Year: 1863

hat The rebels have but forty head Of cattle e 70 sub
sht upon, and that they have 10 be herded with the
greatest care 10 protect them from shot and shell
He says that the cattle find nothing to eat excet
along their parapes and to them from sharp
shooters they are only driven out after dark.


reported thai there quite number Of women,
tho wives Of rebel officers, in PORT Hudson. regret
70 say that two were accidentally killed In the Aght Of
last Sunday


O0r New Orleans Correspondence.


NEW OlxAHs, Ia, june 20, 1868.
Affairs al P05 HudsoR Statement Of Des~ter-TAe Stua.


ttos-f,cbabls Aosemew Of tie R<bels-TAsir Plan to


RAISE the Siege Of Port Hudson Desperate Efforts % Re-


cousr the State7he Raid Upon Doaaldosvile and Pld


Qssensne- General Masrsder in the ARakapas Country


TIE White and Black 7roops-Jealo.sy Bes,csen Them
4 &o, &c.


We have nothing from Port Hudson Of any startling In
terest since the last assault Of which you had account
BY the steamers Creole and Matanzas Our batteries are
at work night and day, from aoat wei ashore and
deserters are coming nightly and giving themselves
up 10 our piCkets these deserters principally fom
Louisiana and Tennessee regiments, and they say that
the Arkansas and Alabama men not only will not
desert, bun persuade the others to remain. They
aso say that their last consisted Of two ears Of
corn on the cob and small piece Of fresh moat A
few days SINCE under flag Of truce rebel major stated
70 Of our officers that impossible carry the
place by assault but they could not much longer exist
on the food they then receiving Everything goes
10 show that General Gardner determined defend his
position to the last and will only surrender when hunger
compes him 10. He feels confident that his works are
all but mpregnable and that his force is fully sufficient
TO hold at bay repuso any assault that may
upon his defences He hopes that Johnston Buck
will his relief in time, and he keeps up the
garrison to fighting point by representing that rein
forcemenss within few hours march that when
they arrive the siege will be raised This is the state
ment OF deserers and too much confidence be
placed their assertions they do not look they had
much fatigue had suffered from Of food
more hearty and fno looking OF have seldom
met with We hear that another attempt s TO be mado
to. to carry the works, and successful the
slaughter will necessarily be fearful for the defence wiz
be OF the most desperate and determined character
firm 70 hol the support win be strong that resist
ance vii elcss. II defeated and driven back


long lis led and wounded will be added 10 those or
the two former assaults and shall be compelled n try
the siege guns and with renewed vgor, and
depend entirely upon annoyance and starvation to do the
work and compel q Surrender.


Tho mystery that hangs the movements Of John.
ston and the uncertainty to his whereabouts Lead
10 fear that he may turn up in most unexpected mad
ner. Buckncr and Breckenridge have largo force At
and above Mobile, and feeling secure at those points
from attack IN any other directon they may form
junction with Johnston and march to the relief Of Port
Hudson. Johnston knows very well that he can do
nothing aganst General Grant. Consequently he win use
every enerey-and he Is an energetic man-to assail
General Banks n the rear and only raise the siege
but defeat him possible, and cut OF his retreat upon
Baton Rouge Springfield landing am confident that
some such programme 10 being planned by tho rebel
generals and they may be attempting carry
il for the pleased expression the faces Of the rebels
Of New Orleans gives the most positive proof
OF movement Of their forces against that they
hope will be great will haoo until
We fairly out Of the woods which think we very
far from being at the present time in this department
when Port Haasoa fails rHSn viii throw my cap IN the
afr and make as much not more noise than any one;
but until that event does shall keep compare.
lively "mnm for must confess that At present do not
much to mako feel confident In success -
do the majority Of people around me. This may b On.
sdsrsd copperhead eech, but 'let those laugh who
win." am wrong 10 my conjecturss will acknow.
ledge IT, but if am right-and firmly believe am
will those who think Inherently acknowledge tha.
! have had grounds for my rsasoninef The next
two weeks will WORK wonders in this depart.
ment In that time the fate Of the rebellion
n Louisiana will be settled and IL will be determined II
to have uninterrupted possession Of this State
not with the fall Of Port Hudsonand its tate viii be
decided in that time. The hopes Of the rebels will bs
crushed in this secton and they win turn their attention
TO protecting Mississippi and Southern Alabama from the
nroads Of army They viii endeavor to secure No.
bile and hold the line OF the jackson Railroad and may
be abe 70 do 30 during the summer season. Should
Port Hudson not fall, however, shall be compelled
maintain the position occupied before General Banks
CAfe in ASps
for active operations soon a. cool weather
enables 10 70 move men with safety.


Tho raid that spoke Of In my letter per steamer
Creole turns out to be much serious sar than At


rst anticipated for not only the Anglo American
and Sykes destroyed but the steamers A. G. seguin and
Southern Merchant aso II was guerilla raid but
regular force belonging 10 the division Of General Dick
Taylor Besides taking prisoners the oDce and crews
Of the soas they also captured several merchants who
were ~ Plaquemne specuating in cotton and carried
them on The rebel force consss Of twenty i've hundred
cavalry ana infantry with twelve pieces OF artillery and
they have not only occupied PIaquemne but Donaldson
Vile also. They arc also reported TO BE- In force few
miles back from the river. The United States steamers
Monopgahea and Wnona have been engaged in shcIipg
the woods around che two places for . few
days past but the rebels well protected behind the
evec on account Of the river being very low II has
been stated to-day by many persons, Of whom are
in tho confidence Of oar ocials that part Of the above
force have taken possession Of Butte Station on the ope
ousas Rauroad twenty miles from the city, and thus cut
on communicative with Brsshsar City This rep r.
however, needs confirmation, although the moving Of
troops the river this evening gives ccr Of truth
10 the have from the best authority TINT
force OF Ave thousand rebels at Berwick CITY,
the Atchsfaaya river opposite Brashsar and should
the report be true Of the capture OF Butte Station the
chances are that The small forcs We have u Bra-