we left the Era with three or four men to guard the boat and prisoners.

We moved slowly up the channel, making the bend with considerable difficulty, until we reach

The steamer Louisville, we also learned, had, just before we reached the mouth of the Black, passed up the Red with a thirty-two pounder rifled gun, intended for the gunboat W. H. Webb, then lying at Alexandria.

We had, therefore, incentives for speed. At ten o'clock the look-out reported a steamer descending the river, and shortly after the Era No. 5 hove in sight. She saw us as quickly as we discovered her, and was half turned around, as if attempting to escape, when Col. Ellet ordered a shot to be sent after her. This took effect in her stern, passing through the cook-room, demolishing a stove and slightly wounding the negro cook. The officers and passengers then came on deck, and hoisted white sheets and waved white handkerchiefs in token of surrender. The Queen ran alongside and took possession. The Era No. 5 is a fine boat of a hundred and fifty tons burden, belonging to the Red River Packet Company, and heretofore engaged in transporting supplies for the confederate army. At that time she was laden with four thousand five hundred bushels of corn, intended for the Quartermaster's Department at Little Rock. This was to be taken to Camden, Arkansas, and to be transported thence by army wagons. Among the passengers were fifteen privates of the Fourteenth Texas cavalry, and three belonging to the Twenty-seventh Louisiana, Lieut. Daly, of the Texas State troops, and Lieut. Doyle, of the Fourteenth Texas. The citizens on board were set on shore without parole, the soldiers were set on shore with parole, and the officers were retained. Among the parties retained was a German Jew named Elsasser, who had upon his person thirty-two thousand dollars in confederate money. Col. Ellet thought he was a confederate quartermaster, although he strongly insisted to the contrary, and brought him along. One man dressed in citizen's clothing and claiming to be a non combatant, and on that account released without parole. We have since learned that he was one of Gen. Hindman's brigadier-generals. His name I did not learn. Our prisoners being thus disposed of, the fleet, now numbering three steamers, moved toward Gordon's Landing. Four miles from the Landing, in a direct line across the country, but fifteen miles as the river runs,

land is cleared, when we discovered a long line of dense black smoke moving up the river beyond the fort, indicating the hasty departure of a transport. Our gun upon the bow was immediately placed in position, and two percussion-shells were sent in that direction. These exploding in the vicinity of the transport, which we afterward learned was the Doubloon coming down the river with corn, caused her to disappear toward Alexandria.

The land makes out into the river on the point, leaving an extremely shallow place twenty feet or more from its extremity, which pilots are careful to avoid. Our pilot, whether designedly or otherwise I know not, ran the Queen aground, and at the same instant the batteries opened fire upon us. Recollect, we were not four hundred yards from the fort, and immovable. The pilots tried in vain to back her off, but she would not budge an inch. Shot were flying, shell were bursting, and, worse than all, we could not reply. The enemy had our exact range, and every explosion told with fearful effect. Your correspondent sought the pilot-house, and thus became an unwilling witness of the terrible affair. Three huge thirty-two pounder shells exploded on the deck, and between the smoke-stacks, not twenty feet from our heads.

The air was filled with fragments and exploding shells, which flew before, behind, and all about us. Soon we heard a crash among the machinery below. Word was passed up that the lever which regulates the engines was shot away. Another crash, and we learned the escape-pipe was gone. Still another, and the steam-chest was fractured. The whole boat shook with the rush of the escaping steam which penetrated every nook and cranny. The engine-room was crowded with engineers, firemen, negroes, and prisoners, who had sought that place under the impression that it was the safest. All this time, while we supposed we were blown up, and looked every moment to be launched into eternity, the batteries played upon the unfortunate vessel, and pierced her through and through. Men crowded to the after-part of the vessel. Some tumbled cotton-bales into the river, and getting astride of them, sought to reach the De Soto a mile below. The yawl was tied to the stern, and a man stood there with a loaded pistol threatening to shoot the first one who entered it. The cry was raised for Col. Ellet, and men were sent forward to look after him. The negroes in their fright jumped overboard and many of the poor creatures were drowned. Some of our men were scalded. Word was sent to the De Soto to come alongside to remove us. She came as near as she dare, and sent her yawl, but before it returned, she herself was compelled to move down the river out of range.

