New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-16

posing the Yazo0 Pass Expedition have pushed
their way along the Coldwater Pass TO within
twelve miles Of the Tallahstchie. There are
various reports of further progress, but we are
not able to discover among the recent tele-
graNe and letters any exact and Trustworthy
statement which places them beyond that point.
Since, however, the difficulties already over.
come we're much more formidable than those
supposed to exist further on, it may fairly be
presumed that the expedition is by tbi. time
well on its way TO Vcksbure, perhaps already
ut Haine's Bul.
The last dispatch from Cairo says that
Yazoo Pass is likely to give US sn advantage
not heretofore approximately the author OF
the dispatch, We suppose. II certainly won't
do to infer that the officers commanding the
expedition don't know what they are about.
In this part Of tie world it has been under
stood that what is called the Yazoo Pass Ex-
pedition was haDk movement Oh very
grand scale. or mole accurately speaking, n
movement intended 10 place considerable
portion Of Gen. Grants forces IN rear Of
Vicksburg. It's success will 90 far to render
| Vicksburg uutenabe-both by assuring It's
capture. and by seriously compromising the
Rebel line Of communication and retreat
Accordingly since this expedition was begun
and seemed likely TO get through. it has been
reported that the Rebels are removing their
stores and heavy guns from Vcksburg with a
view to abandoning the place altogether, and
there is even n late telegram from Gen. Rose
Grams announcing that IT had been already
evacuated. Both statements, however, are in
need of coniirmaton-tbe Inter particularly 81.
What we do know o. the passage Of the
steamers tLrough Ynzoo Pass is sufficient
to show that il was very serious underiak-
ipg, the difficulties OF which were coinInca-
.uratc with Ito Importance If successful. Ii IL
nearly or quite 500 mics from tie point where
the expedition forsak-s the Mississippi 10 Vicas-
burg. IN. channels through which the steanl-
er. must pass were considered by the Rebels
in their present state utterly unns'IsHble and
when il was frat reported that Union steamers
were attempting the route, the possibility OF
their succe,s was laughed at. The chief Diff
culties, however, are 10 tho first twenty miles
In Yazoo Pass proper aud In Collwater Pass,
leading from Moon Lake to Coldw alter River.
THENCE to the Tallahatchie is only twelve
ullos, tho navigation of which is comparatively
easy; and once on the Tallahn.chie the ob-ta-
ces which the expedition has 81 surmount are
understood TO be wholly artificial, aud By no
means impregnable, or even dicul: to the
force that will assa them.
The immense labor aud risk involved in this
attempt are partially described in the latest
letters that have REACHED Us. In the frat
place, a canal was cut, several hundred yards
IN length. from the Mississippi to Moon Lake.
From the further shores of the lake to the
Collwater River tho Pass 10 called both Yazoo
and Coldwater. 1t was blocked up with huge
logs and RATS Of timber, it's banks lined aud
oyerhung with u heavy growth Of cypress, syc-
amore, aud cottonwood trees, whose branches
intorlaced above the narrow stream, tbo course
OF the channel is ind,scrIbably tOrtuOus and
crooked, the current extremely swift, aud the
dangers vi being dashed against logs IN the
stream, or crushed by the giant limbs above,
or hurled irresistlbly against the sudden anglcs
OF tie bank, reem to be about equal For
twenty years, SAID al old Rebel. the neighbors
have bsen specializing whether this channel
could be made layigablc. Yankee ingenuity
and courage aud determination solved the
problem III two weeks. So much for Science
against Chyairy.
The expedition started Feb. 26, crossed
Moon Lake before dark, aud anchored ut the
III outh of the Pass. On the 10th The Pass
was attempted, and the four next days were
spent i, ils navigation. The average speed
was about one mile IN three hours aud "a half
rhe fleet comprised two Of the largeSs and
heaviest iron-clnd gunboats, one ram, Six light
drau,ht guuboats, three coal.barges, three
steam tenders, and eighteen transports laden
with troops. Not one Of the number got
through without considerable damage, yet. by
great skill ana good fortune, mona WA ~ much
injured 40 to be unable 70 go ON. The twelve
miles Of the Coldwa,er beyond were said ~ be
difficult, but easily pnssnble by fleet which
nod safely penetrated the Pass Itself.
1t is tle force which surmounted these OBJ
stacles which 10 said to have since taken Yazoo
City, capturing eight steamers aud seven thou
sand troops. Before it could have done that it
must have demolished the Rebel Notifications
at tho junction Of the Tallahatchie aud YaAa
busba Rivers, where Yazoo begins, unless those
delensou existed only in Rebel reports. Other.
wise there is no iinprobabIlty in the accounts
Of those subsequent successes, Tor the force