March 18, 1864
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| A Confederate soldier with musket. (Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress) |
The Mobile Tribune publishes some into intelligence from New Orleans, brought by a gentleman who has gotten through the lines. It says:
In speaking of Banks's expedition to Texas. he says it was in command of Gen. Whitsett, Gen. Sanks having never left New Orleans, and that the expedition was a complete failure. A large number of the negro regiments had mutinied while at Brasos Santingo, and were under arrest there The first or second Metropolitan regiment, and some other white troops, deserted and joined the Juarez party in Mexico.
An Austrian count named Allindauskt, a General in the Federal army, and his staff, and Col. Colbaugh, chief of Gen. McPherson's staff, had publicly announced through the New Orleans papers that they would leave shortly to join the Mexican army.
He says that every steamboat that arrives down the river bears the most indisputable proofs that Gen. Logan's men are at their posts, as they are completely riddled with bullet holes. The pilothouses are made bullet proof by having two thicknesses of boiler iron encased around them, and in some instances they are casemated — but notwithstanding the strength of these "life preservers," several boats have arrived with the pilot-houses completely torn off and the pilot killed. Pilots are now charging $500 up and $500 down, and but few are offering at that. Business of every description is very dull, and almost everybody is leaving for the North and Europe.
There are but few troops in New Orleans now. Some 4,000 cavalry under a Gen. Lee comprise the greater part. About 6,000 cavalry are stationed at Madisonville to protect the vessels which are engaged in supplying the city with wood and lumber. Wood, he says, sells at $13 per cord, and coal at $40 per ton, and both articles are exceeding scarce at that.
The description he gives of the Fort Jackson emeute makes it of much greater importance than any account we have yet heard. He says that the negroes in all the different forts and barracks then mutined at the same time. At Fort Jackson they killed 27 white officers, and that while the row was going on they sent the 9th Connecticut, 28th Massachusetts and 12th Maine regiments down from the city to quell it. Amongst the vessels sent down was the "Pembina." She is now lying amongst the fleet off Fort Powell. She is reported to be a very crank vessel, but has a heavy armament. She has one 200 pound15 inchParrott mounted amidships, three howitzers on the stern, and one 12-pounder on her bow. Some 217 of the negroes, he says, have been court martials and condemned to be shot — and the order has been sent on by Gen Banks to Abe Lincoln, and their execution only awaits his approval.
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