Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-17
Gen. Stevenson's Expedition into Louisiana---
Interesting Details of that Region.
to the Chicago Tribune
VIcKsBURG, Sept. >, !
VIA CAIRO. Sent. T. 1884

Logan's division, under command of Gen.
Stevenson, was sent into Bayou Beuf and the
Washita country, about sixty miles west of
here, on the Texas, Shreveport and Vicks-
burg railroad, to break up, or drive, or cap
turc the rebel forces that have oyerrun that
country as the robbers did the forests of
England, in the days of yore, making laws
and leyying contributions of the people. The
country has never been trod by Federal
troops since this contest, and reports reached
US of the business done between Monroe on
the railway and Texas. A small expedition
could not go, yet it seemed small business for
a whole division, As the sequel has proved,
it is of great value. The infantry was pre-
coded by two battalions of cavalry under
Major E. D. Osband, of Gen Grants escort.
this gallant band is highly spoken of in the
official report of Gen. Grant, and they did
all that his praise bespoke them They were
always from ten to twelve miles in advance
Of the main body, contending with the cav
airy of Col. Capers, of Texas, at each ford.
At every place where they had an oppor-
tunity Of talking with people, they expressed
themselves heartily sick of the Confederate
rule. From the Mississippi River to Bayou
Mason, distance of twenty miles, the coun-
try has been destroyed, everything combusti-
bic being swept away. From there to Bayou
Beut, the country is partly settled thence to
Washita it is Eden-like in it's beauty. The
planters are wealthy, the buildings fine. and
the shrubbery and grounds splendid. | have
seen nothing so fine as the town of Monroe.
The people welcomed Gen. Stevenson. It is
place of much wealth. The stores were
well filled with the necessaries of life. but
held at fabulous prices.
ho, ~
quarters here. 1t is an organization of Jews
and foreigners, for the purchase of cotton and
It's transportation to Mexico, bringing goods
on their return trips.
These sharpers have a kind of Hudson BAY
monopoly, trading goods for cotton and sell
ing cotton for gold. At our approach they
burned 5000 bales, thinking we had come to
stay The people are anxious to return to the
old order of things. The machinery of the
road, consisting of cars and locomotives. in
good order, are left. The bridges are de-
stroyed so that they cannot be moved. The in
haoltants promise to protect the road if we
VIII repair 1t and restore trade. There are
rebel deserters enough to do it, The country
Is filled with them-thousands of Pember-
tons and Gardeners men are there, and pro
test that they will not return. The country
seems determined to free itself from Confed
crate rule.
In the cavalry we had but one killed, but
OF infantry | have not heard the loss. 1t
cannot be large, as all the diminishing was in
front with the cavalry.
Gen. Stevenson made hosts of converts by
his orderly army. Nothing was taken from
the people but forage and food. The store
houses were filed with cotton, the gin-houses
also None has been planted by the people,
as the buccaneers who ruled them forbade it.
Several camps were found where rebels had
stayed, bnt all were empty. The people were
willing to give all the information in their
power, and say they will die ere they will be
conscripted into the rebel army.
The expedition has failed to find the enemy
in force anywhere, but, like those of old, has
spied out the land and returned with the fruits