to say, that in future, any document in which it may be repeated will be returned unanswered and unnoticed. With respect to the subject of the extract from Earl Russell's despatch, the President desires me to state, that the plea of neutrality which is used to sustain the sinister course of her Majesty's present government against the government of the confederate States, is so clearly contradicted by their actions that it is regarded by the world, not even excepting the United States, as a mere cover for actual hostility, and the President cannot but feel that this is a just view of it. Were, indeed, her Majesty's government sincere in a desire and determination to maintain neutrality, the President would not but feel that they would neither be just nor gallant to allow the subjugation of a nation like the confederate States, by such a barbarous, despotic race as are now attempting it. He cannot but feel, with the history and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon race before him, that under a government faithfully representing the people of Great Britain, the whole weight and power of that nation would be unhesitatingly thrown into the scale, in favor of the principles of free government on which these States were originally formed, and for which alone the confederate States are now struggling. He cannot but feel that with such a government, and with the plea of neutrality urged upon the people, as it now is, no such pitiful spectacle could be witnessed as is now manifested by her Majesty's present government, in the persistent persecution of the confederate States, at the beck and bidding of officers of the United States, while a prime minister mocks and insults the intelligence of a House of Commons, and of the world, by excusing the permission to allow British subjects to go to the United States to fight against us, by the paltry subterfuge that it was the great demand for labor, and the high rate of wages that were taking them thither. He cannot but feel that a neutrality most cunningly, audaciously, fawningly, and insolently sought and urged, begged and demanded by one belligerent, and repudiated by the other, must be seen, by all impartial men, to be a mere pretext for aiding the cause of one at the expense of the other; while pretending to be impartial, to be, in short, but a cover for treacherous, malignant hostility. As for the specious arguments on the subject of the rams, advanced by Earl Russell, the President desires me to state that he is content to leave the world and history to pronounce judgment upon this attempt to heap injury upon insult, by declaring that her Majesty's government and law officers are satisfied of the questions involved, while those questions are still before the highest legal tribunal of the kingdom, composed of members of the government and the highest law officers of the crown, for their decision. The President himself will not condescend to notice them. I have the honor to be your lordship's obedient, humble servant, BURTON N. HARRISON. Doc. 130. GENERAL STEELE'S EXPEDITION. LITTLE ROCK, May 3, 1864. WE have, heretofore, given such accounts as reached us of the movement of the army southward to coöperate with General Banks in his proposed expedition against Shreveport. We present, to-day, a succinct statement, which we have collected from all the statements of the operations of the gallant little army of General Steele, from the day he left here. The advanced-guard moved from Little Rock on the twenty-third of March, on the military road. On the twenty-fourth, the whole command moved, the head of the column resting that night on the Saline, beyond Benton. On the twenty-fifth, the command crossed Saline bottom, and on the succeeding day reached Rockport. On the twenty-seventh, a bridge was thrown across the Ouachita River and the troops crossed and moved in the direction of Arkadelphia. That night there was a heavy rain-storm, and the army encamped at Bayou Roche on the night of the twenty-eighth, and arrived at Arkadelphia on the succeeding day, where it remained until the first of April, waiting to be joined by General Thayer. From the time the head of the column reached Benton, the advance-guard was continually skirmishing. Our losses were some two or three wounded, and we captured a few prisoners. On the first of April, the army moved forward to Spoonville, a distance of twelve or fourteen miles. On the second, it moved from Spoonville in the direction of Washington, and at nine miles from the former place, encountered Marmaduke and Cabell, in considerable force. The next obstacle was Little Red River, a rapid stream and difficult to cross. General Steele had the choice of three crossings: that at Tate's Ferry, at the crossing of the military road, and at Elkins's Ferry. The enemy very truly supposed that the object of General Steele was to reach Camden, and occupied the road to Tate's Ferry in force, and had thrown up works, and made preparations to resist the crossing of our army. Learning this, General Steele moved his command forward, as if he intended to proceed directly to Washington, and leave Camden on his left. When within ten miles of the crossing of the military road, he threw forward some troops on the military road as if intending to pursue it, sent a detachment of cavalry to seize and hold Elkins's Ferry, and turned the direction of the main body of the army southward, at right angles with the former course. The troops sent forward on