As I have before stated, I was in the pilot.

house when the explosion occurred, and took the precaution to close the trap-door, thus keeping out a quantity of steam. There was still enough to make breathing almost impossible that came through the windows in front of us. I had sufficient presence of mind to cram the tail of my coat into my mouth, and thus avoid scalding. Shortly we discovered that to remain would induce suffocation, and we opened the trap-door, and, blinded by steam, sought the stern of the vessel. Groping about the cabin, tumbling over chairs and negroes, I sought my berth, seized-an overcoat, leaving an entire suit of clothes, my haversack, and some valuable papers behind, and emerged upon the hurricane-deck. The shell were flying over my head, and here was obviously no place for me to remain. Looking over, I saw the woolly pate of a negro projecting over the stern below me, and, calling to him to catch my coat, I swung myself over by a rope, and landed directly upon the rudder. At this time it was suggested that a boat be sent to hurry up the De Soto, and among those who entered it was your correspondent. We reached it in about ten minutes, passing on the way several men on cotton-bales, among them Col. Ellet and McCullogh of the Commercial. Almost exhausted, the occupants remained behind, while another crew was sent up to pick up survivors.

The yawl had reached the boat and was busily engaged in picking up the crew, when three boatloads of confederate soldiers cautiously approached the vessel and boarded her. Of course there was no resistance, and our boys became their pris

oners.

The De Soto hearing several men shout from the shore, "Surrender," was allowed to float downstream, picking up as she floated several who had escaped on cotton-bales. When she reached a point ten miles below, the yawl overtook her with others who had been similarly preserved.

We reached the Era No. 5 and found her all right. Our coal-barge was leaking badly and hard aground. Of course, we had to leave it. The De Soto had unshipped both rudders and became unmanageable, and it was concluded to destroy her, lest, with her valuable gun, she should fall into the enemy's hands. Her pipes were knocked out, a shovelful of live coals placed in her cabins, and she was soon destroyed.

It was now ten o'clock Saturday night, and if we would escape more intimate acquaintance with Southern society and Southern prison life, we must make every exertion now. With a sigh for the poor fellows left behind, and a hope that our enemies would be merciful, the prow of the Era was turned toward the Mississippi. The night was a terrible one, thunder, lightning, rain, and fog. I doubt if under any other circumstances Red River would be deemed navigable. All hands were set to work to throw overboard the corn, to lighten her up, and we are slowly crawling down the river. We know to a certainty that we shall be pursued. The gunboat Webb is lying at Alexandria, and we know that she will start in pursuit of us whenever she learns of the destruction

of the Queen and of the escape of a portion of her crew. Our only hope lies in reaching the Mississippi quickly, whence we shall make the best of our way to Vicksburgh. The Webb is a model of speed, and can make fourteen miles an hour against the current. If we do not get aground, and if our machinery does not break, we hope to outrun her. If I am captured, a visit to Vicksburgh will be my portion. We shall see.

The following is the loss by the capture of the Queen of the West, as far as I can ascertain: Prisoners.-Cy. Eddison, Second Master; Henry Duncan, Third Master; David Taylor, Engineer, (scalded;) D. S. Booth, Surgeon; First Master Thompson, (wounded on the Atchafalaya ;) Adjutant C. W. Bailey; one blacksmith, name unknown; George Andrews, James Foster, carpenters; L. C. Jarbou, Thomas Williams, David McCullom, Charles Launer, Carrol Smith, Ed. Hazleton, Charles Faulkner, John A. Bates, Norton F. Rice, Wm. Brown, Geo. W. Hill, soldiers; Mr. Anderson, of the Herald, and about thirty negroes.

Killed.-George Davis jumped overboard from the De Soto, and is supposed drowned.

The above list are the names of those who floated down the river and were not picked up by the De Soto. They will probably be captured by the next confederate steamer in these waters, probably the Webb, as she pursues us.

Doc. 106.

FIGHT AT BAYOU TECHE, LA.

NEW-YORK "TIMES" ACCOUNT.

LAFOURCHE STATION, Friday, January 16, 1863.

We have just arrived here with Gen. Weitzel and the larger number of the forces under him, who are encamped at Thibodeaux, near this place, having accompanied them from their successful expedition up the Bayou Teche, in which they destroyed the rebel gunboat Cotton, and sent the enemy skedaddling.

If you have moral courage enough to examine any detailed hydrographical and topographical map of Southern Louisiana, and lose yourself among the labyrinthine intersections of the countless lakes and bayous there represented-resembling more the plan of a spider's web than any portion of the habitable globe. -you will find the Lafourche Station just where the bayou of that name is crossed by the New-Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad, which extends at present, no further than to Brashear City and Berwick's Bay, at the junction of the Atchafalaya River and Lake Palondre.

