April 14, 1863, The New York Herald
The reports from general Porter’s expedition to Washington, N.C., are not very favorable. He appears to be completely hemmed in by the enemy, and all efforts to reinforce him from Newbern have, so far, been unsuccessful. These facts we have before published. The repulse of our fleet by the batteries on Pamlico river, and the grounding of the Miami on the Swash while proceeding to Washington, rendered the arrival of assistance impossible for the time. It seems evident from all the movements of the rebel forces that the destruction of General Foster’s expedition is resolved upon. News from Richmond indicate that a vast concentration of rebel forces has taken place between Petersburg and Suffolk, while the bold movements of General Hill and Longstreet, in threatening the latter place, points unquestioningly to a settled intention on the part of the rebels to prevent reinforcements from reaching General Foster. The suspension of hostilities at Charleston has also been manifestly taken advantage of by the enemy for the purpose of strengthening their force against Foster; and we should not be at all surprised to hear of some great battles at Newbern, Washington and Suffolk, and to learn that Norfolk was seriously threatened – if, indeed, these events have not already taken place. It is said, however, that the authorities at Washington believe that if General Foster is not able to maintain his present position, he will, at least, be able to extricate himself.
Admiral Du Pont has forwarded a very brief account of the attack on Charleston to the Navy Department, but the continuation of the story, admirably told by our special correspondents, published in our columns today, supplies all the deficiency of an official report. The account is distinctly and faithfully given. The Navy Department considers the statement of Admiral Du Pont so incomplete, that it is deemed inadvisable to publish it until fuller reports come in. Our latest news from Charleston is to the evening of the 9th, by way of Richmond. All was reported quiet then, and there was no probability of the fight being renewed. Six of our Monitors and the Ironsides were then lying inside the bar, within two and a half miles of Fort Sumter. A Confederate officer visited the wreck of the Keokuk and found her turret pierced with a shot. The rebel despatch says that eighty shots were fired at Sumter, of which thirty-four struck it with effect.
We publish today a fine map of the scene of action, showing the positions of our vessels and the lines of fire from the forts and fleets.
The news from the Southwest is not very important. The Richmond Dispatch of the 10th inst. admits a bad defeat of General Pegram in Kentucky, says the rebel loss was […..], and that after a hand to hand fight of several hours the Confederates gave up the unequal contest and fell back, the enemy not pursuing.”
We have news from New Orleans of considerable importance, so far at least as it refers to the contemplated movements of the Union forces. Since the terrific bombardment by the Union fleet of the batteries at Port Hudson no operations of note have taken place in the army and navy of the Gulf; but the indications are that there are very important arrangements on the tapis not immediately calculated to improve the condition of the rebels. A forward movement, by way of the Red river, was, according to our latest advices, daily expected, and it was thought that some operations up the Atchafalaya river were not so far off as some may conceive. The rebels are supposed to be in heavy force at Pattersonville and Franklin; but it is expected that, before any further news comes North, their forces will be completely dispersed. Commerce in New Orleans is improving rapidly.