The New York herald., 1862-01-18
THe CAMPAIGN ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
OUR pADUcAH CORRESPONDENCE.
PADUoAH. Jan. IL, 1852

-TAs Mystery Which Cousrs EveryhinS-Possib,e Plan
of Opratsons de.
II has been prematurely reported that advance has
boon made from this point, under General Smith, TO
operate with similar movements from Cairo and Birds
Point The report as to this point premature. The
troops here have been under and under marching
orders three days but for unapparent reason
the st hangs fire. One report attributes the
delay TO the swollen state Of tho streams that
TO be forded in the route Of march,
Whatever that route may be. Other and more
probable rumors give as the Of the delay the
tArdiness OF the ST. Louis renrocemonts getting into
line 1t has been telegraphed extensively the
try that twenty Aye thousand troops left St. Louis for
down tho river Thursday they did leave they are
grounded somewhere the Mississippi above Cairo for
upto this morning they had reached that point Dur
ing tho fog that has prevailed throughout this region OF
country for several days past steamer grounded in the
Mississippi about twenty miles above Cairo in such
position wholly the navigation. Last night
the government steamer W. Fl. B., sent up from
Cairo this obstruction, and did so but she
saw nothing the the St. Louis reinforce
ments 1t is quite evident, however, that the whole
movement ia awaiting the arrival Of those troops.
Tho troops at Cairo, from ten fifteen thousand
yesterday fernied the river landed the
Kentucky shore, about twelve milos below at point
called just at the head Of No. Island They
stores both regmenta and brigade and ample transport
alton trains, aulbulances &c. The provided
with Ave days rations cooked Major General McCer-
uand and staff accompanied this movement. They
still at Lafayette this morning.
The forces at Fort Holt have yet moved though it
understood that Major General Grant staff would
to that point and Join them day. His body guard
Company Second Illinois cavalry, Captain Ed osbond,
were board boat at Cairo this morning, waiting to
escort the General.
Birds Point still contains the garrison that has been
there FOR months past though they all under march
ing orders and expecting to move at moments notice.
The points along the Ohio river from Cairo to Paducah
where troops have been stationed FOR number Of weeks
past have all bsen evacuated the forces being either with
the Cairo troops or bere.
is very clear from this hasty glance al the position
OF the forces that there is to be simultaneous
ment and that that delayed in consequence
Of some loose screw not by outsiders There has not
been, since the commencement Of the war movement
OF the magnitude Of this the destination OF which
been successfully concealed is utterly impossible
to gather the slightest clue to its destination, and the
shrswdest gpesses seem all wide Of the mark The
plausible schemShye heard sends Gen. Smith with his
Gen. Grant, with the forces from For, Ho-up the Ten
nosscc river to Fort Henry, while Cen McCernsrd will
simultaneously with attack Bowling Green by Gen.
Buell. while at the same time and in the midst Of the
down the Mississippi w upon Columbus the gunboas aid
ing him his attack while the victorious forces forts
Se,usessrd and Henry win M ssctsay cut Of The retreat
ce,ve this letter.
There will be no advance from this point before TO-
morrow, during which time viii prepare you state
mont OF the number OF troops here and the general
character OF the expedition, which have not te to
give you to-day
PApucAa, Ky, Jan. IL, 1862
-
Increased to Ten Thousord Nem-Proposed Expedition 10
MagfeId-PIan to CSt CThs Communication Betccen
Columbus and Bosoling Green-Frospect of Battle via
the Rebel Condition and Dieipline Of the Onion
Troops, ,fc, dc.
In my last letter led into by follow
ting the practice Of forming opinions from
mote stand points close observation Of the situation
Of Affairs in this place convinces that the column
about TO from here will operate independently Of
the forces from Cairo. Indeed assured Of this fact
.. headquarters. The forces here consist fol-
lows
Brigadicr General Commanding Dvison-C. r. Smith,
Assistant Adjutant Gsneral--T J. Newsham, q. s.A.
Medical Director-H. 8 Hewett, volunteers.
Quarsermaster-Captain George A. Pierce.
Commissary-Captan John 8. Cox.
Chief Of Enginsers-Captan Rzihs Nnsteenth infantry,
Chief Of Ordnance-Captain j. A. Newstadter.
Captain OF En- Engneers-Captan Imre Rudnich.
James +. Troth, Eleventh In
diana.
Colouel-J A. Macarthur Twelfth Illinois, commanding
Acting Assistant Adj Gen.--Lieu }. b Dickson. 18th I'll.
Acting Asst Quarterrnastsr-Iieut. seaman 18TH III.
Brigade Surgson-Dr Harshorn, 18th Ill.
Ninth Illinois, seI men, Colonel Msrsey,
Twelfth Illinois, os3 men, Colonel Macarthur
Fortieth Illinois, GIL men, Colonel Hicks.
Forty first Illinois. e77 men, Colonel Pugh.
Buss!'s battery, six pieces, Captain Bulls.
First battalion Second H. cavalry, 4S2 men, Col Noble
SECOND BRGADs
Brigadser Ceneral-Tewis Wallace U. 8. A. commanding
Assistant Adjutant Gencral-Capt Fred Knener U. s. A.
Acting Asst termaster-Capt Lyman Eleventh Ind
Aid dsCamp-Lieut. Ware, Eighth Missouri.
Abide camp-Leut Ross, Eleventh Indiana
Eighth Missouri o64 men Colonel NJ. L. Smith.
Eleventh Indiana el0 men, Colonel McGinns.
Twenty third Indiana, s64 men, Colonel sanderson
I'd battalion I'd Ill cavalry 353 men, Lieut.. Col Hogg.
Company 4th regiment cavalry, So men, Lieut.. Powell
Company 2d regiment cavalry, 46 men, Capt. Powell.
Company Chicago light Artillery, pcs Capt Willard.
This gives grand total Of six thousand five hundred
and sixty men, and twelve pieces Of artillery 1t should
be borne in mind that this enumeration Of the
force Is based On ,ho aal returns this morning. and
gives merely lie number ready for service at this par.
tcusr time there viii be sssfhsn this force 10 move
from, this place, but rather more If anything
The rofowing com aaies are on detached service
at smilhland, at The mouth Of the Cumber-
lard, aud will not, probably, accompany the
expedition; I, Twelfth Illinois, Companies
aud I, Forty first Illinois; Companies and + Fortieth
Illinois Companies and b. Wilson Dragons, and the
Twentieth regiment kentucky infantry.
1t is reported among the hangerson at head quarters,
that brigade Of the ST. Louis renforcemensfor the
arrival Of which there is doubt tho whole expedition
Is watng-wi join this column. giving US force Of
about ten thousand men, which, considering the objects
be accomplished, and the obstacles 70 DO oncoun-
tered BY General smith, would seem TO be the very
smallest possible force with which he ought 10 be
expected TO There ample transportation here
twice that number OF men, and the preparations
that have been made In the Commissary and Quarter.
master dsJartn1cnts would 10 indicate the move
mont OF much larger force than there here But
to OF this conjecture the fact that Friday
were given here 10 and the column In resd
ness 70 when the order countormandcd and
the men sent 10 their quarters. There mor~
trools bore Friday than there day and happen
70 know that the stoppsge OF the expedition that
son was caused by the nonarrya Of any reinforce
msnts at this particular point.
Tho route Of march or General Smith will be hence 10
Mayheld and Camp Bespregard twenty miles south
"A n rarnAd complatA running order. frat