Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-28
UP THE TENNESSEE.

RScft0Hs DeStTOyed-AHemyt on the Mem
phtS and Ch1risytoH Road aA-EniiSttng
Log4L IeHHsSssnaNs -ProSPccts for IrtWe-
dtGSs Work
Especial Correspondence Of Cincinnati Gazette
SAvAvsAH, Tenn, March I2-The greater
part Of the Tennessee river expedition arrived
at Savannah, Hardin county, Tennessee, on
the evening and during the night or the 18th
instant As the sun rose over the csnebrakes
that iioe the river banks, il disclosed such a
scene aS neither that nor indeed any river, on
the continent ever witnessed before. For
nearly two miles up and down the stream lay
the heet. More vessels were constantly arriv-
ing, the channel was filed with them gliding
about IN search Of landings near their respective
brigade headquarters, and the air was heavy
with the murky smoke from hundreds Of
putting chimneys.
Tho shores were covered with the diseu
baIked soldiers, eagerly rushing everywhere
and scrutiniEing everything, with q genuine
Yankee determination TO see whatever might
be worth seeing ''away down here in Dixie"
They early found the canebrakes, and the
number Of fishing poles carried aboard the
boats to be sent up North and used in more
peaSef times: was something astonishing
Cotton fields were more distant, but long be-
fore noon plenty could be heard describing
how the fields looked, and exhibiting scraps Of
cotton and handfals Of seed they had confscated
as specimens from the adjacent warehouses
Oficers we're galloping over the bottoms, try
ing to get am idea Of the country-not a few
privates deemed it their duty to give the
mule little exercise by beating them into a
jog trot through the country, too.
han dozen regiments were brought out on
dress parade, and the delighted inhabitants of
the pleasant little country town of Savannah
crowded into the streets or peeped out behind
the curtains Of second story windows TO see the
unwonted sight, and convince their haltipo
faith that, beyond peradventure, the Yankees
oreTe there at least to defend them in their
1llconcealed preference for the Union cause
Conspicuous among the troops were the noted
Eleventh Indiana and Eighth Missouri, of
Gen; Lew. Wallace's Division, whose steady
tread and precision Of movement were unex-
celied by an equally numerous body of reg
ulars our old army ever boasted; and amid all
the shcuiderins and presenting of arms. fash
ing OF swords, waving of banners prancinp of
gaily eaPsrisOned horses, and shouting of or.
deTs, there came wsiliDg up through this pomp
and circumstance OF glorious war the unutter-
able sorTow Of the Dead March in Saul. as
with reversed maskets and measured tread a
squad Of his companions bore a brave Buck-
eye boy TO his lonely grave on the banks of
the Tennessee. Poor fellow, he had left Pa
ducsh, all life and hope; had sickened on the
river, and nOw-well, in few minutes a regi.
ment was dePloying by companies almost over
his grave.
GEOGRAPEIcAL
The expedition had indeed reached the
sunny South We were seventeen miles from
the Mississippi line, and only twenty-five or
thirty from the northwest corner OF Alabama,
precisely as far South as the northern line of
South Carolina, and farther down than apy of
our armies, excepting the small ones that have
gone sround by the sea coast expedition.
SOUTHERN TENNESSEE UsIoSIsH.
There was evidence through the day that
the practical Union sentiment along the Ten
nss-ee was not wholly a myth. Reckon
dad II not have TO run any mure and hide
around TO keep from hein' hung, was the Joy
Gul comment Of hopeless bat not uncomeiy
Savannah Miss, as she gsEcd on the still in.
creaSing eeet. Laws-a- mercy" replied her
companion ''I knovod the Yankees was a
powerful! people, but never did see 60 many
boats in all my born days before. Guess we
will have resce now More practical was The
masculine response to the TeapreaTsnce of the
Rag. Some $50 citizens Of the town and county
volunteered for the war to ill up the Denelson
thIuaed ranks Of the Illinois regiments that
were the hrst 10 embark.
The fYSt MOUsmeHf ca The rampQiru of the
Te'iResses crps4ittoH-GEReraE IVaIl0cs's
GIUiStGR ga The fsiG-A hard mareh and a
successful operation.
ISEecisi Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette I
FoUR MILES ABOVE SAvASyAH, TENNESSEE.
March l4.-JuEt in from an exhsustipy trim
the enemy's forces, | can but realize once
more the impoSsibility Of conveying 10 civilian
readers any adequate idea of the hardships
service in the field entails The march of
General Wsllsces division last night and the
night preceding was in no wise different from
hundreds Of marches the same troops and other
troops, all through the seat Of war in the West
have made, and yet, common as were its ia
tisues, but few Of the participants vii ever
appreciate them.
PLAN or OPERATIONS.
The plan Of the movement was briefly this .
At the two towns Of Purdy in Tennessee. and
COrinth in Mississippi, pretty strong Rebel
forces we're known to be posted and between
them was direct railroad communication. To
attack one was, therefore, TO attack both, till
the railroad connection could be DESTROYED. A
few miles south Of Purdy was an important
railroad bridge, with long trestle work on
each side. From this bridge a good road led
20 landing on the river, four or FIVE miles
above Savannah. Gen Wallace was to move
up the river after nightfall, so as to throw the
Rebel scouts OF the scent, move out on the
road six or eight miles with his infantry, and
meantime send his cavalry ahead to destroy
the bridge and trestle work, and capture q
passing train, if possible. The infantry would
De within calling distance TO support the cav
airy IN case OF attack, or prevent their being
cut on by movement in the flank or rear.
sUCCBss-OHIo CAVALRY.
The plan was carried out exactly according
10 the programme. In night so dark that a
rider could only see his horse by the frequent
flashes Of lightning, and under pouring rain,
Maj Hayes, With q battalion of the 5th Ohio
cavalry, guided by Union man of the vicini-
~, marched some twenty-six miles, reached
the bridge at an early hour destroyed il and
the track and trestle-work for half mile, tried
10 catch the down train from Purdy, but were
foiled by the conductors having been advised
by the people Of the neighberhood Of his pre-
sence in time, and got back to the point at
which the infantry we're resting at o'clock in
the afternoon.
TIE REBELS BURNING THEIR COTTON.
Tor miles an ill-defned lurid glow Of light
was seen illuminating the murky sky, and
shiring dimly through the woods As il was
seen from different positions in the curves Of
the road, the men imagined each appearance
20 be 8 new light, and there was much talk Of
signal fires and admonitions to be ready for
attack any moment; but at last, Just at the