For the benefit of those of your readers who may not know-and perhaps there are many such -any thing about these extraordinary bayous, or water-courses, it may be well to state that, although when compared with the mighty Mississippi, they sink to the insignificance of mere streamlets-many of them far exceed in volume the river Thames, a very short distance above London,-and the smallest of them would, in any

part of England, be considered a very respectable river.

against these the rebels had sunk an old steamer, filled with brick, and placed all manner of rubbish—making it impossible at that time either for the Cotton to come down to us, or for us to get at her.

The General commenced moving his forces from Thibodeaux on Sunday, the eleventh. These consisted of the Eighth Vermont, One Hundred and Sixtieth and Seventy-fifth New-York, Twelfth Connecticut, Twenty-first Indiana, Sixth Michigan, company B, First Louisiana Union cavalry, Capt. Barrett; four pieces of Bainbridge's artillery, Sixth Massachusetts battery, Capt. W. W. Carruth; First Maine battery, Lieut. Bradley, and one section Fourth Massachusetts battery, Lieutenant Briggs. Capt. Fitch, with a portion of the Seventy-fifth New-York, volunteered as sharp-shooters.

The troops commenced embarking from Brashear on Monday night; by Tuesday morning they had all safely embarked, and the whole of the infantry-placed upon our gunboats Calhoun, Diana, Kinsman, and Estrella-proceeded up the Atchafalaya River to Patersonville, where they arrived on Tuesday, at two P.M. The cavalry and artillery went by land. There was some little skirmishing on the road, and in one hand-to-hand sabre encounter with the rebel cavalry-a most dashing affair on the part of Capt. Barrett's company-they were driven before us, we losing one man killed, and they several.

At three P.M., Commodore Buchanan, commander of the fleet of gunboats, steamed up the river on board the Diana, and returned at a quarter to four o'clock. At half-past four o'clock the Calhoun, (flag-ship,) Kinsman, Estrella, and Diana all went up the bayou, came to anchor about ten miles below where the bayou was obstructed, made a hawser fast from each quarter to the shore, and staid all night.

Early on Wednesday morning, at six A.M., the Diana, Capt. Goodwin, was ordered to go down the Bayou to Lynch's Point, to take the Eighth Vermont across to the left or northern bank, in order for a flank movement on the enemy. At seven, the Calhoun, Commodore Buchanan, Kinsman, Captain Wiggin, and Estrella, Captain Cook, commenced moving slowly up the bayou, and at eight o'clock reached the formidable obstruction. This was at a place called Corney's Bridge, from a man of that name owning a plantation there. Nothing but the piles of the old bridge remain, protruding about three or four feet above water, and

Suddenly the Kinsman felt something explode under her; it was a torpedo, and her stern was violently lifted in the air, but fortunately with no damage, as was afterward found. An aid of Gen. Weitzel came galloping up to tell the Kinsman of another torpedo being planted right ahead, a contraband, escaped from the Cotton, having brought the intelligence. Owing to this, and one of her guns being disabled-so the Kinsman's officers all assured me she was cautiously dropping back, after warning both the Estrella and Calhoun of what had been told her.

Commodore Buchanan, either not hearing or not heeding the information, at once steamed up right ahead of both the Estrella and the Kinsman, and personally seized the post of danger. It was now about ten o'clock, when the rebels, from behind their concealed rifle-pits, poured forth a most murderous volley upon our men; and the Cotton coming down to attack our batteries, the fight became severe and general.

The gallant Buchanan was one of the first to fall. He was standing forward, spyglass in hand, a motionless target for the deadly missiles of the hidden enemy. W. D. Brown, Acting Chief-Engineer, who was near him at the time, having received a spent ball in the thigh, the Commodore said: "Ah! you've got it." The very next moment a ball struck Buchanan in the right cheek, immediately below the temple, passing through to the opposite side. He exclaimed, "My God!" and fell back dead. Some say this gallant officer was rash on this occasion, and threw away his loved and valued life; perhaps so, but it was a rashness which will endear his heroic name forever.

The following are the names of the others who suffered on this occasion on board the Calhoun and Kinsman:

Charles Daverich, (seaman,) Wm. Neilson, (landsman,) both killed; W. D. Brown, (acting ChiefEngineer,) slightly wounded; H. D. Foster, (Ensign,) badly wounded in the right cheek; John Lewis, Quartermaster, and Geo. Perkins, acting Quartermaster, both wounded while in the wheelhouse; Wm. Adams, Coxswain; James Williams, Captain of the Guard, and Geo. Riley, landsman, were also wounded, but not severely; Acting Master A. S. Wiggin, of the Kinsman, badly wounded from the rifle-pits, and the only casualty on the

Kinsman. The fate of this brave officer is a sad one. When the rifle-pits opened their murderous fire on our men, they were commanded to lay down behind the bulwarks. Lieut. Wiggin, from some fatal impulse of pride or bravery, although in a most exposed position, did not do so, and being the only one standing, was a prominent mark for the enemy. He immediately received a Minié ball in his right shoulder, which has compelled his arm to be operated upon at its socket, and a portion of the injured bone taken out. The arm is replaced, but it is feared the suppuration will be such a drain on his system as to endanger life. To show how terribly murderous was the position in which our boats were placed, it is only necessary to state that, at this point, the bayou was so narrow that the Calhoun, in turning, had her bow and stern aground.

