 1
CON S.ccle urging bis direct cooperation, ana that
I n WA definitely asceTtaincd thar las asss ance
would fail ns aud that my power Wol'd DC llseholah'
a. advance further upon ths h, nBa,s. ,lc 'nei,!,
who appeaIe 10 be ia full force soHd entertain no
,bopgbf of ratrpgrade oIuent. and never u II eit
The navy ia any danger. No such purpose vas tneh
entertained; aud until received Information IN rep!
10 nov dispatches It nay purpose to maintain my
position copy OF tlis letter l. appended 10 'his &C.
The next DAY received instructions nom Lieut..
Gen Grant 90 vhch | have referred) that II ny re-
turn ia New Orleans Was delayed one day beyond tue
let OF May when IL would he necessary for my com
,d -, ci,nerate with other armies in the Spring cam
n,i,n IL would have been better hat the expedition hd
neyer been attempted. These Instructions, WIN tue
fact that the river not likely TO rise TIE report re
ceiyed by Captain Il. ;. Durham tnat ren. S.cclC
coud not cooperate With u.s. aud that tho dicutl OF
na,sIn the fnll at Alexandria was hourly increasing
II The passage no, then impossible lea me 70 cnnhge
my determination. II was not, hoNe'el unth the en-
tire fleet was free transports and snnDoas ei tua
admiral Porter In charge Of the EaspoIt. which Lad
been aground several miles below GIand Ecore Tor sew
oral d.ys sent me word by Col. W. D. Albert (vhose
statement is hereto appended that she was clear ana
fortbet protection unnecessary that orders were given
an the ost pr 20 the supply trains III the difec
,i, ~ AI,xnndfa The army moved on the morning
q, the o2d OF April every vessel having preceded both
the marching orders and TIE movements OF the army
INV from whatever source, thai TUE army con-
moving rom Grand EcOre toward Alexandria
anst the advice or without the approval OF the naval
oicers in command. until after the departure OF ey
e vessel In the river is without the slightest color Of
,ry,b In nv Interview with Admiral Porter on the
sth 81 April he expressed tie utmost confidence that
- rise tlmatiOn Of his