the military road encountered Marmaduke and Shelby in force, and kept them in play; but at the same time, Shelby attacked the rear of the army, under command of Brigadier-General Rice, near the crossing of the Terre Noir. The enemy attacked with great bravery, and were repulsed with heavy loss. fourteenth it was generally known that the rebels had found out that the real destination was Camden, that they had been outwitted, and that they had sent Cabell and Shelby in front of the Union army to resist the march to Camden. The fifteenth was spent in driving the rebels from po On the third of April, the entire command crossed the Little Red River at Elkins's Ferry, and so well planned had been the movement, and so promptly executed, that it was not until the evening of that day, and by accident, that the enemy learned that the army had crossed. On this day, Colonel Engleman's brigade had a seri-sition to position, and our army entered Camden. ous engagement at Okolona, and soundly thrashed the enemy. On the succeeding day, Marmaduke and Cabell, with a force of four or five thousand men, made a furious attack, but were easily driven off, our army capturing, among other prisoners, two lieutenants, one of them a member of Marmaduke's staff. The army remained here a day or two, waiting for General Thayer to come up, who had been obliged to come by a different route from the one originally intended, on account of forage and bad roads. Our forces found that the. enemy had thrown up works to cover the road through the bottom. Camden was found to be strongly fortified, and, with boats on the Quachita to bring supplies, could have been maintained against any rebel force. Deserters who came in reported that Banks had been defeated, and spies returned with the same intelligence. Some despatches from the enemy were captured, which confirmed the fact that if Banks was not defeated he had been so crippled as to make it necessary for him to stop. On the eighteenth, a forage team sent out by the quartermaster was captured by the enemy. This was the first disaster during the expedition. Immense labor had been expended here, as On the twentieth, a supply-train arrived from they were over a mile in length, consisting of Pine Bluff, and on the twenty-second the empty felled trees and heavy earth-work. After a sharp train was sent back, escorted by a brigade of inskirmish, the enemy left their defences and our fantry, four pieces of artillery, and a proper protroops occupied them. On the evening of the portion of cavalry. On the twenty-fifth, news seventh a terrible storm came up, with thunder was received that the train had been captured, and lightning and a deluge of rain. The river and Lieutenant-Colonel Drake, of the Seventyrose three feet, and the succeeding day was spent seventh Ohio, who was in command, was morin corduroying the bottoms and throwing a tally wounded. bridge across the river for the passage of Thayer's command, which had come up and now joined the main army. On Sunday, the tenth, a bright and beautiful day, the army moved on to Prairie E'Ann, where, it was understood, Price had determined to make a final and desperate stand. At a point on the prairie two branches make off from the direct road. The right hand goes to Washington, the direct road goes to Spring Hill, which is on the direct route to Shreveport, and the left leads to Camden. This point was covered by the enemy, who did not know which road General Steele proposed to take. An artillery fight took place, the enemy having two or three batteries, which ceased at nightfall. After dark, the enemy, having discovered the position of our artillery during the day, made à desperate effort to capture the guns, but were repulsed with severe loss, and retreated to the earth and timber-works over a mile long, commanding the Washington road. On the next day our army moved nearer the rebel position, and felt of it to ascertain its strength and disposition. On the twelfth, at daylight, General Steele pushed forward and so disposed his forces as to turn their left flank, when the enemy fled to Washington. They were pursued by cavalry for several miles, as if it was intended to follow them up, but our army then took the road to Camden. The next day was spent in crossing the Terre Bouge bottom, one of the worst in the State. It had to be corduroyed for miles and bridges made. | While this was being done, the rebel General Dockery attacked the rear, commanded by General Thayer, who drove the assailants back and punished them severely. On the night of the Deserters, prisoners, spies, and scouts, who came or were brought in, gave information that rendered it certain that Kirby Smith, in person, with reenforcements of eight thousand infantry, had joined Price and were advancing. Taking all these things into consideration, the scarcity of forage, the difficulty of keeping open a line for supplies, and that the rebels could avoid a battle and go round Camden, General Steele decided to evacuate the place and return to his former lines. On the night of the twenty-sixth, the whole command crossed the Ouachita, and moved for Little Rock, by way of Princeton and Jenkins's Ferry, on the Saline, which point was reached on the twenty-seventh, and a pontoon thrown across. Here it was learned that the rebel General Fagan, with a large force and fourteen pieces of artillery, had left their camp, five miles above that point, and were moving up the river to where it could be forded, in order