While this was going on, our land forces were by no means idle. The Eighth Vermont, as soon as they had been brought across from Lynch's Point in the Diana, at once attacked the rebels in the rear of their rifle-pits; and during a brisk and sharp engagement killed several, took forty prisoners, and put the rest to flight, their cannon leading the way. But for this sudden and gallant assistance from the Eighth Vermont, there can be little doubt that the Calhoun would have been lost, from the impetuosity with which the rebels were firing upon her.

In the mean time, no less efficient aid was being given by other portions of our troops. Three batteries-the First Maine, Lieut. Bradbury; one section of the Fourth Massachusetts, under Lieut. Briggs, and Capt. W. W. Carruth's Sixth Massachusetts-had gone round by the woods, from Patersonville, to a point above the Cotton, where they could successfully play upon her, and in this they were assisted by some of the One Hundred and Sixtieth New-York, and sixty sharp-shooters of the Seventy-fifth New-York, who played havoc among the crew of the rebel gunboat, which was one of those enormous Mississippi steamers, protected by cotton wherever possible, and clad in iron.

Thrice did this ungainly monster retire up the bayou, from the effect of the deadly iron hail poured into her, and thrice did she desperately come up to renew the contest. She came once too often, however; for, after having had her men nearly cleaned out of her, the last time she made her appearance, which was at two o'clock next morning, she was floating, in solitary glory, down the bayou, one sheet of flame.

The game being over, and the ostensible object of the expedition accomplished, our gunboats and land forces returned in perfect order and good spirits, and arrived opposite Brashear at five o'clock on the evening of Friday, sixteenth, in one of the most terrible "Northers" that I ever witnessed. They crossed over, bivouacked for the night, and next day (Friday) returned to camp. I am sorry to have to add the following list of casualties to those already given :

Killed-Second Lieut. E. Whiteside, Co. H,

Seventy-fifth New-York; John Noble, Co. G, Seventy-fifth New-York; John Welsh, Co. B, First Louisiana Cadets; and two others—one of the One Hundred and Sixtieth, and another of the Seventy-Fifth New-York, whose names I could not obtain.

Wounded-Corp. Caypless, Co. A, Seventyfifth New-York, leg; Benson Sherman, Co. F, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; Jas. Mitchell, Co. F, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; John Evenden, Co. F, Seventy-fifth New-York, knee, slightly; Adam Michael, Co. C, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; John W. Riley, Co. B, Seventy-fifth New-York, back; M. V. B. Van Etten, Co. A, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; H. W. Prescott, First Maine battery, thumb; John Thompson, First Maine battery, both arms amputated; Byron Herman, Co. D, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; Michael Kennedy, Co. F, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; D. S. Devoe, Co. A, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; W. II. Tibbs, Co. A, One Hundred and Sixtieth NewYork; Corp. Saml. P. Hitchcock, Co. G, Seventy-fifth New-York, knee; James H. Henry, Co. K, Seventy-fifth New-York, chest; George Derby, Co. F, Seventy-fifth New-York, thigh; Bela Burbank, Co. H, Seventy-fifth New-York, leg amputated; Patrick Mulholland, Co. E, Seventy-fifth New-York; Peter Richards, Co. A, Twelfth Connecticut, finger, slightly.

On board the Diana I afterward met and conversed with a rebel lieutenant, who was made prisoner. He told us that their forces did not consist (independently of the Cotton) of more than one thousand one hundred, namely, Fournet's "Yellow Jacket" battalion, of some three hundred men, of which he was a member, and eight hundred of the Twenty-eighth Louisiana; also, Simms's battery and the Pelican battery of Parrott guns, the same who fought us at Donaldsonville and Lapataville. Colonel Gray was commander of the post, a man of some social consideration, who once run for Senator against Benjamin. The rebel loss is not known; but two women who came to Brashear under flag of truce, say they knew of fifteen buried.

