Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-20
0oIspoI CrIssou ut New OrIsans-What he
learned nv hIr Raid.

OoIsnoI GrIssou Mt New OEIsans-What he
learned by his Raid.
There is, Just now, none Of the lassitude
which was 50 dishearteningin the Depart
ment Of the Gulf, a few months ago. I'm
portant events rapidly crowd upon each
other and furnish of themselves material
enough to i'll up the daily journals. The
correspondent of the Times says that we
have as yet received only the first install
ment of events that viii electrify the
world, and he predicts that the Mississippi
will yet be the base Of operations from
which we shall reach the heart of the re-
bellion. The latest important topic Ofcon-
graduation is the magnificent raid under
command Of Colonel GriersOn through the
entire length Of the State Of Mississippi.
The achievements of this body Of men are
thus summed up:
ain fifteen days they have travelled over
| 500 miles, through the heart Of q hostile
country, with large forces of the enemy
| under Generals Pemberton and Gardner,
using every effort to surround and capture
| them, During that time they have had
numerous fights, killing and woundlng
numbers of the enemy, and taking huno-
reds of prisoners, horses and e~ontraoands-
subsisted observation-disclosures millions
Of property in bridges and t~restlesi some
| 200 cars, ammunition, stores, clothing &c,
tbat the enemy will feel more keenly than
the loss Of a whole army,-played havoc
with the telegraphs and three principal
railroads. BY which the b~eleagured rebels
on the Mississippi depended altogether
for communication and aid from the inte-
rior. and which would take them many
weeks to repair, even if they had the facll-
! ;ties-and all this with the m~iraculously
small loss of only one killed and SIX
wounded"
But this is not all they have done. They
have seen into the very vitsls of the Con-
federacy and discovered decay and mortal
disase. The -rottennsss and weakness Of
the rebellion have been fully displayed to
them, and through them to the world
Said Colonel Grierson to General sheP-
lev, on his arrival at New Orleans
"No n can pass through that coun-
try without knowing that the Confedera-
cy is broken up it is q mere shell with
nothing in it. The negroes are MOI
working, but flying from place to place
We met many with handouts on, and re-
leased them. Their crops Of this year
cannot be realized, and the whole slave
system is utterly demoralized in the State
Of Mississippi"
Such testimony from such a source, il
unanswerable. Additional evidence upon
this point was given by Colonel GriersOr
on the occasion of receiving a splendid
war-horse from some Of his enthusiastic
admirers in New Orleans. He then said
an passing through the %COnfederacy,
have had a good opportunity to form
correct opinion Of its strength. Ihs
strength has been over-estimsted, They
have neither the armies nor the resources
we have given them credit for, ANDY we hav'
, been greatly deceived in regard to tn
7 means and power Of the rebels. Passing
through their country, land the passag
was not a very difficult one,) I found thou
sands of good Union men, who are ready
and anxious to return to their allie
glance the moment they can do so will
/ safety to themselves and families. They
l will rally around the old flag by score
f whenever our army advances. l o
I have brought away a thousand with me-
who were anxious to come-men whom
found fugitives from their homes, hid Il
, the swamps and forests, where they ar
hunted like wild beasts by the rebel con
scriUtion officers with bl~oodhounds. nav
5 inc visited them in their own homes,
have founded my belief upon what l hear
= and saW there, that the day Is not far dls
taut when we shall witness the doWnta
Of the rebellion"
n fOrcible In abiding to a remar
Q which fell from Mr.. Day, respecting tn
united interests of the Northwest an
n Southwest he said, with great emphasis
"We have come from the West to you
e assistance, to put down treason. And i
4 like manner we always come to your re
lief, when necessary, it matters not VII
may be the foe-fOreign or domestic
When the Mississippi is closed by hand
7 hostile to our National Government, we @
e the West will Open it with our heart
e blood, if needful. Yes, you may Away
= count upon us. Come as we may, but W
will come. We of Illinois have Away
= looked upon the Mississippi, the Gres
i Father Of Waters, as our Father, and tn
people Of the Northwest together wit
those Of the Southwest must have it fe
their highway Of free communication wit
each other.p