The Washington herald., 1914-03-12

by way of the Mississippi and Red Riv-
ers- The later force was that which
opened the campaign by coming into po-
sition at Simsport on the Atchafalaya
River.
Only those familiar with the Red River
and the neighboring country could ap-
preciate the difficulties of military opera
tions in that territory.
The stream itself was. according to Ad-
miral Porter. lone OF the most uncertain
in the South. sometimes most turbulent.
and again running along so mildly that
IL seemed to have no life in il at all"
The Admiral found there was no count
ing upon It, according to the rules
which govern other streams" and that
when you would bet your all that there
would be a rise. ten to one the water
would be lower than ever
Gen. Sherman, who Immediately prior
to the war had been principal of a mill
tary academy near Alexandria and who
thought he knew the vagaries of the
Red River. had informed Gen. Banks and
Admiral Porter that the most difficult
reaches of the river would be navigable|
for ironclads in March and April. Events
were TO prove his judgment wrong.
The country through which the stream
turns and twists resembles that adjacent
to the Yazoo River rather than that
along the Mississippi. 1t is heavily tim
bered and cut up by innumerable swamp
lands that make travel extremely diff
cult.
The Expedition starts.
Into this region the Federal notilla ,
steamed slowly. The river was extreme
ly low. and the heavy vessels of Admiral
Porter's fleet found little room to spare
in crossing the bar at its mouth. Its
waters, which had been dyed a deep red
oy mud washed away from the banks
condition which gave the river its ap-
propriate name-were set foamins as the |
thirty-nine vessels churned inland
A few miles above the junction Of the |
Atchafalaya and Red Rivers the Con- |
federates had erected on the latter a |
strong work called Fort De Russy. II
was known as the Red River Gibraltar"
and together with a formidable log OBJ
struction a few miles below IL was con-
sidered capable Of blocking the stream to
navigation.
II was determined in a conference be-
tween Gen. Smith and Admiral Porter
that the army should cooperate with
the navy in its reduction. Gen. Smiths
force was to land at Simsport and at
tack the Confederates in the rear while
the gunboats attempted to break down
the obstructions and lombard the fort.
Part OF the gunboat feet turned up the
Red River while the remainder moved
down the Atchafalaya in company with
the transports.
Late in the afternoon the vessels cast
anchor opposite Simsport. The place
was grouping of black ruins and
gaunt chimneys-all that had been
left hv the Federals in previous visits
Two Of the Ellets. Charles r. and John
A.. cousins. had contributed to the de-
OF the place. Charles. in the
Federal ram Queen of the West. had
been fired upon from Simsport in 1862 I
and had burned the town in retaliation.
His vessel afterward was captured I'M
der the guns OF Fort De Russy. Later.
during the Vicksburg operations, John
Ellet came into command of the ram
feet when his cousin took command OF I
the marines. and he also had gone to d;
Simsport and had completed the work {
his relation had begun.
The low-lying sun. great and round.
lighted up the scene and offset the ,
gloomy aspect of the ruined town as the
ieet swung at anchor-the grim and
,omber ironclads contrasting strongly
with the more delicate river steamers.
he fantastic black and whites stripes
II Admiral Porter's flagship Black Hawk
standing out prominently in the sun
light and the puny little steam tugs
shooting to and fro with their dispatches.