Although the ostensible object of this expedition was carried out as clearly and prettily as any one could desire, and bravery was shown there equal to any thing experienced in battles of far greater importance, the grandeur of the result does not strike people here as quite commensurate with the means employed. It is true we have destroyed the Cotton, which, according to current rumors out there, the rebels looked upon as worth an army of twenty thousand to them, and captured a large quantity of cattle, horses, and mules; but then, the obstruction in the bayou still remains; they have at least two other boats up there getting ready; we have come back to precisely the point from which we started, and I see nothing to prevent us from having to go over exactly the same work again.

Had we gone on and taken Franklin-held the ground as we went on, and never stopped till we seized New-Iberia, and with it the mountain of

salt on Petite Anse Island-(miles long by miles in width of solid rock salt, capable of supplying the world)-worth more than an army to the rebels, in their present condition, there would have been something to record really worth crowing over. But of one thing we are all confident here, General Weitzel is capable of any thing he may be set to do; and so let us indulge in the hope of soon recording something of more lasting and important results in the district under his command.

Before closing my narrative, I ought to say that the information which our good friend the contraband from the Cotton gave, respecting a concealed torpedo, proved to be perfectly correct, and exactly where he stated. I saw this infernal machine on board the Estrella, and afterward conversed with the poor fellow who rendered us such essential service, and who is now safely in our lines. Judge of my astonishment when, on scraping away the waxen stuff on the brand of this machine, I discovered the following inscription in raised letters:

TAYLOR & HODGET'S CANS,
With Burnett's Attachment,
New-York.

Patented August 21, 1855.

It was shut up in a neat wooden box and labelled, in large letters: "Hospital stores, this side up, with care." The manufacturers are fully welcome to all the benefits of this advertisement. "Hospital stores," forsooth! Rather a grim joke, is it not? One strange thought struck me as I gazed upon this monstrous invention, and that was, that while people in the North are enriching themselves by manufacturing these hellish things to blow our own brave men to atoms, a poor black "animal" down here has friendship and humanity enough to come and warn them off from their terrible doom. I forgot, in my hurry, to write down this negro's name; perhaps it is as well I did not. General Weitzel can easily find him, and surely, if the lives of some dozen or two of our defenders are worth any thing, that faithful fellow should not go unrewarded.

Doc. 107.

THE ESCAPE OF THE ORETO. THE following letter was written by an officer of the United States fleet:

UNITED STATES STEAMER R. R. CUYLER, OFF EAST COAST OF YUCATAN, January 21, 1863. ( For the first time within the last five days, I have an opportunity to pen you a few lines, which I fancy may possess more interest than any thing I have written heretofore. The work for which the Cuyler was especially appointed, namely, the capture of the rebel steamer Oreto, has been laid out before us, and we have failed to accomplish it, thus adding another to the too numerous instances in which we have been foiled by the superior daring, and neck or nothing pluck of the "dashing buccaneers" of Jeff Davis.

The Oreto has escaped the blockade, and I will give you the particulars as faithfully as I possibly can. Thursday, the fifteenth, and the night and day before, the wind was south-east, which is nearly on shore; at times it was quite a gale, with thick rain or mist most of the time, so that we could not see the land. Thursday P.M., the wind hauled to the north, and cleared up, and we discovered, at anchor behind Mobile Point, a barkrigged craft, which we knew to be the Oreto, the first time we had seen her since we had been on this station, but had previously seen her at Nassau last August. The circumstance of her showing herself at such a time, so near the outlet of the Bay, was strong evidence that she intended to run the blockade. A sudden change in the wind, and consequent clearing up, revealed him, and we had ample opportunity to prepare for him.

About four o'clock the Pembina ran down to us from the flag-ship and spoke us to the effect that the Commndore expected her out, and ordered us to anchor half-way between our present position and the flag-ship, and if she passed us, we, in company with the Oneida, to give chase. It had been usual for one of the small gunboats to anchor inside the bar every night, but on Wednesday night there was no boat inside. At dark the wind blew a perfect gale. There was no moon and it was very dark. Altogether it was just the night to run the blockade. Two men were stationed at the chains ready to slip at a moment's notice, and other precautionary measures were taken, but it blew too hard for him the first part of the night.

I was awoke about three o'clock by a shout from several voices, which I made out to be"The Oreto-beat that drum-quarters." I was out of my berth, into my clothes, and at quarters before the drum beat its call. The gunner's mate was just burning the signal appointed for such occasions. At this time she must have been astern. Our chain was slipped, and we on her track as soon as possible under the circumstances. In about thirty minutes we were under way with our battery cast loose ready for action. The reason of the delay of thirty minutes is this. Formerly our orders were, if a steamer were seen, for the commanding officer to slip the anchor and then report; now more red tape is necessary, and the officer reports to the commander, who comes on deck before any thing can be done.

The