Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-27
Gems. Hovey and Washburne's Expedi-
tion into Observation-Disclosures &C.

ton into Mississippi-Incident sc.
A special correspondent of the st. Louis
Democrat, writes from Helena Dark on
the 7th.:
Ihe e1pedi ion has returned and the
troops are now debarking. 1t is under.
stooo TO nave been entirely successful.
zen. ssnourne with the cavalry advance
ed nearly to Grenada, breaking up the
railroad at several points, and skirmishing
with the enemy at the mouth of the Cold
water and at Pamela An advance guard
froun the 1st Indiana cavalry, being on the
advance under Major Walker, were sur
prised by an ambush, and while endeayor-
Ing to get two of their gus (mountsin
howltzets) In position, were charged upon
by body of Texas Rangers and driven
back, leaving their guns in the hands of
the enemy. The rebels succeeded in car
rying off one gun, but before they could
get the other under way, Major Burgh, of
the 9th Illinois cavalry, came up and open.
ed upon them with two field pieces, dis
persing them and recovering one of the
howitzers. Several of our men were
wounded, and the horses attached to the
two howitzers nearly all killed.
Major Darnall, of the 18th Indiana, with
several companies from his own aud the
Gath ludiana, had considerable skirmishing
with body OF rebels about Is miles be-
yond Coldwater. In the several skirmish.
es we captured about forty prisoners,
among them Colonel, Surgeon, a Chap
lain and Lieutenant.
The rebels were anticipating our appear
ance, but not 10 the direction in which
our army advanced, Surprising that we
! would move directly across from Memphis
and Helena, they bad ali their negro force
| employed for several days in telling trees
across the various roads from these two
points, to hinder and retard our progress.
| But descending the river to Delta. and
marching across the country in that direc-
ton, we avoided the blockade and am
pushed roads, and took the enemy una
aoare. At Coldwater they were completely
taken by surprise, by our advance under
Gen. Washburne. One old darkey, when
he nanght glimpse of the "blue coats"
| cried ont, "All massas blockading for
muffin De kingdom am gone; de Yankees
have done come on de loaoer road Z" The
country through which the army passed is
rich in soil and productions Cotton is
the great staple. and it is not an uncom-
mon thing to find one hundred bales in the
possession of one man, though perhaps
hidden from the public eye.
Cotton buyers at Delta. for some time
past have been conducting considerable
| contraband trade with the natives, paying
thirty cents for cotton, in goods at rebel
dom prices. This Is what they call in the
army " making a good thing of it," The
force which Gen. Washburne surprised at
Coldwater had been sent by the rebel
authorities to stop this trade.
COTTON BUYERS "GoNE UP REQUIREMENT
MoNOPoLIZES THE BUSINESS.
Yesterday, | am informed, by orders
from Washington City, all the cotton here
now in possession OF individual traders
was seized, and all trading in cotton pro-
hibited. This is good, and, | trust, relia-
bic news. The wonder is, that Govern
ment did not long since take this trade
into its own hands. The cotton on the
line of the late march into Mississippi
would more than pay the expenses OF the
expedition.