Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-25
DESTRUCTION OF REBEL PROPERTY.


/ CoRINTH miss JUNE 3. 1868.
The cavalry brigade under command of COL FloreDc'
Cornyn consisting of the Tenth Missouri Seventh
sas and 18th Illinois cavalry and Ninth Illinois mounted
infantry left this place the Goth utmo for the purpose
of making path of desoation through section OF coun
try heretofore travelled by orces-at least no
since Gen. Bues command passed over the route, one
year ago and it we'll known that he did not leave very
vivid impression on the minds OF the people as 10 "ha
| !" war; really is.
The command left here on the above day at about ten
o'clock A. crossed the Tennessee at Hamburg the same
night and the next morning The Fifteenth ILLINOIS was
left the river guard the boats used IN crossing
noon started again, skrmshDg now ana theh Pichhg
up straggers from BagGs army and playing Inc deVll
generally, travelling all day until after midnight wheh
| heavy shower OF rain came down upon us
On the 2Sth about FIVE miles from Florence, we came
upon large body of the enemy who We're SAID TO nave
of sx pieces Owing the unfav0rable nature OF
the ground several rounds from these pieces and severe
FIRE of musketry received before our little battery
could be brought but when II was and after NUMBER
of rounds fired from it, the rebels fell back towards,
into and beyond the town. few minutes alter severe
fight occurred left and rear but after short time
left in possession Of the entire town and sur
roundngs Leaving Florence about dusk, by different
from the took going there on our homeward
march, amid the glare of burning factories, &c, we could
not help thinking what the evil passions OF few political
demsgogues had brought upon This handsome place.
But such thoughts useless The evil is accomplished
let the sword alone wipe out the After which, let
nation, commence life anew, better and happier
people.
And was well that we chose different route for
homewad trip In going there we had passed within five
miles OF Braggs men, and large force from the lett wing
of his army being massed along this route Tor the
purpose of giving rstclass reception and over the
route took it behooved to with celebrity for
fear they might discover their mistake and change their
base" Travelling all night all the next day and night
fighting all day the 30th literally cutting way through
the enemy who had discovered his mistake and was
deavorng to retrieve the pssthese were some OF our
amusements We crossed the river the night and
%
off all our captured prisoners, stock &c.
Upon arriving at Savannah we found that the 18th Hi
nois had had about rough time we had, your
readers imagine by the following:
"SAvASsAH, tenn MAY 30 1883
Colonel Bte SIR: Your pompous demand for the
der of squadron Of cavalry 5n Illinois regmenD
plying this place and your cowardy before you
ceived Capt Carmchaes intrepid repy suggested the
property Of visiting upon the citizens here ho
you in the capu of that gallant little band little of
the legitimate vengeance OF my Government Therefore in
great exordum of the Declaration Of lndepende &C.
That all created free and equal and to-day free
with from this every coored who
nher with the human race every where the image of his
Maker and an immortal soui
am sir the willing and obedent my country
FLORENCE NJ CoKsYN,
Colonel 10th Missouri cavalry Cong Cav. Brigade.
We arrived in Cornth Sunday the 3lst having been
out five nights without unsaddng and without sleep
cept the previous night
What accomplished in short space Of time
We burned cotton factories costing average of
$500 900 each The Southern Confedeacy had offered
for the largest 900 Co., containing three hundred looms
They employed average hundred men and tn
same number OF women and children each. But their
contents valuable than the buildings and mach
merry, having large amount OF stock aud manufactured
goods on hand large number OF steam Touring and
| mills likewise burned. number of black
smiths and wagonmakers shops destroyed they be-
ing employed Government work, and containing large
numbers of wagons, of all kinds, etc etc ton of
powder large number of of English manufacture
hundred thousand rounds of fixed ammunition, each
cartridge having the of England stamped upon it,
and several boxes containing shell destroyed
number OF dwelling houses accidentally burned by
shells The splendid bridge Florence blu ned.
All along the route, both going and returning
mand marched 10 line through the waving wheat ripe
utterly destroying it, An immense {" immense" not the
word-langusge cannot describe the scene-tbe smoke
arising from burning cribs in every direction and for
miles each side of PATH amount of forage de-
stroyed passed by account of the close
proximity of dwelling houses Large quantities Of meat,
etc used but more wasted and destroyed. The
people appear to think that starvation is staring them in
face; but let their Government protect them and they
will no doubt fare very we'll We captured two majors,
captains, four FIVE euteDants, and about
dred men, large rebel flag also captured. An i'm
amount of stock-hors-s mules, cows, carri
ages etc taken and turned to the Govern
ment About twenty men, who have escaped conscrpton
by laying the bush and other places of cOnceament
companled into camp, and joining some of
regiments here. We brought about thousand contra
bands-men, women, aud chldren-about two hundred
and fifty of them joining the negro brigade And all with
loss of less than thirty wounded and missing.
The following extracts from letter of officer
dated Haines Bluff Mississippi, June 1863 received in
Washington:
1--WE reached here yesterday after weeks march up
between the Black and Yazoo rivers The object Of the
expedition TO destroy the of the country TO
prevent the enemy from subsstng their armies, and to
drive out any force he might have in that region and If
possible TO ascertain il the enemy concentrating in
considerable force for the purpose of raising the siege
Of Vcksburg. We had six brigades numbering some
thing ten thousand men We have marched over
hundred miles 10 week during the hottest kind of
Their We destroyed all the forage and supplies aud
ton and drove off all the cattle horses and mules between
the two lines for distance Of fifty miles We met
considerable body of the enemy and had only two
eight skirmshes but ascertained where the enemy
concentrating and gained much valuable information
which may be Of use hereafter The commanding general
having reported to Gen Grant the latter this
iug to Haines' Bluff, and seemed we'll satisfied with
operations 1t made painful but imperative duty
to destroy every thngcorn cotton, meat mills and cot
ton gns-that could fnd spariDg only dwellings and
small supply Of provisions for each family The command
will rest here for day and then return to Vicks
burg which cannot hold out very long against forces
They raise force to make give up the siege
HOW TO FILL UP YOUR INCOME BLANKS
| The following circular which WAS issued some weeks