New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-09
Yur YAzoO EXPEDITION.


.bIe Delays of the Naval Force-Crhm-
inni Negligence Of the N"'ai
mnndcT-Eigbt Days Lost m C0"se-
oucuee-Re5cI Fort Buii' /" inns "'hc
The Expedition Brought 6" sian"
The Cyentest Opportunity OF fhe
mo,,.n, sanfnst Yicksbnrg Thrown
Av,y-Where the ELAINE kcsfs-Ahh'rs
n, yicksburg - state Of Things NJ
Helena.
,o,,a,popdepce Of The N. Y. Tribune
HELENA, Ark, March %. 1853.
Amer two months of unceasing toll and conse-
ouen, disability with the pen, resume my corre-
coincidence with THE TRIBUNE. My first labor shall
be 10 give true history OF the Expedition down the
Ya,oo Pass, from which go much was hoped in its
effects against vicksbsrg and Of its probable failure
in consequence of the unnecessary delays OF the
naval part of the Expedition, upon which every.
thing depended through the culpable negligence OF
the naval officer IN command, Lieut.. Watson smith
Daring the month Of February, the PROJECT OF
oneninu the old YaZOo Pass where Its connection
had been closed with the Mississippi. was consuih
mated and an expedition was hted out 10 pas,
down this opening into the Coldwaer hlVer, ana
from the Coldwater into tie lallahatcDe, ana from
the Tallabatche into the Yazoo, and 50 clear 0ut
that river OF its Rebel craft take possession oI me
chief towns and points Ol strategic value, depIlNe
the enemy of supplies aud bring an army In Tue rear
of VicksburG. The Ian was seen 10 NC ehufey
feasible and practical and the Pdss-commencing
nbout IA miles below Helena on' the other side Of
the river, extending through doom Lake, ifom
which the Coldwater takes lis nse-@as rapidly
cleared of timber (which the Rebels had ielled into
III by the untring energy end PRACTICAL good sense
Of Gen. G. G. Washburle, VINO, WIN lhe Wisconsin
and Indiana boys, hauled the trees from the river
with Iona ropes pulled by hand for space of seven
miles aud opened the way for the transports and
gunbosts to proceed the expedition. All this was
accomplished by the Goth Of February.
On the Oath Of the month the expedition was well
on its way down the Coldwater aud entered the
Tallahatche on the 2Sth. Had it proceeded on with
ANYTHING like a reasonable degree of progress it
might have passed into the Yazoo River by the 80 OF
March, aud would have met with no serious OBJ.
structions. But notwithstanding the urgent aud
earnest appeals Of Gen. L. K. Ross, commanding toe
land forces, Lieut.. Watson Smith, commanding the
gunboais kept back and delayed the expedition so
that IL did not reach its present position a miles
short of the Yazoo River till the lth N March, CIV
ing the Rebels eight DAYS 10 erect strong fortica-
ton at 9 bend in the Talahstchie, where it comes
within few miles Of the lazOO, 10 place there a
powerful 64-pound gun and gradually 20 strengthen
their position so thai it can bo held against vastly
superior force For 16 days We have been held at
this point and it is exceedingly doubtful whether we
ever get beyond it, our land force consisting OF less
vantage snd plenty of time to strengthen themselves
et all the strong points OF defense between there
and Vicksburg.
On the arrival of the feet at this point on the
18th inst the Rebels had powerful gun planted So
as to command the river, and in the engagement
that followed they slrQck the irou-clad Chilcothe
that the ball entered her port-hole, and struck
another shell, causing explosion that killed four
team men. On the happening OF this disaster, the
Chilieothe drew off and the Baron DeKalb, another
ali eIaN fh.aa VICE,
two boats are among the best IN our fleet, and are
commanded 10y two competent officers, Lients Foe
Ter and Walker, who, with Gen. Ross did all in
their power 10 induce the Acting Admiral, Lieut.
dition but his ydallylng aud indifference to the
success of the enterprise were not TO be overcome
and hence the serious disappointment which tn
country must feel at the present dlscouragng proc
pect OF this part of the grand movement agaiDs
Vicksburg.
The facts Of Che case have already been communi
Gated to Ger. Grant, and charges against Lieu,
Smith, and trial by Court Martial will be lhe prot
able result,
The information which have here given is dis
coursalng but not disheartenDg. We have larg,
army under Gen. Grant. snd a combination o.
movements on foos, which, with the co operation
of Farragut's fleet, and Of Gen. Banks with O land
force against Port Hudson and Vcksburg, ought in
Che end to be successful. and which VIC hope aud
trust will be 10. Fafragut has sent two OF his
boats above Port Hudson, 10 as 10 command the
mouth of the Red River and stop the enemys sup
olies by that route; aud Commodore Porter has
iust sent two more boats below Vicksbufg, one OF
which has been shattered TO pieces and sank, and
the other went safely through. This information
have from an army officer, Col. Wilson OF the En-.
gineer Department, just from VicksbGrs.
The canal oppoBite Vicksburgls now navigable,
and dredgn g-boas are at work deepening the cut
but the lower end Of II 10 commanded by Rebel
batteries so that no boats have been sent through
Il being safer 10 run the gauntlet by the main river
The communication by Lake Providence and the
connecting rivers, is open TO Red River, distance
of $50 miles or more and IN the present higu stage
Of the Mississippi tie route is practicable, but has
not yet been made use Of. All The low country i.
more or less overlooked, and land movements are az
yet impossible. AS the Spring advances and the
roads become dry, and our armies combine theli
efforts, il is reasonable to hope that Vcksburg viii
fall into hands, the great ihorougbfare OF trave
and commerce to New-Orleans be III our possession
and the Rebellion be in reality Ill its dying stages
How loog have hoped for this, and how patiently
waited is only evidence OF the persistent courage
and endurance Of our people, and al earnest OF ina
and complete success; and every month brings eign
70 Of the despair and hopelessness OF the Rebels
and their waning power
The state of things at Helena is much as usual OK
eept the high water. The town 10 now nearly over
flowed by the river and people navigate the streets
In skifs canoes, and boats. The evee, where it ID
not broken, is above high water, aud also strip o.
land lust inside OF it, but further back the water
covers the whole town, across which single higl
road, built by the army in antiep. OF tue emer
gency, affords communication with the bills, where
The regiments are encamped.
The headquarters OF Major. Gen. Prentiss are Oh
the wharf.boai, and large steamer, the Imperial al
the landing, is used as hotel The river has moi
reached the floors of the houses and is now slightly
falling, 90 that there Is not likely to be much more
Of reshet a. present.
The fine residences against the hills, formerly
Rebel mansions, are used for hospitals, and many Of
the sick have been sent up the river. Among these
residences is the former dwelling Of the Rebel Gen.
Hindman.
Brig. Gen. German commands the Port Of Helena,
a. h. A.