Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-03-20
THE YAZOO PASS EXPEDITION.

The TalIahatchie Riyer-PeaCe ful Dis I.
sition Of the PeopIr-Eniton Forts Build /.
ing Lower Down the Country-Prepara.
tIonS to Meet the Enemy.
Frem the Memphis Argus, March 1871
The faZoo Pass expedition has made consd-
cradle progress down the Tallahatchie OF its
exact whereabouts we have not been ad vised
II is needless to state that the ssreliabe' state
ment of the other day that the expedition had
reached the YaZoo and succeeded in destroy
ing number of transports was simply bosh.
GC0rre sIondence Of the Chicago Timesl
TALLAHATCHIE RIVER, Miss, March 9Th
Rapidly of loeomotion is a quality that seems
10 be 6enied 10 this expedition. We are now on
our fourteenth day from Helena, and have made
In all about s'zty miles. There is this consola-
ton left US, however, in the Contemplation of
this progress: We have overcome the diff cult
part Of our route. The Yazoo Pass and the
Coldwater River deserve to be forever remem-
bered as the most difficult water courses
through which steamboat expedition ever
attempted TO pass. Stern " heel stearnto1ts-
OF which this expedition is almost exclusively
compose d-haye the aa vantage OF being mar
row, WI h their wheels so placed thai trees and
other obstacles on the hanks cannot siure them,
unless the vessel is backing; but, in other r..
spects, they are the most complete nuisapces
that Were ever set, afioat. The least puff of
wind throws th"Tn about as if they Were mere
straws. They are very difficult to manage in
all respects, having notorious perversity for
going inst " here and how they please. This
has been the great Gra " back TO our prorrass
The streams have been so narrow and 80 pgr-
pleXlngly crooked, with such sharp bends and
turns, That the vessels were constantly leaving
the channel on short expeditions inland. On
every such occasion. some portion of the yes
sells would be left hanging upon the timber As
memontoes of the trip. When TO these Incl
dents is added the trouble OF towing three coal
baTees. the cause OF our slow dyance will De
al once apprehended.
But, happily, we past these troubles The
Taliahatchie riYer-which we entered last night
IL much broader stream than the Cold water,
or the HaZoo Pass, besides having cleared
banks, so that vessels can run along at a mod
crate rate OF speed, without the danger OF being
torn 10 pieces should an uni ucky puff of wind
blow them on TO a lee shore. Ii has been nayi.
gated by steamers ever since steamers have
been known On the western rivers Ii is formed
by he confluence Ui tlIc CoidWafer and Little
Taliahstchic rivers, ahd runs southeasterIy for
a distance OF one hundred and sixty miles,
where IL joins the YalIabusha river, and forms
the IazCo. It's course is winding and crooked
hhe all the Southern streams: but its bends
were gradual and W idc, and comparatively
easy 10 be turned by steamers under ordinary
Roadway. Ii leads through the most nroduc-
tive and fertile region OF The state of Mississip-
pi- Its banks are lined with we'll guilty tel
plan lationS, on which c ottOH grows in album
canoe. Tie average ann al yield of this staple
on the lands watered by the Tallahatchie, is
not less than l5.ttD bales.
Our advent into these waters seem to have
been anticipated for some weeks: yet we have
net with Ito serious opposition from he enemy
"a yet. We gather Indications however, at
nearly every step, that preparations are ma.
king TO receive Us lower down the country.
PREY iOus 10 our coming into the river the
rebels had sent boats UP to the head waters of
this stream, leyying contributions OF cotton to
build breastworks with. The location of the
cotton forts thus built il not so readily ascer-
tanned Accounts are very conflicting Some
reports say that we VIII find them al Green
wood, on the Iazoo river, four miles beiuv, its
ht al: while others persist in saving that we
sEaIl rnert with 10 obs taceS until we reach
EaZco City.
Ali that We know definitely is. that we have
net with no enemy as yet. Not shot has been
hrrd at any boat of the fleet. Not a guerilla
has shown himself AT any point Not even a
rcbeI scCu, or picket has been discovered since
lie expedition lief; the Mississippi river This
may be all part of n very nicely conceived
and arranged plan 20 lure Us on as far into the
interior and away from rainforCements As pos
siblc, with the expectation OF then making
mInCe meat Of Us all, or taking us, in one
grand body, prisoners OF war; but the fact,
nevertheless, exists, thai we have moved
through region that seems 10 have known
nothing OF war before, and TO have hai no APP
prehensions that The dreadful scourge would
ever b. brought u it's own midst
Our light draft gunboats are now being fixed
up with cotton III such way As 10 he a!innst
aS imprC enable a. the regular iron -clais They
VIII be able TO go up with quite a Formidable,
battery, without any particular danger Ia their
vulnerable parts. Their boilers and machinery
Will re surrounded with cotton bales, that IL
viii be almost impossible 10 penetrate them
with a cannon ball Yesterday and to- day
nave been mainly occupied IN this work and in
cOaiing. We are now living about nine miles
below the mouth OF the Cold water but shall he
r "dy 10 start forward in the mrrning, when
having good river, aud being fully in read!-
hess 10 meet the enemy, We shall move n,u,b
more rapidly Than have been ouinp
anticipate ei&t two days, or three at most will
bring us To Green wood