The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-18
LOSSES IN THE BATTLE.
On BOARD STEAMER CONTINENTAL,
RGir Wing, 1HiKrxxSrn Army CoRrs,
MuILEBy's BKNp, liz
TwENrY-FIyK AnES ABOVE vicKsst no, Miss

On BOARD STEAMER CONTINENTAL l
RGir Wing, 1HiKrxxsm Army CORrS,
MuIIIBS's fKNp, LIZ
TwEMY-1vE Anxs ABOVE vicKsst no, Aiiss.,
Jan. $, 1863 J
On Tuesday morning last mailed 70 tho HERALD full
account Of the operations OF tho right wing OF tho Thr
.centh army corps from tho time It loft Memphis 70 date
II ieter, enclosed 70 private parties in
do was placed in the board tho Forest
ueen Genel Shermans dag boat and supposed to
DO safe from harm. Colonel A. II. Markland, specia
agent OF the Postal Department, was In charge OF tho
mails. I have ascertaned that his clerk. BY Colonel
Aarkand's order, tsok that otter from the mail and
turned It General Sherman. II opened the
headquarters Of tho Major General Commanding and has
since boon poruscd BY his staff aud by various ofccrs o.
the army. General Sherman has obtained from II any
facts that may aid him making up his official report he
10 welcome 70 the lottor. Upon his proceeding IN the
hattor mako comment. simply give the facts OF the
case Major }. II. Hammond chief Of General Sherman
star, has boon promuont In the upon tho journalists
by direction Of his commanding officer. Had they all
acted earnestly and persstanty against tho rebels
against tho u tho press there Is little
doubt that vCksburg would this havo been in Union
hands.
Tho account sent would have made six columns OF
HERALD, and accompanied by full MAPS Of tho
try and diagrams OF the battle field. Ny notes are do
trs. may be pardonsd do not succeed In remember
ing all the events Of tho psst two weeks.
LsAylSo MEMPHIS.
On Sunday, the 2ist December, the expedition left
Acmphis for Helena, thonce Monday Eriar's
Point tho Grs place OF rendezvous The na divisions Of
tho army did not roach Frars Point until tho advance
had gone forward and tho DO OF while expedition
comprising seventy boas. did not Unite until they
rescied Ganes' Landing. hundred aud afty miles
below Helena. On shore at Gaines' Landing seversl
houses burned without orders. for which drum
no d court martial ordered upon tho offenders.
aUxRiILAs HoRH.
Az Wood Oottagc Landing . party Of guerill,s fred
upon OF the beats OF General MorSans command. and
In with the orders that officer from
Sherman. regiment landed and burned the houses
H. cene " the outrage. The soidiers supposed, &C.
ngy, that everything " DO destroyed. and hence
nccndiarism NJ GAines' Landing. No one
Cor the offence. The burning repeated at Milf
Bend tho next point Of landing and General shorman
d TO suppress II.
At MuuKyHs wxp.
The expedition reached Miken's Bend tho nigh: o,
Me 24h and tho boats remained tod up 70 the shore
during The day on tho 2sth. detachment to
out the yicxsburg Texas Railroad point ton or
fifteen miles west OF tho terminus opposite vcksburg.
II under command Of CoIonol Clark Wright. Of the
Tonth Missouri cavalryan officer VOL known Missou
and Arkansas for his daring exploits during TITO
Cocnci Wright proceeded TO Dallas and polhi stations,
this limo OF railway, and succeeded in moving
rady 20 evade NIL tho uts and spies OF the enemy
sno 70 take everything by surprise lie burned the towns
q sas aud Debit, and destroyed three hundred bolts OF
shooting It's way to vicksburg 10 bo manufactured
Into Confederate He committed four hundred bales
OF cotton 70 the fumes and with them . considerable
Of ,ssary stores. He also up mile o.
railway track, burned half milo Of trcstlc work. took
tive ~ is end about forty horses and mules and
ned TO Mliikan Is Bend thout losing a man. The
only shot fred during tho expedition at prisoner
VIII attempting escape. Colonel Wright deserves
much credit for the AFFAIR.
rIASSiyU ATTACK.
Al Miiken's Bond II was ssccrtancd that tho rebels
had only ton twovo thousand IN vcksburg, and
that tho capture o. the place would DO comparatively
easy AFFAIR with the force taking against It, Tho
OILY question tie matter OF promr, attack at tho
proper point. aud the latter subject there d,cr-
once OF opinion Some Of tho division generals weTc In
favor OF iandng above the town. tho Mss,sspp Shore
viii others advised this ascent Of the Yaxoo
IIaircs BluT General Sherman decided on moving 70
attack tho high ground midway between Haiucs' Bluff
and vicksburg.
snRprNAs rtsrvmB.
ChriFtmss on board the boats OF the expedition was
psssed 10 POSITIVE . possible under the
eruccd hc tables In most Of tho cabins and 10 many Of
the soldor' chickens and other good things ap.
pcared. Tho evening was one Of merrmsnt %
all sidss, and. - everything bid fair for q pros
pcrors FUTURE hsre noshing the pleasures q
tho occss'on Coua We have foressea the events Of the
week, and realised the Encouragement In store for tho
whoc affair there would been more Of sancss than
mcrrment Fortunately Tor human happiness. man 10 not
eirted with the power Of penetrating the futuro.
MOVING up TINE vAzoo.
Gu the evening Of tho 25lh General Sherman issusd
orders Tor the boats 70 be ready 70 up the yazoo on
he following morning. General A. j. Smiths division
Colonel wrgh, from cutting vcksburs and Tennessee
Railroad. The plan 10 up tho yazoo Ear a.
Jcnscns plantation and hore land Tor operations against
c town. From tho point of debarkalion supposed
g be o"t more than elk miles 70 vicksburH In direct
sne or about ton miles by tho wndngs Of the road.
General sherman was confident that tho town could be
,rni,iy ,sken from that point
TIE ousBoArL
portion Of the gunboa acet lying a. tho mouth Of
So fazoo and on tho afternoon Of arrival several Of
10 light dransht boats asccnded the strcsm "a FAR "A Il
vs. safo Tor thcm TO 80. For two wocks or more the
holts had been surveying tho river taking sourdora n
49, fazc and attempting TO remove tho crpedces tina,
III rebels had planted thero. Ia this service the sun
boat Cairo was destroyed. Tho riycr cu IN aur
possession a. far up 80 Hsinesi Bluffs ,,,op,v
thfcs mics from the mouth A. hs pont The sabs. h,a
eghl gun battery, tn the boats had engaged ,a A.,
tsmpsea TO capture, but without success Ibe ii,h.
sfughl boats had failed to go within range aud only tho
ron.csds had taken part in the action.
IwKx o. raE YAyoo
Tho present mouth of the Yavoo 10 nov four miles be-
low ia former position. A. the uont whte the ,soo
s's enters the Mississippi Vie ases s,ssm To- msr, s,n