The New York herald., 1862-01-25

water-that by land perhaps, from half dozen Different
ponshaving in view the great object Of freeing the
river from its rebel embargo and in order that the
movement may be when it does finally start
is necessary that the fullest knowledge of the country
which are TO march shall be possessed by oul
generals and engineers. We must know where tn.
fields and woods where the hills and ravnes the mair
roads, roads and bridges where and camping
grounds the most advantageous positions upon which
form regiments divisions and squadrons surprised by
an enemy where to conon the different brigadss for
attack upon any particular pointin fact, must have
the fullest knowledge Of the topography OF the country
knowledge only be gained by actual survey by compe
Gent engineers That survey has been made by
Generals Grant and McCernand and their engineer corps
We have ridden and walked over almost every square
mile Of land between the Ohio river and Columbus have
made drafts and charts of all the roads leading from
Cairo, Fort Ho 1t. Fort Jefferson Mound City, Massac and
Paducah southwark, together with their intersections,
and have learned all that necessary know always
excepting what will be the weather and "other provi-
dences'') TO enable do on our next expedition
that which the uniformed public expected On
this.
The next object in view in this Reconnaissance in
Aorcs to threaten Columbus from the rear, to pre-
vent General Polk from sending renforcements TO Buck
at Bowling Green from aordng relief rebels
Camp Beauregard Felciana who were being march
Cd upon by the troops under Of Generals Smith
and Wallace from Paducah.
Next wished 10 push scouts further southwark
than hitherto to learn where and the rebel forces
were disposed along the lines of railroads and highways
south Of Columbus where the bridges cuvers were
guarded and where where they had been already de-
stroyed and whore they might bs to further pur'
poses -
= Ase from all these considerations there was another
lo~ hah; IF tbot
70 the fagues hardshps of marching and camp
ing not be derived by long months Of drilling in the
manual Of stationary camps and had not the ee-
ments conspred thwart this last advantage troops
would have come back into camp yesterday refreshed
and benefited But for the last days it has done
nothing but ran RAIN rain in unceasng torrents making
the mpassable, and rendering the roads and
fields to depth Of couple Of feet about Of the
sistency of hot mush.
Now in regard to the report which has been exten
svely tclegraphsd Cairo the effect that the expe
ditons under Generals Grant, NcClernand Smith, Paine
Wallace intended to reinforce General Buell.
the Green river. The objects have named kept
profound by those who panued Them but such
large forces could not without object in view
and rebels clandestne by which every
rumor story becomes in Columbus, it
deemed advisable, order deceive the rebels
object let the reporters have the fullest
scope crafty their innate sensation proclivtes
far they went in the wrong direction and II the
Northern people shall be disappointed in the
turn Of these forces without fight, they
must console themselves with the remembrance
that reportorial imagining, and bad general
ship that has dashed away from their lips the pleasantly
anticipated cup Of war gossip To be took
from headquarters and only telegraphed such hsgs
~ the military approved; but the cxscnces of
result has justified it,
But the journal Of the expedition The column under
General McCernand, to which your correspondent
attached consisting Of eight regiments Of infantry
Of cavalry and three batteries OF artillery started from
Fort Jefferson st Tuesday last, in cold, drizzng
storm what then supposed to be tedious march
70 Bowling Green But the boys were in excellent
spirits They loft their camps singing patriotic songs to
the Of "Dxie" the different regiments cheering
each other they passed out OF camp and filed into the
road Bandviie Stewards cavalry leading the gallant
old Eighteenth up the hill at brisk pace and followed
by the entire command in nne order. That night
camped the woods half mile south of the rcketty
little Tor rather apology for one) Of Blandvlo
along the banks Of Mayheld creek and only thirteen
miles from Colmbus Blandvils is the seat Of justice
Of Ballard county, KY. is place of perhaps two hun
dred inhabitants boasts Of a wooden house black
smiths shop, decidedly country tavern and a
two dilapidated dwellings dsgraced Anthony
street pamiest days Of rottsnness. This
the fitting residence Of Charles A. wickds, formerly
Postmaster General under President Polk, and
Colonel in the rebel army and Provost Marshal OF Coum
bus from whom the takes its secession proclives
70 great extent One Id scarcely expect to nnd in
such place anything else than rebellion but the
two Of long, gaunt cadaverous specimens
Of humanity whom found loahng around the tavern
steps dressed In buternut coorsd suits and dirty nen
chewing natural leaf tobacco and absorbing rain water
like North river shad after trip through the Narrows
found few very few, who had manness enough 10
say that they would like 10 have the old Union eserved
But such dared not speak their minds fully but In
timated their preferences in sort Of Ballard county
whine akin in tone and expression to the nasal draw OF
Yankee clock pedder caught IN the act Of stealing soap
from an Irish washerwoman. Not one however, would
that he a secessonst; but every accused
some else Of entertaining rebel sympathes whenever
he could speak word uhhesrd by his neghbor Certain
iy degraded outandsh ignorant OF beings
never beheld, not upon the sandy barens and
turpenne woods OF North Carona and Bsndvills Is
hotbed OF secession In tJacksons purchasen
On "Wednesday We marched southwark from Blandviile
about SIX miles surveying as We went and encamped at
westons Corners, where the road from Puntneys Bend
70 Mburn crosses the one from Bl&hdve TO Columbus
and only seven miles from where Generals Polk Cheat
ham, McCown and others are garrisonng the with
their boasted "forty thousand men" Only think Of III
Our little band Of scarce thousand "Suckers lying
within two hours march OF more than six their
number Of rebels and "skcersd haarn as they saw
In Ballard county. That night our cavalry penetrated
the enemy's country 70 within three miles OF Columbus
following their pickets two miles before they gave
up the chase.
hurEiay very nne day. the nrst and only one we
experienced the trip. We up early and on the
road 70 Mnburn, though when took the road the
eastward and the boys found they going
instead Of towards Columbus, a shade Of dsappoint
ment pcrvsded the ranks, and made gloominess one
of the sensations OF the morning. But we went
chserly enough for ten miles, through the village Of Nil
burn and out toward Mayhed, where we had heard
that the rebels posted for strong resistance Now
IL tbecame settled fact that we're enough going
Camp Beauregard 70 Bowling Green and the shouts.
force ought surely 70 been heard In Columbus Our
advance guard had proceeded out couple Of miles be-
yond tho town, when II ascertained that they had
taken the wrong road halt and countermarch
dered the advance back turned 20 the le toward
Lovelacevile and again all were In motion. Then
boys lost courage Cor they failed 70 any
blance 70 joke IN backing and filling around for week
in Ballard county but On went some singing and
others doing Of the wickedsst Egyptian scussing
to&hr camp for the night which extsmporiz from
affozen cornhed six miles beyond and north OF Mil