to cross and threaten Little Rock. A cavalry force was sent to intercept Fagan. About noon of that day it commenced raining, and continued to rain hard during that and the succeeding day. Price came up at this point, and the battle alluded to in yesterday's paper was fought on Saturday, the thirtieth. It was a splendid victory, the rebels retreating, losing three pieces of artillery and other material of war. After the defeat of the rebels, as the roads and weather prevented marching, General Steele decided to send General Carr to Little Rock to watch Fagan, as he felt confident of again whipping Price and Smith, should they conclude to attack again. As the rebels did not come to time, the army took up its line of march, and while we are writing is marching through the city with the guns and trophies captured from the enemy. Such is an outline of the expedition as we have gathered it from those who accompanied it. Our losses in the various skirmishes were light, being orly in wounded and those taken with the train. The report of the loss on Saturday has not been received, but it was small, and that of the enemy heavy, as the latter attacked while our men fought from position. Generals Rice, Solomon, Carr, and Thayer, all fought like bull-dogs, and, when their commands were attacked, successfully repulsed the enemy. The negro regiments fought well, and took two guns at Elkins's Ferry. It is evident that the check received by General Banks, and his falling back to Grand Ecore, made a further advance by General Steele, with his small army, impossible. It was useless to hold Camden and depend upon supplies from this point or Pine Bluff. As the Red River expedition had been delayed, if not broken up, a return to Little Rock was the only alternative. The command has marched over three hundred miles, driven rebels nearly the whole time, giving them battle wherever they offered it, whipped them in every engagement, outwitted them when they attempted strategy, and has returned with comparatively little loss, if we except the return train, which was cut off and captured by superior numbers. SIR: I came down here anticipating a move on the part of the army up toward Shreveport; but as the river is lower than it has been known to be for years, I much fear that the combined movement cannot come off without interfering with plans formed by General Grant. General Sherman has gone to New-Orleans to make arrangements with General Banks, and I am expecting his return every day. In the mean time the gunboats are up the Atchafalaya and Black Rivers, destroying bridges and stores, and endeavoring to destroy eight thousand cattle collected at Sicily Island. The Mississippi River is very quiet, and the rebels retreated into the interior on hearing of the advance of the gunboats. I am, sir, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Hon. GIDEON Welles, DAVID D. Porter, Secretary of the Navy, SIR: I had the honor to report to you that I was about to ascend Red River with a fleet of gunboats, in company with a portion of General Sherman's command, or that of General Banks, ' whichever concluded to go. On the seventh of March I had assembled at the mouth of Red River a large fleet of ironclads, composed of the following vessels: Essex, Commander Robert Townsend; Benton, Lieutenant Commander James A. Greer; La Fayette, Lieutenant Commander J. P. Foster; Choctaw, Lieutenant Commander F. M. Ramsey; Chillicothe, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant S. P. Couthouy; Ozark, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George W. Browne; Louisville, Lieutenant Commander E. K. Owen; Carondelet, Lieutenant Commander J. G. Mitchell; Eastport, Lieutenant Commander S. L. Phelps; Pittsburgh, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant W. R. Hoel; Mound City, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant A. R. Langthorne; Osage, Lieutenant Commander T. O. Selfridge; Neosho, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Samuel Howard; Ouachita, Lieutenant Commander Byron Wilson; Fort Hindman, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant John Pearce. And the lighter boats: Lexington, Lieutenant George M. Bache; Cricket, Acting Master H. H. Gorringe; Gazelle, Acting Master Charles Thatcher; Black Hawk, Lieutenant Commander K. R. Breese. I received communications from General Banks,' informing me that he would be in Alexandria on the seventeenth March, and I made my dispositions to meet him there. On the eleventh instant, part of General Sherman's command, ten thousand men, under the command of BrigadierGeneral A. J. Smith, joined me in transports at the mouth of Red River, and next morning early the gunboats started up the river, followed by the transports. There was just sufficient water to allow the larger boats to pass. By previous arrangement, Lieutenant Commander Phelps, in the Eastport, was ordered to push on up with his vessel and those that could keep with him, and clear away the heavy obstructions the rebels had placed in the river, and to amuse the Fort until the army could land at Simmsport and get into the rear of the enemy's works, which could be done by making a march of thirty miles. The Benton, Pittsburgh, Chillicothe, Louisville, Mound City, Carondelet, Ouachita, Lexington, and Gazelle turned off to the left into the Atchafalaya, followed by the troops, while the others went on up the river. The gunboats arrived at Simmsport about twelve o'clock, and found the enemy