Newbern weekly progress., 1862-10-11

took formal possession. He has just returned
from short trip 70 ST. Louis, where he went
a day or two aser his return from l.u'k.a
and he appears very much refreshed and I'M
proved by the visit.
The various commands In the district are
considerably changed and modified; some Of
the divisions are enlarged, and the command
ing officers changed and assigned to different
positions and commands.
Mmor General Rosecrans now commands the
Army Of the Mississippi, and all OF the Army
Of the Tennessee, which is stationed at the old
position around C0rinM, composing splendid
army of at least forty thousand fighting men,
who have almost every one borne the fierce
brunt Of the battle, and who have full conf
denee and faith in the ability aad courage ol
their commander. With such an army, ind a
position as stroag as his, ROsecrans Is impreg'
na6is, and there is not tho teast dangercf his
being phippsdly any army the rebels ca@ con-
ceatrate.
Major General Ord is here and in command
Of the Second division Of the District, with the
privilege OF locating his headquarters at etlier
| this place or Bolivar. HIS division is an ex
tensive one extending from the Kentucky line
on the north and to the Hatchio on the west
Bethel Station on the east and including Bolt
var on the south, and it is made his duty oil
the order to guard all railroads in his district,
| II is q very important and extensive command,
and coss' mot nave been placed n the hands
: al mora el cienr urfovs ss.--1s
i General Sherman retains command Of Mem.
phis, which division will embrace all the terri
tory south of Hatchie river and west of Bolivar
occupied by our troops.
The fourth division comprises what are now
known as the districts of Cairo and of the Mis-
ssspp including Forts Henry aud Donelson,
and exclusive Of that portion lying in Tcnncs
| sec and along the line of the railroads, the
, whele commanded by Brigadier General |. f
Quinby.
From the changes going on 1t is reasonable
to suppose that it will be but a short time be
fore we see some good resulting therefrom, anc
: they appear to give all parties the most perfect
satisfaction. The district has never before
leen divided in regular manner, and as will
be seen, it Is now composed Of four divisions
each under command of experienced and tried
officers, who will not fail to do their duty wher
. the hour of trial comes.
General Hurlburt who had been in com
: mand at Bolivar has been ordered to report al
u Cincinnati, and General Ross succeeds him ir
: the command OF his division, which rcmain,
o where il is. General John a. Logan ia II
command of this post, and is great favoril,
!. among officers and men brought in contac
4. with him, both for his urbanlty and kindly
= treatment, and also his known bravery aGt
military talents.
The new regiments coming here will b,
u directly under the eye OF General Grant, as
sisted by skilled and experienced officers ant
e perfect and thoroughly organized army o
the fighting men Of the Northwest will soor
be iound ready for any move.
When all this is complete we will be in con
dition to assume any position the governmen
d may see proper to direct Many are the sur
% misses on that point, and there is but one solu
n ton offered, viz: an immediate advance south
J. ward.
-, This town Of Jackson is rather handsomel
II located, and is plentiully supplied wit
IL excellent water The residences of thos
citizens who have fed are very handsome an
expensive, although mostly frame, which
the general characteristic of Southern towns
y and, heiLg painted white, surrounded witt
y tas,efully decorated grounds and shade troe,
have a most pleasing effect upon stranger
& especially one who has been riding upo
q, horseback for three days, through countr
u where little could be seen but continui
le range of forest, with an occasional opcnn
Il, where some one is located in very pl;miti,
y style.
is On Saturday General Grants escort or bod
guard, with a splendid train Of wagons le
the old headquarters near Cornth, unde
command of Captain y. u. Osband, bray
" and most efficient officer, and his lieutenauts
u Gle and Sherlock, all Illinois men, Man
~. W. fears we're expressed by outsiders that the
's would be attacked, as idrgG bottles of rI
cdralry tcerc hnocn II be hOreriog in ersr
m direction The day before we left spme 240
Of our cavalry had been captured, and our roa
led near their supposed locality; but the of
a. GERS appeared to hare every confidence in the
n men and well they might, for a finer or bette
" disciplined company OF cavalry ! have M
y seen in the service, and they have serve
since the first three months call. On the frs
days march we made twenty iour miles, ov,
l. miserable roads, through dreary counir
n and at night halted at very handsome htl
O. town called Purdy.
I'd Purdy is place of some 400 or 500 inhabitar
A very neat court house and square grace III
- centre of the town, and there were more brio
y buildings there than have seen in any town
n the country. The people appeared to be very i
th itgent, and treated us with every politenes
We camped III the square, and placed the wagol
In circle, with horses inside, and made vel
u good barrcale in case of an attack from ii
IN enemy. Pickets were out in all directions, NJ
ly every precaulion taken; but we were undi
turbed. The next day was a mere repetiio
except that some cornfelds were laid und
II heavy cuuh buttons, and seven sleep WI
I'd caught, and | am sorry to say, eaten with 81
v greatest gusto by the hungry boys OF courS
receipts were given by the Captain whe, eb
upon proving their loyalty, the owners Of II
'' mutton could recover their pay from the COVER
he ment The country from this place began
improve in appearance, and the roads were mo-
~, travelled. We made some twenty .ionr miles al.
:" this day, and camped in the woods on the banl
Of what they call in Ihis country a crock, b
n which is nothing more nor less than ditch
- standing water The same precautions we
re taken AS on the previous night, aud We wtts III
~ disturbed The next day we reached our des'
nation When within mile of Jackson Il
er only solitary accident of the trip happened
an the company was crossing bridge it was halle
-, and the papers demanded. In minute dow
w went about twenty five feet Of the bridge, al
the greatest confusion prevailed for q few mi
G. utesi but, luckily, no serious injury was suffert
IN by any one, and only one man and horse got in
the river and they easily got ashore. The Il
was about ten feet aud we had great time lie
TO ting the wagons down on one side OF the pai
a and dragging them up the Oiher The delay d
Il not exceed two hours and half in passing u
I'VE whole train so "a got thfourh in a most sat