The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-28

Gulf to Berwick, Pattersonville and
Bisland, and then ran by the way of
Franklin. New iberia, Vermillionvilie
and Opelousas to Alexandria. The
other ran up the west side Of the Mis-
sissippi River by way Of Donaldsonville
to Piaquemine, where 1t turned to the
northwest and ran to Opelousas. The
first road is called the Teche Road and
the other the Plaquemine or Atchafa-
laya Road. The rebels had built a
strong work some distance below Alex
andria to defend that place. 1t was
called Fort De Russey. They had an
other work at Butte-a-la-Rose, about
20 miles north of Grand Lake, to COM
nand both the Teche and the Atcha-
falaya Rivers, and they had still other
works at Fort Bisland and Patterson
/ willie. which were intended as a base
for their approach upon New Orleans
and to prevent any movement from
that city against them. Banks first
this country and drive away or destroy
Taylor. The first consisted of 1000
men under Brig.-Gen. Weitzel. and was
to move out to Bayou Teche by the way
of Berwick. apd the other of 5000
up the river to PIaquemine and therlce
strike out into the country where ii
would meet With Weitzers column, and
the two would take. Butte-a-la-R Rose,
after which they were 70 go on to Alex
andria. These expeditions came to
nothing There was some skirmishing
| he t6 Get through Bayou Fiaauemine.
While these were in the field Admiral
Farragut heard of the misfortune to
Col. Ellet by which the Queen of the
West and the gunboat De Soto were
sunk and captured near Alexandria,
and 1t was necessary for him to at once
send some of his vessels above Port
Hudson to patrol the river. He. there
| fore requested Gen. Banks to make
demonstration against Port Hudson
while he ran his vessels by the bat
teries Gen. Banks acceded, and with
| river to New Orleans for the movement
against Port Hudson. He left WeitZers
command on the Teche as a protection
to New Orleans, and early in March
| was at Baton Rouge with about 1900
men. Farragut was not ready yet to
| repairs to his vessels, and there was
| delay of 10 days, so that the fleet did
not reach Baton Rouge until March 10,
| when Banks moved out for Port Hudson.
| With Growers Division in the lead and
followed by Emorys and Augur's Divi-
sions, Banks arrived within range Of the
| Port Hudson works on the afternoon
| of March IA, intending to make a de-
mOnstration against them on the morn
| ing of the 18th; but while building
bridges and getting ready to bring his
artillery forward Banks received a note
from Farragut saying that he intended
passing the batteries that night. Banks
| tried to push forward, but he was en-
barrassed by erroneous maps and the
difficulties Of the road, SO that his men
did little more than skirmish with the
enemy's pickets while Farragut ran by
/ the batteries.
Farrngut's Fleet.
/ Farragut brought with him from
New Orleans for the purpose of pass
ing Port Hudson the following vessels
Hartford, Capt. ]. S. Palmer, 2S
Alden, rs guns; Monongahela. Capt. ].
P. McKinstry, II guns; Mississippi,
Capt. Melancton Smith, 10 guns;
Essex, Commander C. H. B. Caldwell,
seven guns; Albatross, Lieut.. Command
er j. E. Hart, seven guns; Genesee, Com
Kineo. Lieut.-Commander John Wat
| ers, six guns; Sachem, Leut.-Com-
mander Amos Johnston, five guns; five
mortar schooners, five guns; total, 121
guns.
The first four were sloops Of war, the
Essex river ironclad. the other four
were gunboats. The order Of battle
prescribed that each of the large ves-
sels-except the Mississippi, which was
Observation-Disclosures take a gunboat
firmly dashed on the port side, away
from the batteries, and that they
should proceed up the river in the or
der named above, the Hartford in the
| lead. The mortar-boats were anch-
ored near the east bank, about a mile
below the batteries. The Captains
were reminded that the object OF the
movement was to pass the batteries
with the least possible damage to their
vessels, SO as to secure as efficient a
force as possible for patrolling the
river above. The vessels were trimmed
by the head, so that in case Of ground
ing they would not swing around with
| the current.
Passing the Batteries.
The signal was made at 9 o'clock for
the ships to get into line, which they
did with great promptness and steamed
ahead. with the Hartford in the lead
The rebel batteries detected them at
| 11:20, threw up two rockets as signals,
and Immediately opened fire. For
nearly two hours the cannonading was
incessant and terrific from $50 guns
af1oat and ashore fired as rapidly as
their trained crews could work them.
Five Of the ships made the passage
successfully, though each received
some damage. The Essex remained be-
low with the mortarboats and engaged
received some damage, but started
again, when the crank pin Of the for
ward engine became SO heated that the
engine would not work, and she drift
ed down below the batteries The
Mississippi grounded hard and fast at
1890 on the west bank at the point
Of the bend and lay there for 35 min
utes under fire, to which she replied
with her starboard guns while the en-
gineer backed her engine with all the
steam that he could use. 1t was all of
no use, and the Captain decided to
abandon her. Her engine was de-
stroyed, small-arms thrown overheard,
the sick and wounded landed on the
shore, fires kindled in several parts of
the ship, and the Captain with his
crew went in open boats past the bat
teries. AS the Mississippi's upper
works burned away it lightened her SO
that she f1oated, and at a. m came
down the river In full blaze. At $50
the flames reached the magazine and
she was blown to pieces.
Farragut had, however, accom-
plished his purpose, and was where he
thoroughly blockaded the Red River
route. Banks felt that he had accom-
plished all that was expected Of him,
and he returned to Baton Rouge,
where he left Augur's Division. He
Loo nr6ar 70