Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-03-12
Late News BY Last Nights Mails

VIcKsBuRG News, 10th.-An expedi-
tion left Moon Lake on Wednesday
reaching the end Of the Pass yesterday
noon, twelve miles in three days and a
halt. The boats are much broken in
the light upper works, but not one dam
aged in the hui! or machinery.
The most difficult portion Of the trip
is overcome, and it will be memorable as
the grandcst achievement Of the war
Any one who had seen the Pass before
the expedition ente ed could never have
supposed that fleet of steamers could
possibly pass through it. Soldiers and
seamen were occupied at every turn, cut.
= ting down trees, clearing away rafts and
DRIFT wood, and otherwise making the
channel water very deep. With a swift
current and course terribly crooked,
there was liability of boats being dash
ed to pieces against trees at every turn
but all is now safe.
We move forward again tomorrow
morning. A battery is reported at the
mouth of the Coldwatcr, twelve mics
from here. Everybody is anxious to
see it.
The health of the expedition is excel.
lent. All are in fine spirits and conf
dent.
We get all manner of reports Of rebel
preparations to receive US, but they are
only the canse of laughter.
Lieut.. Brown, of the Forest Rose, ar
rested while lying at Helena, has been
reinstated by order of the Admiral. The
charges against him him were irivalons.
lie produced written orders for all the
transactions upon which his arrest y as
based
The weather is very fine in this lai-
tude. The sun shines rather too warm
during the day. The wa'cr tins far is
good, and we anticipate but little trouble
on this account. As the country is over
flowed with recent rains, it will not be-
come stagnant for some weeks yet.
Lieut.. Commando Smith and General
Ross are making arrangements to keep
communication open with the rear
Smith promises to patrol the streams with
gunboats as high as the pass AID a. low
down as We 90, if the army will furnish
transports to iun between US and Helena
The arrangement will probably be made
LATER.
The expedition has advanced twerty
miles since my last report.
The country is entirely destitute Of
population.
Nothing of the slightest Importance
has occurred with us yet. We receive
nothing in the way OF news, either from
the front or rear. We hope 10 reach
the Tallahatchic Tomorrow, when we
shall begin to make better progress.
The rams Lioness and Fulton rilave
Joined ~.
Indications are that the enemy has
filed the river with timber, mostly syc
aIore, which, sssipking, only obstructs
the bottom Of the channel. A great rise
in the river, caused by cutting the
Mississippi levee, enables boats to pass
over these obstructions without the slight |
est trouble.
WAsHlSGroN News, lOth.-The Su-
preme Court was the scene Of great inter
est today, 1t being engaged in rendering
important decisions. At least fifty Of the
most eminent lawyers of the country
were present. The decision in favor of
the Government in the Almadcn Mine
cases, Involving property estimated al
the value of sixty million dollars, was not
altogether unexpected. BY tn S decision
Hon. Robert j. Walker, who was pres
ent, comes into possession of million
dollars worth Of property.
The important decision in the prize
cases was then next announced by Judge
Grier, ruling every point in fayor Of the
Government, and condemning all the ves-
sells, which lcgalzed the blockade. jus. |
tice Wilson delivered dissenting opin
ion, that civil war did not exist until af |
ter the 18th Of July, 1861 therefore the
President hal no power to set on foot a
blockade under the law Of nations, and
that the DEGREES of condemnation should
be reversed. and the vessels and cargocs
restored. This dissenting opinion was
eoncurred in BY Justices Catron and
Clifford.