posted in force about three, miles back. The Benton landed her crew, and' drove in the pickets. The army came along in about half an hour more, and landed the next morning, taking possession of the enemy's camp *See Doc. 96, ante. ing ground, the latter retreating toward Fort De Russy. That night, General Smith concluded to follow them by land, while I proceeded up Red River with all the gunboats and transports. In the mean time the Eastport had reached the obstructions, and, with the vessels that kept pace with her, had commenced the work of demolition on the formidable barricade, on which the rebels had been employed five months. They supposed it impassable, but our energetic sailors, with hard work, opened a passage in a few hours. The obstructions consisted of heavy piles driven into the mud, and braced in every direction; they were also clamped together with heavy iron plates and chains. The Eastport and Neosho got through about four o'clock in the afternoon, and proceeded up to the Fort, which at that moment was being surrounded by the troops under General Smith, who had marched from Simmsport since daylight. A brisk musketry-fire was going on between the rebels and our troops, and they were so close together it was difficult to distinguish the combatants. The Eastport opened her batteries, but, fearing to injure our own men, ceased firing, when our troops proceeded to the assault, and carried the place. In a few moments, and with small loss, two hundred and fifty prisoners, eight heavy guns, and two field-pieces fell into our hands, and all the munitions of war. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. List of Guns captured at Fort De Russy waterbattery.-One thirty-two pounder, thirty-three hundred weight, F. P. F., No. 227, navy, in bar-, bette, J. S. C. Proven 1847. One thirty-one pounder, thirty-three hundred weight, F. P. F., No. 226, navy, in barbette, J. S. C. Proven 1847. Two nine-inch Dahlgren guns. No marks could be discovered on these guns, but they bore all the evidence of having been in service in the navy, the remains of gun-blacking being on them. Both lugs were cut for locks with the usual composition; piece fitted in to spare lug. One thirty-two pounder, sixty hundred weight, 1827, navy gun. One thirty-two pounder United States rifled, marked W. J. W., No. 289. This gun is an old army thirty-two pounder, rifled, with band shrunk on the breech. Two twenty-four pounder siege-guns, two sixpounder field-pieces, in hill battery. FLAG-SHIP BLACK HAWK, The main body of the enemy, five thousand OFF ALEXANDRIA, LA., March 16, 1864. strong, under the rebel General Walker, made SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I their escape. They left the Fort, it was said, to arrived at this place this afternoon. As soon as give battle to our troops, and left a garrison of the Forts were surrendered, I pushed on the three hundred men to defend it. Our army came fastest vessels, Ouachita and Lexington, followin by a different road from what they expected, ed by the Eastport, to Alexandria. The Ouachita and made short work of them. Among the guns arrived here as the last of a fleet of transports captured was one of the Indianola's nine-inch, passed over the falls. The rebels set fire to a and one belonging to the Harriet Lane. The large ferry-boat, and one of the boats grounding rest of the guns were twenty-four and thirty-two on the falls, was also burnt, to prevent her fallpounders, and one one hundred and sixty pound-ing into our hands. As no reliable pilot could er rifle. be procured to take our boats across the falls, As soon as the Fort was in possession of the the transports will have to escape for the prestroops, I sent off up the river the fleetest gun-ent, but are sure to be captured or destroyed boats I had, to cut the enemy off, if possible, or before the month is over. The surrender of the harass them until our troops could be placed on forts at Point De Russy is of much more importthe transports. By sunset the transports will ance than I at first supposed. The rebels had be in Alexandria and ahead of the rebels, and I depended on that point to stop any advance of hope the latter will be cut off. army or navy into this part of rebeldom. Large quantities of ammunition, best engineers, and best troops were sent there, and in two or three months more it would have been a most formidable place. As it was, it was not complete, (though the guns were in position,) and would have stood a very poor chance if attacked in force. The works have been laid out by a Colonel De Russy, and are of the most extensive and formidable kind. Colonel De Russy, from appearances, is a most excellent engineer to build forts, but don't seem to know what to do with them after they are constructed. mark may apply to his obstructions, which look well on paper, but don't stop our advance. The efforts of these people to keep up this war remind one very much of the antics of Chinamen, who build canvas forts, paint hideous dragons on These works have been made much more formidable than they were last year, and the loss of guns must be severely felt by the rebels, as they have only fifteen more heavy guns in this section of the country. The whole affair has been well managed; the troops made a splendid march and attack, and the officers in command of the gunboats and transports have shown great zeal and industry in getting up the river and through the obstructions which the rebels deemed impassable. I