Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-09
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
OPERATIONS on THE MISSISSIPPI
TIE YAZOO EXPEDITION A FAILURE-THE
YANKEES WANT A sKILFULL-STGATEGIsr TO
TAKE vICKSBURG, &C., &C.
We continue extracts from files Of New York anc
Baltimore papers up TO April 4th:
Correspondence OF the New York Times
Mourn DEER CREEK, ON BLACK BAYOU

Baltimore papers up 10 April 4th:
[OorrespOndence OF the New York Timts
Mourn DEER CREEK, on BLACK BAYOU
MISSISSIPPI, Tuesday, March "a, 1863
The great game between loyalty and treason being
played on the Mississippi chessboard is still carried on
with no immediate prospects Of termination through
checkmate given by either of the antagonists. Thus
far the enemy has been enabled at almost every mpor-
tant our side to put US in 'eheck"-a position
however, every chess player knows not az all ndica
tive of a checkmate.
Another move has Just been completed with result
whose bearings the whole game yield very little III
our favor. half dozen gunboats and several thousand
troop, have at the expense Of nearly two weeks labor
some life and considerable fatigue aseertaned the fact
that series Of small, tortuouS bayous not navga-
be Or in other words that Of the leading avenues
of approach the rebel works has not been left entire
ly free from obs uction. The rebels much smarter
than we supposed. Here is water course deep and
wide enough 10 float line obattle ship, which termi.
mates exactly at point in the enemys ior6cahons-
As the water-course mainly through the forest the
enemy would not be APP to notice it, and OF course not
suspecng its existence, they would be unprepared for
any hostile demonstration from this direction. AL then
that remained for US to do was to send few of those
swiftmoving machines, called ron-cad gunboats, up
these bayous which, moving rapidly and noiselessly
through the woods, would suddenly gain position in
front of the enemys works. TO the great asonshmcnt
of the chagriaed rebels.
And so the iron turtles started went the immense
time of ten days. and when little than halfway
to the destined point found to their intense asonsh
ment that the woods swarmed with rebel rAemen the
shores with cotton-defended batteries and the banks
with countless negroes in hand engaged In telling
trees and otherwise obsructng the progress of the
peditiOn Notwithstanding our secrecy and celebrity,
the enemy were apprsed of our Intentions and were
prepared for approach and all this after having
only ten DAYS in which to transmit the intelligence a
distance OF halt hundred miles
Finding the way irremediably obstructed in 'front.'
trees batteries and sharpshooters being thck-the
expedition determined TO return, but at this point it
found that the active enemy had been busy engaged in
telling trees in their rear rendering retreat equally DIFF
hcult as an advance Right here We came very near
losing some more gunboats and we would have found
this result had not the opporune arrival of National
infantry given the turtles" relief by driving off the
rebel workmen. Escorted by these troops the feet
managed to overcome the distractions and succeeded
in getting thus far on its way back to the Mississippi
such 10 brief ia the beginning and the end OF another
and the last move for the capture OF Vicksburg.
The original intention on our part was to penetrate
the interior of Mississippi along series Of bayous,
which lead from the YazoO river below Haynes Bluff
by long roundabout course into the same river, few
miles above the Notifications the bui. The Yazoo
river reached at this point our forces could have tie
choice Of operating either against Haynes Bluff below
or Yazoo city above. 1t was proposed to enter the
Yazoo river from the Mississippi from the Yazoo into
Steees Bayou from Steee's into Black then into Deer
Creek Rolling Fork Bayou, Little SunAower, which ter
inmates in the Yazoo river We succeeded in getting
as far as Deer Creek; Rolling Fork, Little Sunhower
and the Yazoo beyond as much as ever terra in
cognitd.
stated in my last that the gunboas had gone ahead
and that transports busy in carrying troops fion
Eagle Point on the Mississippi, to plantations on
Black Bayou-the first dry land reached from below
and located at the foot of Deer Geek Last Friday the
Sixth and Eighth Missouri infantry under Gen. Sher
man. reached these plantations while Saturday, Sunday
and Monday were spent in getting the balance of his
forces to the same position Friday afternoon dec
match was received from Admiral Porter stating that he
had reached point on Deer Creek some twenty miles
from its mouth He had found the enemy fortified at
that point and asked that the land forces might be for
warded at once to enable him 10 clear the Instructions
which the rebels we're constantly placing in the stream
Taking his two regiments the General started at three
o'clock the neGt morning. and before night overlook
or rather met the gunboa (they had commenced fall
ing back about three miles below the rebel batteries
The feet in endeavorng TO push ahead, had reached
cotton breastwork, mounting in all fifteen guns, two
Of which were heavy pieces and rhed-the balance
were ordinary Redpieces and smoothbore siege guns.
The Banks for several miles below lined with sharp
shooters who, protected by the trees and levee, were
able to net serious annoyance upon the gunboat rem