, 1863-01-31
From Our Own Correspondent
A{fMpu1s. Jannarv 9Th. is

MEAPu1s, January 9Th, 1863
The Vicksburg expedition Is now the topic
of remark on every hand, and various arc the
eoniectures hazarded by quid anncs concern
ing it. It is manlfestly improper to reveal
what is now being done in relation to the
affair, but it may mol be improper to say that
preparations are making on scale Of magni- !
tude which leave no doubt as to the ultimote
success of the expedition. a large number
Of troops have already moved, and others will
follow, so soon as means Of transportation
can be provided. The newspaper correspon-
dents who, like birds of prey scent the
ba!tle from afhr, arc gathering at Memphis,
and prcparingto write the history Of what will
doubtless be the grandest episode Of the war.
We leave for the "dark and bloody grouAd
in a day or two. Gen. Grant and staff left
carly this morning, lcaEing Gen. Hamilton
here In supreme command.
From the northern part Of Mississippi
comes rumor of the gathering Of the clans
Of rebcldom, to whom will be assigned the
| duty Of making another raid upon the rail
| road and into Tennessee, when the movement
| Of the troops In this department shall have
| been accomplished. For myself place no
I great IEuIuEG upuA LUtSI l. HAVE
travelled over every rood Of ground
south of and parallel with the Memphis and
| Charleston Railroad, and I know that
it is almost impossible III the present condi-
| iiition Of the roads, and id the present stage
Of water in the Wolf and Coldwater bottoms,
to move any force Of cavalry and artillery. OF
course, without these, i "raid'' will be futile.
| 1 happcn to know that the raiiroad is excel
lcntiy well guarded both by artillery and cav
airy, with strong Notifications along its line,
scarcely mile apaEt, aud that the track is pa
trollcd and watched incessantly.
The country spoken Of above, Is infested
Continually By small bands Of gucrillas, who
separate into squads Of from ten to fifty, aud
roam tie country, committing every concefv-
able atracity, plundering uuion nlen, hang
inE negroes, and capturing 6tragglers. This
is particularly true Of The country between
Early Grovc aud Holly Springs.
No longer ago than yesterday, four men be-
longing TO Tie III Illinois cavalEy noT =. sta, =,
camp to Early Grove, elcyen miles distant,
} and discovered what they took to be roam
ing guerilla OF two. They charged and drove
i17 What was really picket Of eight Or ten
rebels-guerillas and Texns Rangers. They
led our boys long chase, aud brought up ~
cavalry, 100 strong, drawn up to receive them
with d yell which would do credit to the deni
! zens Of Pandemonium, they charged upon oul
! boys, and killed Emanuel White, private
. | company l.; George MorflSon. private, com
pauy E, and captured George White, compan,
E. One man made his escape, aud brought tt
camp the intelligence.
The latest information from Holly Spring;
. is to Saturday night. Simon Hack, formerl,
7 connected with ihe Quartermastcr's Depart
1ncnt, was left behind, sick, when the Q Unior
t army evacuated that village. There had beer
! no formal occupation BY the enemy, bu
+ squads and small bands Of cavalry and guer
l illas daily visited the town. Sol Street, d no
5 | ted OUTLAW, makes this his place Of rendez
yous. They visited Simon, Wednesday last
.. and, stealing all his money, placed rop
t around his neck, took him to the publi
/ square, and prepared to hang him. Fortu
natcly for Simon, Lieutenant happening
along, Just as he was being swung off, put
8 period to this chiya1ric proceeding, and re
A lcased him upon his promise to leave tn
! lines within three days The rebels took hi
c oyercoat and stole his boots. Simon IS III
] old French soldier, and served tWcnty-fT
| wears ugo in A1geria. Here he was strippc1
and robbed by the Arabs Of the Desert. II
declares that the Bedouins are gentlemen i
: comparison with Sol Street and his band. Th
0 only offense charged against my informan
was, that he was IA Dutchman, and worke,
G. for the Feds!" He says that the same rascal
b hung, in front Of the Court House, three nc
= gros, by the neck, until they were dead
There's chiyalrY for yon.