New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-01
Another Expedition - A Sketch OF 'e"'
Thompson and his Movement 80 re-
mont Hangers The two Conflicts
From Our Own Correspondent.
CAIRO. Jan. %, 1862.


another expedition started yesterday morning.
nearly 600 strong, after JEFF. Thompson, but ne tie
most Of them are infantry, have no idea they VIII
come across him. A few words now concerning tins
cbieftajn. He came to this region from 81. Joseph
Mo-. where be had been Major, and small poll
tican. and rs he is gifted with what s called West
ern eoquence and some cunning, he Is popular WIN
his men. In appearance, he is a tal melancholy
looking man, Until recently, he has not been reeog-
nized as belonging TO the Confederate army, and he
has for the last four months ranged through the coun
try az robber chiefain. His trips have been about
as follows: Once a month he starts from NewMadrid
with ten or fifteen hundred men, comes north to
Charleston, thence touches the river at Prices Land
ing, and at Commerce. at which places if any boats
pass he free into them from behind woodpiles and
houses, but never captures any; thence he takes to
the swamps, and deboucles into the bill country
along White Water, back Of Cape Girardeau, and
thence goes to FIedericktown. This is the end Of
the route.
On tie way he pillages and frghtens all the Union
men he can find, occasionally hangs some, and con-
tryes by this means to keep all this part OF South
East Missouri in continual foment. From Frederick
town he goes 10 Greenve, then to Bloomfield, then
to Sikesiown and Charlestown, and thence to New
Madrid, "the place Of beginning" Our troops have
repeatedly been after him. but he runs too fast 10 be
oyertaken; and though some people admire him be-
cause he ALWAYS escapes they seem TO forget that he
invariably refuses to meet any Of our forces IN bate,
whether large or small In short, JET. Thompson,
or his men, or both, are towards; and when TINS II
said of man, or of men, nothing more can be SAID
/ understand that body Of men, about twenty
five in number called " Fremonts Rangers,' or
% Scouts" are to meet at this place week from
to-day. They form an indispensable part of our
Western forces, and many of them have that wild
and untutored appearance that when dressed in cop
percoored clothes, they will pass readily for seces
sioniss. They understand everything necessary
to know respecting the geography Of this region, and
they are a sharp, active get of men.
The health Of the soldier here is not good one
could wish, but they are well supplied with every
thing which can make soldiers comfortable and they
sre excelIently wen clothed. The hospital accom-
moda.ions are superior, and the surgeons, for the
most part humane and attentive; but | notice that
many are iInrnovably fixed in The old AIopa'hic
practice, in which they count upon eaomel, bleeding
and bsterine as specifics in all Cases.
But this is of less importance when one considers
careful nursing and comfortable rooms, and sufficient
bedding and clothing, which, ~ present, thank. 20
dear mothers and sisters, and friends, are plenlfuy
found in cur hospitals.
Alas to what straits in these respects do we know
that our misguided rebeilious friends are driven :
How invaluable in some diseases opium aud
quinine, and how impossible is their attainment
With constitutions enervated by warm climate,
and uusus aimed by energetic nerves, 20 common
among cultivated men, they sink beneath additional
exposure and want, and there is no doubt thai tic
deaths in their camps exceed the deaths in ours az
much a. four exceeds one.
1 And this is a silent conflict. All through those
damp and fogey months the conflict goes one con-
fict as stern, sharp, and fatal, az II m1skeis
flashed and cannons Toared.
This condition Of things cannot last long. Both
parties must rush from their campo Then that PARTY
which long ago successfully cultivated the artr
of peace and thus prepared themselves for this very
struggle will achieve the victory.