The New York herald., 1863-05-18
New York. Monday, May IS, 1868.
TIE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
BY the arrival Of the steamer George Washing
ton, from New ,earfs on 9th instant, we have
full account o. he capture o 4 exandria, on the
Red river, by Adm al Porter, the rival of Admi.
raj Far asut al New Orlea $, and an intensely in
terestng and most valuable description of the
cavalry raid of Colonel Grcrsou with his gal
liant Illinois cavalry, which will be found in our
Baton Rouge correspondence. His expedition was
encmys country with two regiments of cavalry,
destroying his route four millions of rebel pro.
pcrty, capturing over q thousand men and twelve
huldrcd horses, demolishi camp of instruc-
ten, with all its equipments, cutting the commu-
nication on tn Great Northern and New Orleans
ard Jackson railroads and destroying large
number OF cars, telegraph wire, water tanks and
army stores. After passing through many dan.
gers and working terrible damage no arrived at
B.ton Rouge the lst inst, to the great surprise
oithe Inhabitants From thence he pushed On to
New Orleans, whore he was received with great
ecot, as viii be seen by our correspondents de.
seri?tion. The whole movement only occupied
seventeen days. This is certainly one of the
most brilliant feats Of the war.
We have received from the Southern journals a
number OF highly in'' resting articles, chiefly dwell
ing upon the disastrous effects of these grand
cavalry raids of ours in v.rgnia, Mississippi and
Georgia, in which 1t will be seen the enemy
admit that terrible damage has been done
by our forces in these States. The Richmond
journals also lay great stress upon the
occupation of West Point, Virginia. by the
b. an incalculable damage to that large and most
productive portion of Virginia, which, having thus
far escaped the ravages Of war, has supplied the
people Of Richmond and the troops and hospitals
with large and indispensable supplies Of bread
stuffs and other provisions. Such is the opinion
o'the Examiner. And it further states that the
presence OF an army at West Point will completely
paralJze the agricultural energy Of more than
seventy thousand persons, the most distant Of
whom do not reside fifty miles from Richmond;
because. lot having suffered from the ravages Of
war, the farmers throughout that whole region are
making the most extensive preparations for large
crops. These are significant admissions, and show
not only the value but the necessity of gaining and
keeping secure foothold at West Point.
Lieutenant Colonel II. Davis, Of the Twelfth
Illinois cavalry, sends forward his report of the
part which his troops played in the great Stone
man expedition in Virginia, and it was highly
efficient and well conducted one. In his dash
from the South Anna river to Gloucester Point nc
destroyed an amount Of the enemy's property,
consisting chiefly Of army stores, found in wagons
and railroad trains, Of bridges, roads and depots
To The value Of over a million Of dollars. In his
expedition he came into collision with the rebel
picsels at several points; killed and captured
many OF them, and only lost on his own side two
commistscd officers, and thirty three privates in
killed, wounded and missing.
We have IL stated on the authority of the Chat.
tanooga Rebel of Saturday that Jackson, Missis
the rebels held out against our troops all day. but
could not hold the city, 1t Will be remembered tha
at the latest accounts the rebels were driven from
Raymond to Mississippi Spring, where they intend
ed to make stand. We presume that II the above
report be true-and both stories como from the
snemy's side--they were unable to maintain them
selves at that point, and fell back on Jackson,
where they were overwhelmed by our forces.
Our cxpsditionary correspondence from the
Big Black river, dated the Sd inst, which we Civ,
in another column, details very briefly tho opera
tions Of General Grants army in that region, the
capture and occupation Of Port Gibson, and ths
spirited actions which precededit.
The rebels in front Of General Hooker's position
are throwing up new and formidable earthwork,
along the line Of hills to the et and In the rear
Fredericksburg. They are evidently preparing "a
resist second advance Of our army. II was re
ported yesterday that every soldier available TO
service In the field who may be now detached OF
duty either around Washington and Baltimore, o.
on the railroads Of Virginia and Maryland, vii
be at once forwarded TO General Hooker's army
and thcir places supplied by the penusylvauis
militia, with the consent Of Governor Curtin.
Aparty Of United States cavalry having beer
captured at Charestown, Va. on Friday night b,
q body Of rebels, Gen. schenck sent out force o
Gen. Miiroy's command to intercept the rebels
They were overtaken st Piedmont Station and re-