Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-11

Shrove port, and Vicasburg Railroad
How the People TAI HI eitlth or the
Army.
special Dispatch TO the Gin natl Gazette
VIcKsBURG, Sept. 2, via CAIRO, Sept. r.
Logan's division, under the command Of Gen.
t4rsi.sG,s counties, about sixty mirs wrst f.,,,.
here, ON the Texas, Shreveport, and Vicks-
burg railroad, to break up. or drive, or cap
lure the rebel forces that over-ran the country
the rubUers did the forests of England in
days Of yure. Lrvying contributions ON the
people of the country has never been tried by
Union troops since this contest began. Re-
ports reached us Of business done between
Monroe ON the railway and Texas. small
expedition could not 60 The infantry, pre-
cedcd by two Dattallons of cavalry under
Mayor Osborne of Gen. Grants escort. form
ed The division for the expedition. This gal
liant band, SO highly spoken Of in the official
report OF Gen. Grant, did all THAI his praise
bespoke. Then they were always from ten to
twelve miles III advance of the main body, con-
tending with the cavalry force of the Texans
at each ford. In one instance, eighteen OF the
4th illinois, under Lieut.. Chaplin, charged on
u body OF one hundred and thirty and put them
to flight.
Lieut. Nam was slightly injured at one
ford from his horse becoming unmanageable
and throwing hun against tree. AT every
place where they had an opportunity OF talk
ing with the people, they expressed themselves
heartily sick of confederate rule. From the
Mississippi river to Bayou Macon, distance
Of twenty miles, everything combustible has
been destroyed. From there to Bayou Bout
the country is poorly settled. Then to Wash
tia it is Eden like in beauty. Planters are
wealthy, the buildings are fine and the shrub
berry and grounds splendid. l have seen
nothing this side of Italy SO fine. AT the
town of Monroe the people welcomed Gen.
Stevenson. 1t is place OF much wealth.
The stores were piled with the necessarles OF
life, but they were held at fabulous prices.
Three cotton associations have their head
quarters here. 1t is an organization OF Jews
and foreigners, for the purchase OF cotton and
its transportation to Mexico, bringing goods
on the return.
These sharpers have kind of Hudson Bay
monopoly, trading goods for cotton and sell
ing for gold. AT our approach they burned
5000 bales. Thinking they had come TO stay
the people were anxious to return to the old
order of things. The machinery Of the road,
consisting of cars and locomotives in good
order, is left, as it shall be wanted; bridges
are destroyed, so that it cannot be moved.
The inhabitants promise to protect the road,
if we will repair it, There are rebel de-
serters enough to do it. The country is filled
with them. Thousands of Pembertons and
Gardeners men are there, and protest that
they will not return. The people seem de-
termined to free themselves from confederate
rule. In the cavalry force we had but one
killed, but of the infantry have not learned
hcp we came out. 1t will not probably be
large, as all the skirmshing was in front with
the cavalry. Gen. Stevenson made hosts OF
converts by his order to destroy nothing that
was taken from the people but forage and
food. Some houses are filled with cotton.
No cotton has been planted by the people,
because the buccaneers who ruled them for
babe it. Several camps were found where the
rebels had stayed, but all were empty. The
people were willing to give all the information
| in their power. They say they will die ere
they will be conscrpted into the rebel army
| An expedition has failed to find the enemy III
| force anywhere, but, like those of old, have
| sped out the land, and returned with the fruits
thereof Col. Coolsbaugh and Captain ReiC
| have returned from flag of truce expedition
| to Canton, Miss. The nature of their bust
ness has not transpired. Ithas grown healthy
since the late cool weather set in, and conva
lescents are gaining rapidly.
VICKsBURG, Sept l, via Cairo, Sept. g.
The steamer Atlantic, Capt. Henry McDou
gal, was fired into below here, on her way
from New Orleans, and one man was wound
ed. The firing was from musketry, on thu
west shore. No news from the army here
Convalescent soldiers are improving rapidly
in consequence of the cool weather. Tn
city has undergone complete renovation
and the health is excellent.