April 2, 1863, The New York Herald
The Sunflower expedition has returned to the Mississippi river. The rebels had so obstructed the channel that no progress could be made through it. An attempt was made by the enemy to hem in the fleet by obstruction front and rear, but the infantry succeeded in releasing the vessels after some skirmishing.
The rebel account of the naval battery fight at Port Hudson has been received. It is interesting, but at the same time contains several false statements. The sneering allusion to the Richmond is proved to be entirely false by our own correspondent’s account, published on Tuesday, he being on that vessel during the whole engagement. There was no offer of […..] made by any officer on board the Richmond, nor did they […..] to the batteries to cease firing.” Due allowance must therefore be given to the whole statement as regards its veracity.
General Gilmore attacked the rebels near Somerset, Ky., and drove them before him after a sharp fight of about six hours. The union loss was about thirty.
The rebel General Bragg has forwarded a despatch to headquarters at Richmond relative to the capture of Union troops at Brentwood, Tenn. Brentwood is a station on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, ten miles from Nashville and nine from Franklin.
Captain A.C. Webster, who had been tried as a Union spy and ultimately condemned to death for breach of parole, nearly succeeded in making his escape from Castle Thunder, Richmond, on the 27th ult. He was, however, retaken.
General Halleck has officially complimented Colonel Connor, of the Third California Volunteers, for the gallant and heroic conduct of his command at Bear river.
It is reported from Yorktown that a rebel force, said to be 20,000 strong, are in front of Williamsburg, Va., threatening an attack. General Keyes at once left for the scene of action on receipt of the intelligence.