The Washington herald., 1914-03-14

Fifty years ago today Fort De Russy,
on the Red River. about twenty-five miles
below Alexandria, was captured in an
attack from the rear by Federals under
Gen. Andrew smith. who. in command
of s.eoo Of sherman's troops from Vicks-
burg, had landed at Simsport. on the
Atchafalaya River. the day before
The fall of De Russy practically opened
the Red River to navigation as far as
Alexandria. The only other obstruction
which barricaded the stream opposite and
below the fort. and these were removed
by the Federal naval vessels in the course
of the day.
Fort De Russy had been called by the
Confederates THE Gibraltar of the Red
River" but its capture belied its name.
1t was a strong earthwork, mounting
twelve heavy guns, and capable Of dam
aging even the most formidable iron-clad
vessels that might have come under its
fire.
II was built to prevent Federal vessels
from ascending the river. and consequent
ly q great deal of attention had been de-
voted to its river front. to the detriment
of its land side. In that quarter a swamp
was depended upon to keep an attacking
force from reaching the parapets; but
the season had been extremely dry. and
when the FederaIs under Gen. Smith ad-
vanced to the attack from Simsport.
twenty-five miles to the southeast, the
swamp had dried up.
The fort and its land approaches had
been held by about 1900 Confederates un-
der Mai. Gen. John G. Walker. but when
il was learned that the Federals were
marching against il and that a success
ful defense was improbable because of the
dried swamp. the majority OF the garri-
son was withdrawn. About 375 men were
left TO man the guns
Red Rivers Obstructions.
The Federals under Gen. Smith had
been sent from yicksburg to aid Gen.
Nathaniel p. Banks in his expedition up
the Red River. They were to form a
junction at Alexandria with Gen. Banks
troops, which were marching up Bayou
Teche from Franklin. a small town los
miles to the south.
Gen. Smiths transports were met at
the entrance to Red River by a feet of
twenty gunboats, numbering many
ironclads, under Admiral ID. d. Porter.
The latter proposed TO accompany the
expedition at least as far as Alexan-
dria, and IL the hight of water allowed.
further up the river.
The only serious obstacle between
the mouth of Red River and Alexan-
dria was Fort De Russy and the log
work in the river below it.
when / first saw these lower OBJ
structions / began to think that the
enemy had blocked the game on u.s.
Porter wrote. The obstruc-
tion consisted of two rows of heavy
piIing driven into the muddy bed of the
river. The second row was of shorter
piles than the first. and between the
two ran braces and ties that solidified
the structure. Immediately below this |
was half-submerged raft of logs. well !
SECURED across the river. Finally a 1
forest of trees had been cut and floated |
down upon the piles from above.
Farther up stream, opposite the fort. |
the Confederates had barricaded the !
river with a heavy timber raft, bolted /
with iron and at least six feet in thick
ness
-lTh- naval forces planned to demol-
isfi. the log work. With Fort De Rus
sy's guns silenced and the RATS re-
the transports could steam to
!