Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-26
WOttester Bully SPY


The Expedition to Open the Mississippi.
From the New Albany Qnd.) Ledger, Nov. Is.
The feet of boats which carried the ninety
seventh and ninety-ninth Indiana regiments
to Columbus, Ky, have arrived here on their
return. From the officers of these boats, we
gather the following information with refer
ence to Gen. McClernand's Mississippi river
expedition. The expedition is being organ
lied on gigantic scale-Columbus being the
point of rendezvous. Maj. Gen. McClernand
is now there, giving his personal superinten-
dence to the armament and equipment of the
forces, and taking all the necessary steps to
insure the success of the expedition
His corps dGT'mee will consist entirely of
western and northwestern regiments. 1t will
embrace ten regiments from Indiana, twelve
regiments from Illinois, four regiments from
Iowa, four regiments from Wisconsin, two
regiments from Minnesota, and some ten
thousand troops, infantry, cavalry, and artil-
lery, from the army now in Kentucky, proba-
bly, portion of Gen. g. W. Morgans COM
mand and portion of the late command of
Granger. The cavalry and artillery force
will be ample for any and every emer-
gency. In addition to this force, the gunboat
fleet under Com. Porter, will cooperate with
the expedition. The fleet under Com. Porter
consists of the following vessels:-
Benton flag ship, Capt, Gwinu, l6 guns; Eastport,
guns; Cincinnati Capt. sGembie Is guns; Cairo Capt.
Bryant 10 guns; Mound City, Capt Wilson, 70 guns;
P P@Ir St Louis Capt winslow T. guns Essex Capt
a total of 10 gunboats and l2l guns.
Were it necessary this naval force could be
augmented by the Tyler, Conestoga, Chilli
Gothic, Indlanola, Bragg, Little Rebel, Fort
Henry, and those of the new gunboats now
nearly finished. The first great obstacle for
the expedition to overcome will be the for
midable Notifications at Vicksburg But
whenitis rememberedthat Com. Farragut with
his fleet of gunboats and mortar-boats is be-
low these works, and can easily operate with
the fleet from above, it will be seen what an
overpowering force will be brought to bear for
the reduction of the rebel stronghold of Vicks-
burg.
The canal dug by order of Gen. Butler last
summer will be of no advantage to us in an
attack Gentlemen who have lately been
with the transports carrying rebel prisoners
to Vicksburg say that, since the abandonment
of the work by our troops, the enemy have
erected very formidable batteries there, COM
handing the de6ouche of the canal, and had
taken all the precautions Of filling up the
channel, so as to prevent the washing out of
the canal when the river rises; and even
should the water rise sufficiently to wash out
channel, the guns of the enemy would still
command the canal. The attack upon Vicks-
burg last summer failed for want of cooper
ating land force on our part. Netherlands
expedition will obviate this want in the future,
and when Vicksburg is again attacked it will
be taken by storm by McClernand's troops.
This city captured, and the way is compare
lively clear to New Orleans.
The expedition of Gen. McClernand will be
ready to move by the 10th of December, at
farthest, perhaps much earlier. 1t will be fol-
lowed by the gunboats of Gen. Elicit who
will have large force of infantry, cavalry,
and artillery, to keep the river clear of guer-
rillas and rebel batteries. Gen. Elett's COM
mand will be quartered upon armed trans
ports, so that it can be moved rapidly to any
point where its presence may be required; and
it will have, in conjunction with the gunboats,
complete surveillance of the lower Mississippi
and its navigable tributaries, so that when the
river is once opened it will remain open, ard
its navigation become entirely safe to steam
ers.
This is one of the most important move
ments of the war, and will be hailed by the
people of the northwest as the dawning of
their day of redemption from the expressions
of the railroad monopolies of the east. Its
success will be prayed for most fervently, and
will prove the end of rebel reign in MISSISSIPPI
pi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.