Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-31
MORNING header.

MORNING HEADER.
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The aitRck upoa Fort PnloE---A Land Rx
aaoli .reaiiion snd its Failuro.
From the correspondence Of the Chica-
20 Tribune We take tho following para
Fraplis regarding an expedition which was
designed to take Fort Pillow BY land:
THE ExPEDITIoN.
Il was known from the reports Of scouts
and others, that there was no insurmount-
able obstacle which prevented the placing
Of a Federal battery on the Arkansas
shore opposite Fulton, this was further
demonstrated BY the extended rooonnois-
sanee successfully conducted by Coils Fitch
and Hoor. on wednesday Had our plans
remained undiscovered by the enemy, il
was intended to have placed the battery in
position Thursday night so as TO be ready
70 open upon tho batteries az Fulton carly
Friday morning. Although by this step
nOintcnton or expectation was entertained
Of reducing the fort, it was thought We
should be able 10 control the navigation Of
the river, and prevent the arrival Of sup
plies and endorsement from below
This accomplished, the co-operGtive land
force w0ald land on the Tennessee shore,
about twenty-five miles above the landing
whence a dry road leads directly to the
fort, and make demonstration upon the
snemy's rear. AT time 70 be agreed up
on By Gen. Quimby and Commodore Davis,
8 simultaneous attack was 10 have been
made upon the fort, which with its troops,
guns and supplies, it vas expected, would
fall into our hands like a ripe pear. A
Vunboat would somehow run the blockade
and steam up the Hatchee to the ponioon
bridge and destroy it, thus rendering their
capture inevitable. Every avenue Of es-
cape would be closed, and no alternative
1sfi them but unconditional surrender
But the "best laid schemes of mice and
men aft gang sglee;' and 50 it proved in
this snstanoe.
The reconnOitering party being discOv-
cred BY the rebels, were driven of, and on
the site Of the proposed Federal battery the
rebels planted one instead
THE RESULT
The expedition promised to be fruitful
ofbrilsiant results il has ended in n fzzls.
The enemy have now undisputed possess
sion Of the levee on the Arkansas shcre,
from Craighead' Point to the IAnier PLAN
tation. We went up like rocket-we
came down like a stick. The rebels are
improving upon our plans, and it is said
are aA@ n,lanting a battery on the Point
opposite Fulton themselves. The upsAot
ofthe whole affair is, that the capture Of
the fort is indefinitely postponed. do
not think thatthe navy unassisted by the
army win ever accomplish its reduction.
As ] understand the position Of affairs, the
Commodore is unwilling to run the risk Of
defeat by inaUgurating offensive measures.
The feet in Its present position protects
the navigation Of the upper rivers, which,
IL we should be overcome in an encounter
provoked BY ourselves, together with the
vast amount Of Government property and
army transports, as well as the loyal towns
on their banks, would be at the mercy Of
the enemy's gunboats Nevertheless we
cannot resist the feeling Of modification,
when we reflect that half hundred guns
and atlset Of eight gunboats, with an ar
my Of less than two thousand men are set
ting ct defiance the entire fotilla in these
WesterR waters, any two gunboats Of
which are able TO whip the entire COnfed-
crate feet combined, This evening we
leave for the North. @