Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-04-27
GENERAL STEELE'S EXPEDITION.

q correspondent O. LAS NEW AolA 1Aa1In'
writing from Greenyille, Miss, on the ! 9th inst,
gives some particulars OF the expedition Of the
Federal troops under General Steele, fifty
miles down Deer creek, through portion OF
Mississippi. The object of the expedition was
to pursue the Confederate cavalry under
Major Ferguson, and to cut OF the supplies to
Vicksburg The writer says:
'The Instructions of Gen. Steele wera destroy
or bring off everything which might aid the
rebels, leaving, however, sufficient for the use
of the inhabitants and in the case OF the
negroes to allow them to act their pleasure as
to leaving; but, if any influence was used, 10
rather discourage their coming at present.
The first plantation OF note reached after
leaving Black Bayou was that OF Gen. FRENCH
In other days Steele and French were not only
classmates at West Point, but they occupied
the same room and enjoyed relations OF more
than ordinary strength and Intimacy. These
facts, however, availed the rebel general but
little, for his corn bins and fodder we're
given to the flames, his horses and mules dry
en- Of
After reaching Deer Greek and turning
southwark the expedition passed through one
Of the most magnificent countries in the world.
The land is Of the utmost richness, and is set
lied bv population whose palatia dwellings
and Surroundings show them 70 be possessed
Of wealth, education and refinement. Each
plantation contains from five hundred TO tive
thousand acres, whose value IS nearly, Or quite
double that Of land in any other portion OF the
| State The houses are very large, built at
once with view to comfort and elegance: are
surrounded with an endless profusion Of floral
ornamentation, and il the costly furniture
within, and substantial mills and outhouses
and negro residences without, Indicate the
refinement and wealth Of their owners. 1t was
in this succession of terrestrial Edens that Gen.
Steele operated; and whieh, by the aid Of fire
and other warlike institutions, were soon re-
duced to level with common earthly dwell
ing places.
through which our troops passed will, at low
estimate, reach three millions OF dollars. They
brought in with them $50 mules, 100 horses,
81 woke of oxen, 400 head Of beef cattle, 80
wagons 1000 pounds of bacon 70:0O0 pounds
of sugar, and 500 gallons of molasses, and
about 200 slaves. They destroyed about
twenty cotton-gins, nearly the same number Of
corn mills, 500 hogs, 100 tons Of fodder, and
700, 900 bushels OF corn.
It NAV be said here that the cotton gins,
mills &C., Of the only Union family on the
route were given to the flames, the same 80
those Of others, the ardor our soldiers carried
them away SO much that they never waited TOR
orders to set fire to corn mill or haystack,
but did it at once as a matter Of course l am
happy to add that most Of those who commit
ted ihese irresponsible burnlngs were straggers
from the ranks, and were picked up by terguu~
son, and ere this are this are probably safe II
the prisons Of Vicksburg.
The propriety OF burning cotton gins may De
subject to dispute; but as Ferguson, in prece-
ding our troops, set fire to all the cotton, II
was thought advisable BY the stragglers to
make complete operation by destroying the
gins. The inhabitants along the route grnmb--