forgot to mention in my last report that in the recent attack on Trinity by the gunboats, a number of negroes were recaptured, who were captured by the enemy in a recent attack upon Goodrich's Landing. I inclose herewith a list of the guns captured The same re into the Atchafalaya, and land the troops at their shields, turn somersets, and yell in the face of their enemies, to frighten them, and then run away at the first sign of an engagement. It puts the sailors and soldiers out of all patience with them, after the trouble they have had in getting here. Now and then the army have a little brush with their pickets; but that don't often happen. It is not the intention of these rebels to fight. The men are tired of the war, and many of their officers are anxious to go into cotton speculation. A large trade has been carried on between this and New-Orleans, the rebels receiving supplies for their cotton. There is a surprising abundance of every kind of food in this country, and no suffering among the people, REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDER S. L. PHELPS. except for luxuries. It would be folly to suppose they could all be starved out. The only way is to take possession of this rich region, hold it with a strong military and naval force, and enforce the laws. There are some good Union men here, who have suffered much. I hope the day of their delivery has come. General Smith has left a good force at the forts (and I left the Benton and Essex) to destroy them effectually, which will be some labor. We have seven or eight thousand troops in this city, and are expecting to hear soon of General Banks's arrival. He has been delayed by storms, which have made the roads heavy. The force that left the forts with a party under General Polignac, from Harrisonburgh, have gone out to meet General Banks, who will soon dispose of them, and the chances are that, when all our cavalry now approaching with General Banks get after them, the rebels will be captured or scattered, not to unite again for some time. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID D. PORTER, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Rear-Admiral. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. P.S.-I beg leave to mention, as a proof of the rapidity with which this portion of General Sherman's command, under Brigadier-General A. J. Smith, did their work, they marched twenty-eight miles, starting at daylight; built a bridge which cost them over two hours' hard work; had a sharp skirmishing and artillery attack of two hours, and had possession of the forts all intact before sunset. It is one of the best military moves made this war. I beg leave to inclose copy of Lieutenant Commander S. L. Phelps's report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Rear-Admiral. Rear-Admiral. Lieutenant Commander S. L. PHELPS, UNITED STATES IRON-CLAD RAM EASTPORT, SIR In obedience to your order of the twelfth instant, I proceeded up Red River; the La Fayette, Choctaw, Osage, Neosho, Ozark, Fort Hindman, and Cricket in company, meeting with no ob stacle till we reached the obstructions eight miles below Fort De Russy, on the fourteenth instant. The great length and draught of the La Fayette and Choctaw rendered it difficult for them to navigate this narrow and crooked river, and our progress was slow. Near the head of the Rappions were works for light artillery, commanding a difficult turn in the river, which had been recently abandoned. The obstructions consisted of piles driven across the river, supported by a second tier of shorter ones, on which rested braces and ties from the upper ones. Immediately below these is a raft of timber, well secured across the river, and made of logs which do not float. Finally, a forest of trees had been cut and floated down upon the piles from above. The river had broken through these obstructions, and had partially undermined the rifle-pits on the right bank. The Fort Hindman removed a portion of the raft, when I ran this vessel up, and, by both pulling and ramming, broke out the piles and framework still obstructing the passage of vessels. work consumed nearly the entire day. The Osage, Fort Hindman, and Cricket followed me through, and we hastened up to the Fort. This For a short time there had been rapid artillery firing, which ceased as we came in sight of the works, then about sunset, except three shots fired by the rebels from a gun in an angle of the water-battery. We could see the enemy using musketry from the parapets of the rear works, but could see nothing of the attacking force. An officer from General Smith had reached the vessel, notifying me of the approach of his force, but with no advice as to time or plan of attack. The line of fire of the gunboats would have INSTRUCTIONS FROM ADMIRAL PORTER TO LIEUTEN- passed directly to the rear of the works, injur ANT COMMANDER S. L. PHELPS. FLAG-SHIP BLACK HAWK, U. S. MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, SIR: You will proceed at once up the Red River with the vessels I will detail to follow you, and commence removing the obstructions in the river, while, in the mean time, I will take a tour ing our own people more than the enemy in his works. I fired a short-fuzed shell at an elevation as a signal gun, and then ventured one onehundred pounder rifle-shell at the water-battery, which shell burst over it, and the enemy ran from it. A few moments after this, a white flag was displayed from the rear works, some six hun |