The Expedition from New Orleans moved off.
The Jackson
Mississippian thinks there can no longer be any doubt that the movements of the
Federal commander in
Louisiana against
Port Hudson have commenced.
It says:
‘
Gentlemen who left New Orleans on Friday last inform us that the last steamer from New York brought cut orders to
General Banks to make the movement without delay, and active operations were at once commenced
General Waltz I had been reinforced until his command numbers from eight to ten thousand men, and from the position he occupied it is supposed he will attempt to make a diversion in the roar of his position.
The main force, under
Gen. Banks is moving by river, on transports, and numbers from seventeen to twenty thousand.
The gentlemen who give us this information regard the movement as having commenced in earnest, and make up their opinions from personal observation.
’
The attack will probably be made by the combined land and naval forces of the enemy.
Farragut refused to attack the batteries with his fleet, unless supported by a land force, declaring it would be a useless sacrifice to do so. The transport fleet, therefore, accompanied his fleet of war and mortar vessels.
On Friday morning last the only vessels left behind were the
Hartford, (flagship,)
Mississippi, and
Pensacola.
The Mississippi cannot participate in the movement, but the others will probably move up the river.
Our informant says the mass of the
Federal troops are dispirited, and will gladly embrace the first opportunity of laying down their arms.
The demoralization in their ranks is represented to be very great.
The Jackson
Mississippian contains the latest Confederate intelligence from New Orleans, furnished by a gentleman who came direct from that city:
‘
He says the
Federal vessel
Brooklyn came up to the city badly riddled.
It is supposed the damage was inflicted by Confederate war vessels.
Ten of the piloss in the
Federal blockading squadron were confined in the
Custom House for alleged treachery in permitting two Confederate steamers to pass the blockade and procure coal from two schooners inside the
Yankee lines.
He says the
Mississippi was sent out in chase after these vessels eighteen days ago, and no tidings of her had been received.
He also states that one hundred and fifty Federal officers had arrived in New Orleans, and sixty of them were confined in the
Custom-House for disloyalty.
It is the prevailing opinion among the true men of the city that the
Federal are preparing to evacuate not only
Baton Rouge, but New Orleans, also.
’
