Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-23
FRO1r GENERAL cRANT,s ARmY.
Crossing the TalIahatchis-- MaTsudiHg by Fed
eraL S0ldisTS-Lettsr from Jacob Thompson,
BWchananS Secretary Of the Interior, ETC., etc.

Crossing the TsHahatehis--M MarsudiMg By Fed
eraL S0ldisTS-Lettsr from Jacob Thompson,
BNchaaaH'S Secretary Of the Interior, ETC., etc.
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times
OxFOKD, Mississippi December 5.-My last
letter was written Tuesday afternoon, when the
advance of the Federal infantry, under General
Macarthur, had reached Abbeville, a village OF
only six or seven families, and three miles south
of the Talahatchie, on the railroad Owing to
the state of the weather and roads, and the inca
pacity OF the bridge first constructed by our
engineers after the enemys evacuation at the
river McArthur's division were not all on
the south side at dark, but were brought across
that night At first it was thought the tempo
rary bridge would be sufficient to pass the entire
army. but the artillery and heavy trains soon
shook it to pieces, and more time was occupied
in repairing it than would have been necessary
to build new one. On Wednesday morning
General Logsns division commenced moving
across, and, taking the advance, pushed ahead
on the road to this place. The Ist brigade,
commanded by Col Marsh, reached here the
same evening, and went into camp before nine
o'clock. The remainder of the division, with
transportation and supply trains, arrived last
night, and the march will probably be resumed
this morning.
In the meantime the ConfedeTates were falling
back on Grenada in hot haste From the best
information l can obtain from citizens, the eVac-
uation Of Tallahstchis began on Friday, in con-
sequence OF reports reaching them that General
Steele was threatening their railroad communi.
cation with Jackson. Most of the army passed
here on Saturday and Sunday. Their wagon
trains are spoken of as being immense for an
army of the size theirs is generally under
stood to be- and is said to be not less than fifteen
miles in length. OF one thing we are certain:
NothiEg was left behind that was worth trans
portstiOn, and comparatively little was destroyed
The first reports of the destruction Of such large
lots Of clothing and ccmmissary stores have
been considerably modified on investigation.
The depot and contents at Abbeville were de-
stroyed, and lot of corn at this place but,
beyond these, l can hear Of no destruction of
property worth naming
The cavalry were thrown across the Talla-
hatchie in advance of the infantry, and, by
special order Of Gen. Grant, put uner command
of his chief Of cavalry, Col. Dickey. On Tues
day morning a heavy force started in pursuit of
the rear guard of the rebel army, and overlook
it near this place, Oxford, directly on the rail
read, eleven miles south of Abbeville. Con-
siderable skirmishing ensued, in which we lest
none killed and but few weuaded, and succeed
ed in capturing nearly three hundred prisoners.
Our pursuit was arrested that night at this
peint By display Of artillery just at dark. In
the morning all were gone 4; but Col. Dickey di.
vided his force into three columns, to pursue on
the right and left flank and rear and at 3 in the
afternoon another skirmish took place at the
crossing of the Yockneypatsufa Commonly
called Yoekney,) ten miles south of this on the
Cotfeeville road, in which none are reported
killed on our side, but in which quite batch
of "Confeds" were captured, before their ertil
far eyyoosa1ad i'm varulaiufr f5
not to be presumed from this that no Federal
soldiers were killed or wounded. But Colonel
Lee, who was in command Of that column of
cavalry, has habit, we are told, of never re-
porting the casualties in his own command un-
til they are drawn out on cToss-exsmination.
On his arrival at the bridge across the YOckney,
he found company of rebel cavalry busily en-
gagged in firing iE. These were soon routed, the
fire extingushed, the bridge repaired, and his
command encamped two miles south that night
To-day the pursuit was kept up, and by
courier just in, Col. Dickey reports the retreat
ing army becoming more and more demorslized.
Those in the rear are evidently in great fe ar of
our cavalry dashes, and probably suppose the
whole army at their heels, instead of being
from twenty to thirty miles in the rear, as it &C.
tually is. He reports them burning their tents
and wagons, and destroying a large amount of
property to facilitate a speedier march. By
Saturday our cavalry will have reached Gren-
ada unless the enemy make bOldsr stand than
within the last three days, and my next letter
will probably be indted there.
General Grant and staff arrived here this
morning, and may leave tomorrow for Coffee
vile or Grenada.
Great complaint is made by nearly all the citi-
zens here of the conduct of our troops. Houses
were entored, the inmates W8ntony insulted and
valuables stolen in dozens of Instances. Scarcely
a family in the place has escaped, if their own
stories are to be credited, and in too many in
stances they are unqusstionAbly true. A band
of three or four providers entered several houses
between O'Clock and daylight, pretendedly by
authority of the provost marshal to search for
arms, but in reality to steal Every valuable
was taken wherever they went To aggravate
the affair, when questioned, they claimed 10 be-
long to the % Wisconsin infantry That regi-
mept was never in this army None of the
marauders have thus far been identified. Should
any of them fall into General Grants hands, it
will 80 hard with them. Provisions of all kinds
are uneommonly scarce here now, and, as an
army is compelled to subsist in part from a
country through which it passes, great destitu-
ton and suffering must necessarily ensue Many
families had the last pound of meat and handful
of meal taken from them by our men, and how
they are to avoid starvation is more than they
or l can see. Nine-tenths of the male popula-
ton are in the army Almost none but women
and children are left at home. The women
speak of rs and our cause with the utmost free
dom, and, it must be confessed, often provoke
our soldiers to making reprisals on their lsrders
and chicken coops They are apparently as
firmly welded TO secession as ever. Not one of
them but gloTies in the cause An occasional
one expresses wish that her husband was at
home, and turns her head to hide the gathering
tears.
The cost of living here is enormous Flour
brings from $500$75 per barrel salt meat so
l075c per pound the coarsest Shoes S. per
pair A pair of lsdy's buskns, worth s so in
Chicago, will sell for $40 here, and good laced
boot for lady is worth $I5 Mems boots sell
at from $500 $50; salt at s $50 per barrel calico
at from sI.250$2 per yard; brown sheeting,
81 etc, etc. A meal of eOrn-bresd and tough
beef" only this and nothing mOre''-is con-
sidered cheap at dollar.
Oxford is a place of only 500 inhabitants,
though founded in 1885. The State University
is located here, and, being handsomely endowed
by the State, never lacked students till the COM
mencement of the war. Its inmates left the
cloister for the camp soon after, and its classic
halls were converted into hospitals.
The residence of Hon. Jacob thompson, Mr..
Buchansn's Secretary of the Interiot, is in the
suburbs of the village, and is occupied tonight
by Col. Marsh for brigade headquarters On
taking possession he found Mr.. Tnompson's pTi-
vate letter book, into which mad been copied all
important letters written TO him since the ques-
tion of secession was bToached. Some of these
are believed to be important, as tending to throw
light On many hidden springs of conduct, and
will probably be forwarded to Washington fOI
governmental inspection. The following is one
of the documents;
Private and Confidential
WAsHINGTOB, D. C., Nov 90 1860.
My DEAR PETERSON: Tho time has cOm'
when every man who loves his State and country