MARCH 7-27, 1863. - Operations against and about Port Hudson, La.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

March 7, 1863. - Banks' forces move to Baton Rouge.

9-10, 1863. - Skirmishes on the Comite river, at Montesano Bridge, etc.

14-15, 1863. - Engagement between Union fleet and Port Hudson batteries.

Demonstrations on land front against Port Hudson.

17, 1863. - Expedition from Montesano Bayou toward Port Hudson.

Operations on west bank of the Mississippi.

19, 1863. - Reconnaissance to False River.

24, 1863. - Expedition to Hermitage Landing.

REPORT, ETC.

No. 1. - Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Gulf, of operations March 7-27.

No. 2. - Captain William W. Rowley, U. S. Signal Corps, Chief Signal Officer, of operations March 7-22.

No. 3. - Lieutenant Joseph L. Hallett, Acting Signal Officer, of operations March 10-16.

No. 4. - Col. Thomas E. Chickering, Forty-first Massachusetts Infantry, of skirmishes on the Comite river, at Montesano Bridge, etc.

No. 5. - Brigadier General William Dwight, jr., U. S. Army, of expedition from Montesano Bayou, toward Port Hudson.

No. 6. - Col. Theodore W. Parmele, One hundred and seventy-fourth New York Infantry, of operations on west bank of the Mississippi.

No. 7. - Col. N. A. M. Dudley, Thirtieth Massachusetts Infantry, of reconnaissance to the mouth of False River.

No. 8. - Col. Charles J. Paine, Second Louisiana Infantry (Union), of reconnaissance to the mouth of False River.

No. 9. - Col. N. A. M. Dudley, Thirtieth Massachusetts Infantry, of expedition to Hermitage Landing.

No. 10. - Major General Franklin Gardner, C. S. Army, commanding at Port Hudson, of operations march 7-26, with correspondence and orders.

No. 12. - Captain J. M. Magruder, of skirmish at Montesano Bridge.

No. 1. Report of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Gulf, of operations March 7-27.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE GULF, NINETEENTH ARMY CORPS,
New Orleans, La., March 21, 1863.

In pursuance of he plan suggested in my last dispatches the fleet under the command of Rear-Admiral Farragut made the contemplated effort for the successful passage of the river batteries at Port Hudson on Saturday evening, the 14th instant. The fleet consisted of the flagship Hartford, Monongahela, Richmond, and Mississippi, with a gunboat lashed upon the port side of the first three maned vessels. The Essex (iron-clad), Sachem, and six mortar-boats held position below the forts, enfilanding by their fire the lower batteries.

The fleet moved from Baton rouge on Friday evening at 4 o'clock, and anchored below Port Hudson until 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, when it commenced the contemplated movement, and at 11.30 o'clock