Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-03

dition was the accumulation of five hundred
horses and mules, so much needed in our SER
vice. These animals are, with few excep-
tons, far superior to those purchased by our
government for cavalry service. After few
DAYS rest, the 9Th Illinois will be the best
mounted regiment i'll the service. 1t may be
mentioned here that the most serviceable
horses the cavalry have had during the past
year have been those captured from the enc
my. One company that know of has, out of
fifty horses, thirty-ive which were formerly
in the confederate service; and this company
has not had horse condemned in six months.
The reason for this is, the rebels press into
their service the best horses to be found with
in their lines, while our government buys the
poorest horses to be had for very limited
price. Yet, with all this advantage in favor
of our enemies, our cavalry have thus far had
vim and pluck enough to capture two of their
cavalrymen to every one lost. What we
could do if properly mounted it is impossible
to imagine
The 9Th Illinois reached their camp last
night, and more ludicrous procession was
never formed than this cavalcade of cavalry,
negroes, captured horses, mules, carts, wag-
ons oxen, rebel soldiers, trotting snlkies, top
carriages, &c. There were about 100 prison.
ers, some of them guerrillas, for whose crimes
the punishment is death, three officers, and a
few smugglars. Upwards Of $4,000 in con-
sederate money was also secured, besides some
government securities. OF the negroes 300
were stout, healthy field hands, who have
been assigned to duty as laborers in the quar-
termaster's department. where they will earn
for themselves the fair wages Of 500 per month
and rations. The remainder were old men,
and their wives, children or mothers of the
first lot To feed this large family and his
command as well, Col. Clendenin made heavy
levies upon the granares Of secesh, took pos.
session of their grist-mills, turned his soldiers
into millers, and thus succeeded in obtaining
abundant supplies of meal and flour. 1t was
ascertained that some of the wealtEiest citi-
zens on ''the Neck" were engaged in
the smuggling business, or contributing
in some way to the support of the
rebellion, and these gentlemen were
made to pay dearly for their secession
sympathies. As their negroes had left them,
it was thought but just that the soldiers should
take their rations. So these Illinois emanci-
pators Jared sumptuously during their trip.
The official reports of the raid show that up
ward of l,000 900 worth OF rebel property
was destroyed, aside from what was brought
into camp, while the blow struck at the SNUG
CLING trade was the SevereSt one yet dealt.
This is by no means the first raid in which
the Sth Illinois has distinguished itself, while
as fighting regiment it is eXcelled by nome
Gen. Pleasanton's division, to which it mas
been attached heretofore, has always had the
hardest work and the most fighting to do of
any cavalry command in the army, but has
had less publicity given to its movements.
That division, as indeed all the cavalry, only
need the proper authority to make their raids
and fights more frequent, and if permitted to
do so, would do more by dealing sturdy blows
to effect peace than all the copperheads or
''peace" men IN the country. Yours, X.