The New York herald., 1862-12-26


and but six miles above vickssurs think now am
fairly in the bosom Of the South On side the State
Of Mississippi, the:ohsr Louisiana. Tho weather s
warm and delightful Tomorrow ascend the Yazoo
river whore NE may remain ten days observing the
my and preparing the way for successful attack upon
them and Vcksburg upon the arrival Of the entire Mis-
sissppi squadron under the heroic Porter the army
under the ndomitable Grant. We are all impatient for
hs moment. and desire 70 have hand In the capture Of
We rebel stronghold Tell the good in the North
pray for rain and the speedy rise Of the Mississippi
and should their prayers be favorably answered, will
guarantee that army and navy viii ride trumphanty
into New Orleans with tho food tide.
We have fred gun since we left Cairo The rebels
Keep al respectful distance. and TO have holy
horror Of shot, shell and big guns The men this
vessel are learning rapidly and becoming well drilled and
will give good account Of themselves For the last four
nights have slept in my clothes to be ready for any
emergency, may be attacked ordered at
any moment. Each night all lights out, no bells
are struck, and every the ship Is "pped' down.
the breaking out OF this wicked rebellion But you
nothing but the ruins OF what paaal
mark the footsteps OF rude and the shr cry Of the
crane and the melancholy wall Of the pelican the only
sign Of life which disturbs these solitudes.
o0HrRABAND NEGROES.
Yesterday we shipped come poor rugitives. and vo
found them useful in various ways obtained from
them important and reliable information They gave
information respecting the residence tho rebel General
Grundy who owned Beautiful mansion and a large plan
tation well stocked with choice live stock The flagship
Carondeet sent out party which reduced tho rebels
mansion 70 ruins captured all his STOCK and told the
slaves they bound serve traitors This
way to eg the war home TO tho hoar'hs and pockets
All the gunboas arc a. Helena and above and we ore
acting as conveys TO prisoners Of route for ex-
change.
DEC. 16, 1862.
AsI had no opportunity to send OF my letter have
much to add But must first tell you that M
been fight up the Yazoo river have now >sme,t
powder. Not wounded our ship and but
the Marmora-Ensgn Walker, who was the former
commander OF the Luela His wound is on!y flesh
wound and he viii certainly recover.
ADDITIONAL OF TuE LATE H1coNy o,ss.,cr
We to explain the position Of mat ers the gunboats
Sarondclet Mound City, Signal and Marmora wore living
in ths Mississippi observing the outh of the Yazoo The
rebels commenced firing upon from their fortdcations
a the mouth Of the Yazoo returned the re brskv
.hsir sno' anS sho ati they were driven from
and Marmora pash up We Yazoo, which they did uSder
full head er steam The Yszoo is narrow, winding
nav. sTsry commanding point mapped with heavy guns
tss tary sai md Is ssesi ute as often
n % + s ss9, s ss 's and
We up the river some distance drew the
fire Of tho rebels at various points, discovered where
successful reconnaissance We were only five miles
from vcksburg where the rebels have six miles OF for
cations, and We could distinctly hear the steamboat
whistles OF Vicksburg
Our Memphis Correspondence.
fN MEMPHIS, Dec. s, 1862.
GREAT MOVEMENT.
Affairs OF a military character in this vicinity have
undergone quite a change recently. But few days ago,
and every boat which reached landing crowded
with troops for the Of war those troops
arc, under the snl and intrepid Sherman, pursuing
well the nature of tho country win admit the retreat
ing rebels under Pemberton and Price Only few days
ago. and southern sypathzcrs assured that Pem5er
ton had overwhelming army, and that Grant and
sherman would DO ..ccaued out" they got In
sight Of the yalorous rebe these rebels
retreatng before Shsrnans advancing column with the
hope and expectation that at Grenada they will be able TO
stand least unit! the Notifications Jacson
are completed and the re;nforccmcuts which they
oxpecs shall have had time to arrive. For
tuna,ely for the Union army, they well
clothed and well armed and led by generals not only
Of great skill but who have ye been whipped and
who the work before them with the zes energy
that never fail Of success
the TACTICS.
There but way to make successful winter
rapidly as possible Ho Is already on the wing Mo
rotreat from Iaahatchie TO Grenada
that he is not prepared fight He gain time
70 bring up his rsnforcemenis He has accurately calcu
lated tho winter prospect and the advantages which
will give The weather now Is too uniavcrable for him;
70 follow wherever he may lead the probability s that it
will suffer and pay for its nertness by heavy losses Tho
army under Price and Pomberon s reckoned by rebels
at iorty thousand effective Grant has with him
capable without the assistance promised from other
and this se will certainly do unless lie loiters by the way
| sured immol ts,y.
GENERAL HoyEy's EXPEDITION.
The expedition from Helena under Generals Hovey and
washburn, did not accomplish all that was expected In
cutting the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad near
Panola, they only made work for Union troops when
Grenada shall become base; and cutting the Mis-
sissppi Central Railroad six miles above Grenada, after
Grcnada had been evacuated they likewise performed
very unnecessary labor But in failing 10 take possession
Of Grenada after the people had LEFT il and gone to Can
ton Mss. and thus enabling the rebels at Oxford 10
| treat and reoccupy it, they most Enthusiastically
showed their want Of military skill Great things were
promised # this expedition. and great things, look
| ing TO the campaign in that section, were GER
| taniy attainabe; but the event has proved that
unr"s r ~ The .,ccsss do-b o
the rebel Stuart. Washourn went enough to Gre
NADIA TO create panic which evacuated the place; but
1 they failed to go aod take A.
| MEMPHIS.
Tho recent activity in this section has induced many
formerly command OF Memphis, has taken the neld,
and leads fifty Thousand brave warriors the right wing
| Of Gen. Grants army BE is succeeded by Gen s. A.
Hurbut, Of Illinois Our formcr Provost Marshal Col.
Anthony, has lett his post Tor visit TO Indiana and
thence perhaps to the ned and s succeeded by Major c.
NJ Willard late Of Chicago. Capt. Henry s. Fitch, late
Post uartermastcr the duties OF which he faithfully
discharged has been made Lieutenant Colonel anil CHIEF
Quarermassr OF Shcrmans division. lie il succeeded
by Capt Eddy old United States officer OF great expe-
rence and much ability MAJOR W H. Terrell, paymaster
OF this department has been relieved and given i'm
porant charge in The field and Is succeeded by Major
l MINES.
with the change OF officers comes change OF policy.
General sherman had abolished the pass system, and
miited persons 20 and without being required
take the oath All this has been changed No out
the city limits permits any article Of
would this policy be considered rigorous troops
able afford them the protection which they need Cue
rila bands hover aroend the roads leading TO the city
and rob the people OF the little which the rebels len them.
Rebel cavalry still scour the country for distance OF twcn
! ty miles out, and force every man between eighteen
and forty Ave years OF age into the rebel army All
whom they md have taken the oath 10 the United
states government pay tho penalty Of having the houses
burned their property destroyed aud themselves made
prisoners. Under such circumstances bet few planters
70 town, and our receipts Of cotton have greatly