New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-18

NEW-ORLk1xs, Saturday Eveung Msy g. 1863.
Since the departure of the Columbia we have
abundance Of news; the most exciting however, If
the arrival at Baton Rouge of the 9TH aud 7th Illinois
Cavalry 900 strong who have cut their way through
the whole length Of Mississippi They started from
La Grange Tenn. on the morning Of the 18th ut,
and reached Baton Rouge on the evening OF ID May,
performing the whole distance in 10 days. They
made "a zlszsg course through the State sometimes
striking east, sometimes west, but pushing south
the whole tine. Ia this way they travelled proba-
bly, about $40 niles, averaging over 40 miles day.
DunBc part Of the Journey they Travelled 50 miles IN
Is bours had three encounters with tie enemy, de-
sEroyed two bridges, tore up the usck, and swan
two rivers.
Tie force connected Of the 9Th Illinois Cavalry
Lieut. LOomis; the 7h III Iois Cavalry, Col.
Ed. Prince and Elk pieces Of artillery, 2pound cali
Der the whole under command OF Col Grisrson VI
the 9th Illinois.
No language an master Of can properly describe
this moot ext aordinary event Of the wa ;nOr can we
to-day etimfe iis value TO the cause. On their way
from La Grsuge down through the center OF Mis;ls-
ami thew destroyed bndges, railroads, depOts, en-
piues care Rebel stores Of all kinds and III immense
ouaniiues Their ronte embraced breadth OF more
than twenty miles, and every thing that could be
used b. the Rebels that fell IN their way was De-
Etroyed. The telegraph to-, Was cut III an iinmense
number of places, n fact, 60 compile was tie de-
structiou ana - rapid and NY tsr0us their move
uents that ,le Rebels were bewlldered, and this
baud Of heroes were IN Bston Rouge before the
Rebels knew who tsey wer;, or what they were, or
where theS came IRON.
Bui / mast try aud give you complete idea OF
the EXPEDITION, aud what u accomplished. You
wiz please remember that they only had one JuI
ateLfs ge,ttle tchOie htas that they were travel
ing through tie heart Of the enemys country.
When they started they Lad no more idea OF reach
ing Baton Rouge than we here had of 'eeing them.
some time since Col. Grierton planned an e1pe.
ditiOn TO 20 ilto the Interior Of Mississippi. snd
destroy railroads, briCges stores, &c, which pan
was submitted 20 Gen. Grant. AT that lime Col.
Grier.ou's cavalry wac an unattached brigade IA
Gen Grants army, aud stationed al La
Grange Tenn on the Memphis and Charleston Rail-
road. nifty miles east If Memphis and three miles
west Of the junction Of the Missssppi Central aDd
the Menu This and Charleston Railroads.
The force at starting iacuded the "a Iowa Cav
alry Col Hatch as we'll tue 6,G ana IN lIhpOls,
alreaiy mentioned, cOmpIlelng about l,IOO men.
From La Grange they marched Bearly due south,
hslung at night five miles north 81 Ripley an Mar
stall County. NsXt morning The column moved TO
Ridley whence the % Iowa stared for New
Albany. At Clear SPRING., IL Che kasaw County,
Col Hatcn with BIZ cOmnmnd started sOuti-easteIiy
70 West Point, In Lowudes County, On tie Mobile
AND ONO Railroad. After that Col. Gnerson heard
noting OF The ~ Iowa, except occasiDnAi rulnors
shrougu lLr Rebel.
Near New-AlbMy the TGllahatclle is crossed by q
bridge where they fist mel lgns Of the enemy Ga
abe opposite si5e Is steep bii, winch would have
enabled a few 10 hold at bay large force. In-
stead OF charging On the bridge they threw out
skirmlshers snd fortunate enough they did, for they
found the bridge partly destroyed. The pckets
were driven of, and tie skIrunshers rejOined the
uSin cOiuAn lower down, when the whole IOrce
entered tue Town.
They then moved on Pontotoc, where they de-
stroyed some salt, tue camp and garrison equpage
OF cavalry company, and also u guusnlit.l shop.
A mai FROM the fOst-Ofice was secured, aud also q
Large quality Of Oats.
On Tue morning Of the Goth, about us of the men
who were the least effective, with some prisoners
nnder command Of Major Love, were sent back 10
LIE Grsuge, with orders " lend scouts to cut the
telegraph wIret al OxiOId.
A feW miles beyond StaTkville, Il tannery contain.
ing number Of army boots, shOes, saddles bridies
and large quantity Of leather, was enlirely de.
srOyed. The value 10 estimated at s2j 600 Al the
building they Iound negro chained " the floor
with al iron collar round his neck, and there Kent
OF wOi X day and night as puuisbment for running
away. That man was brought through " Baton
Rouge. You may be sure De - loyal ~ Lbe Old flag
A march Of 70 miles brought no forces TO Louis.
Wills, Winston COchty. hOet OF the rvule Law
through { dense swamp, ireQuontly 10 the horses
belize IN wafer. AT one point i. was 30 deep tue
horses swan over, and some got drowned, with u
narrow escape for their I1ders They thea pushed
Oh to Philadelphia, NesAODa County, where there Is
q bridge oysr ne Pearl River, winch the Rebels
undertook to destroy, but they preepitately He'd
Our iorces approached.
Later ia The ddy, "a brigade under Col. Blackburn
and No jOr Graham was rent 10 stnke the railroad at
Decatur, Newton County. Here they captured "a
tram VI Is c4Is, winch VIE Just about starring,
loaded WITH quarteImagters' and cOmiDfsaTy stores
tncludilg unitiOn and bOub-shellB IN large Juan
tiIes Ihey lad scarcely secured thls Train aud got
u Oh lie soc track when another tIain Oi 70 care,
b@o"a "I1L railroad Ties, came Into tic Depot which