The New York herald., 1862-12-11

In ne cd,sps of Hississipp:Coraoter and Scenery 0f
he Cou,s.ry-Lonelinss and DesoIdtion--Oar Sar and
Our Firr Camping Picce-Dslta-Ts First Days
Aarch-Dr. Huls-Tae First Night Out Old
Hir'-We Rea.h he Coldpdtr-- Encdmp AZ IT.
MoutL--The Cagayy Push On--A Dds. a, Ora
nada--Raibpad DESTROYED and Bridges Burned
They Pdu Back and Tear Up Another Road-Enter
Pamela and Barn me 7aUahatcha Bridse-A Small
Skfnnish--Our Present Position and Future Morenests
The Enemy % the Front, Left and RieatThe Road TO The
Rear Open Dispatches TO Helena. dc.
Your Helena correspondent has. for the time being
transported himself " the swanips and canebrakes Of
Mississippi Here, IN the mud and mirc, away from the
world and It's civilization and for the command here
encsmped IN complete loneliness and desoiaton y sit
down give you a hurried account Of the events and
incidents or the past few days II they who read this
will consult their maps and mark the spot where the
Coldwater forms junction with the Taahatchie they
will know just where this portion OF the Army Of Eastern
Arkansas IS resting arms, and where your cor
respondent driving bis pen these pages Around
swamps wild and gloomy: canebrakes, within
whose depths utter silence reicns with unbroken sway
In days past while riding through the forests of Arkan
have thought that knew what loneliness was; but
until now have realized how dcsoate, how death
" still, an uninhabited uncivized and uncitvated
country he Here there is absolutely rotbng, ami
mate inanimate TO break the grave-ke silence which
settles down like funeral pail the land water BY
day the multudinous Of camp give 10 the
signs Of life and activity; but night only the
bright gmmer of the camp shows that the sanct,y
OF this primeval wilderness has been invaded by
Forty miles of the Mississippi further advanced
into heart Dixie than any other command the
pedi.ion of whose departure Helcsa advised you
In my last communication s now encampes. How we
came here, when arrived and what We have done
the march, shall be my business TO relate In this let
ter. Perhaps 1t would be well before entering upon the
details Of the trip 10 give The readers OF the HERALD
information concerning the plan and purpose Of the
expedition. which is in reality component part a
cered for the defeat capture OF the rebe
army in Mississippi varousiy described Prices, Van
Dorn's a1d Pcmbertons On his return from the
cessgu expedition V white river General Hovey
dstely began preparations another and daring
adventure The number Of men-cavalry artillery and
nfantry-deailed TO accompany him. military po
icy win uot permit me 70 state, although could
not possibly do the least injury. II ~
enough to say that - constitutes army
sufficiently strong TO prove exceedingly trou-
blesome and ba-assng retrcatIng enemy should IL
be thor good fortune occupy position in which they
could thus direct their strength aud energy The pur
pose 10 make demonstration TO Prices let, while
combined advance should he made upon him in front by
General Grant from Holly Springs and General Sherman
from Memphis That each Of the other commanders
tered upon hrs part " the work In due know
tempated movements am totally amt entirely ignorant
shut from the world tue last eight days blank
far ae any knowledge OF passing events elsewhere Is
eerned can only describe what have and relate
! what have heard while accompanying this command
II was bright. teautifu anutnnal day, such as are
common here, but rare In more Northern climate,
4 that the expedition steamed away from the wharf at
Helena and ca led down the river hound upon uncer
tain enterprise aud ~ most Of them embarked ID an u
4 known destination II aln.os. the last holt that
upor, aud Il nearly dark when larrvei the
point oi Decentralization, whiiom town called by the
nj haftx
and twenty miles below Helena, the Mississippi shore.
Why IL was called may not be material, but was ia
formed that u was owing TO real or imaginary
bsnce Of that portion o the country TO tile Greek
Of that name caused by the position and of three
ryersthe Mississippi, Cold~ater and yszoo long rows
of camp fres relieved tie darkness Of the night and by
their SIDES hundreds of wcaried seeking rest
aud strength for the labors OF the morrow as stepped
from the steamer upon tbe bank Two hours later
salled forth alone and picked my way carefully through
crowds Of sleeping soldiers, the sound Of my
steps being almost the only hing that disturbed the still
OF the night portion OF the cavalry had already
gone cut some miles te act as pckets and guard agapst
surprise and alarm Not a sound, not even the urd,.
nary disturbances II camp. heard during the night
and daybreak rose prepared for the work before
us by as refreshing ths first nights bvouac on
the cold damp ground usually affords A hs,tily oaten
breakfast was followed by an immediate for ward "
the cavalry then of the infantry and artillery aud
oil the wagons, Followed by the guard
from the Thirty frsi Iowa newly arrived m.d ittLs ~
cipned regiment. The town Of Delta Toasted NV
houses but the ravsges " war, the constant wearing
away Of the baks by the rushing t ry or ard
the natal rum sDd decay which time brings IN It's train
| had redureu " W Single tanenent--a long roughly
built natboat transferred TO the land eveuty usod
In past period as boarding house Some one ~ The
regiments or az fsny could crowd IT, occupied n
barrack, and In the morning applied 10 il tie fa,n
torch which War II represented alwpys bearing IN one
hand. Az the first columns moved forward dark clouds
of smoke Issued from H. and few moments saw its sides
fall in Of red hot ruin. Az tho rear guard ief
The river there remained Of Delta only tho ground upon
| which II once stood
winding along over the evee the command skir,ed the
edge OF large cornhed running back from the river
half milo or %, Lad evidently escaped the visits ol