Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-09

Monday morning. Meantime light
draught wooden. or "musquito' gun
boat, with small force Of infantry, was
sent up the river in search OF the steamer
Blue Wing, (which the rebels captured
from the Nicksburg fleet, and which, AZ
ter bringing the two large guns from ST
Charles, and leaving them at DMaTs
Bluff, had gone on up the river, for the
purpose Of keeping out OF our way.
At Des Arc, 80 miles above the Bluffs,
the force succeeded in capturing lis
prisoners, 200 rounds Of artillery ammu
milton, and considerable quantity of
camp and garrison eqnippage, also 200
Enfield rifle. This exp dition was IN
der command Of Col Splcely.
The large guns having been takcu
on board, and the fleet being ready, at 7
A. NJ, on Monday, Jan. 10th, left the
Bluffs, and started down The river, lrav
ing the railroad uninjured passed the
city Of larenjon at 1890, and at $3.50
landed at St. Charles, and rempaed
there until "Wednesday morning.
Tuesday evening, fire broke out in
row Of buildings fronting tie river, and
the man business portion OF the toAn
wa destroyed. For time. several Of
the boats were in danger from the
sparks, which fell in showers, but they
finally moved out Into the stream, and
remained until the contiagration subsi-
lcd. 1t was = grand sight. The long
columns Of flame leaping upward amidst
the dense smoke, throwing a strong light
upon all surrounding objects, each steam
cr, covered with troops, and each tree
upon the opposite bank Of the stream,
standing out in bold relief. 1t seemed
more like piece Of imagery, than real
ity. At day light on Wednesday morn
ing the fleet again started, each boat run
ming independently, it being understood
that each was TO reach Helena as soon
as possible. From the time Of leaving
i. Charles nothing worthy Of note hap
pcncd, regarding The whole fleet Many
OF the transports received more or less
damage during the trir. The Lancaster,
ha,itg Gen. German aud staff on board,
collded with the Moderator. carrying
away the entire side OF the Lancastcrs
lsr-board wheel-housc, and somewhat
damaging the Modcrator's wheel. The
large steamer Cho,cau lost her star board
guard aft the wheel house, by running
INTO the bank at one OF the short bends
Few, indeed, were the boats that came
ont whole. In the fleet noticed many
steamers familiar to your readers among
which are the Bill Henderson, Black
Hawk, Henry Clay, Moderator, Belfast,
Fnzburg, Labanon, and Brazil. At $3.50
+. NJ, The Moderator, the headquarters
boat OF .he I'd brigade, I'd division, en-
tered the Mississippi, and steamed direct
ior Helena.
At the mouth of the White lay two Of
the wooden or "Mu,qui,o" gunboats, one
Of which was badly injured, and the
steamer Rocket, which had taken the crew
of the injured gunboat. After fair run
the Moderator reached her landing a, 4
o'clock A. NJ, on Thursday, Jan. 22d,
preceded and followed by the other boats
Of the fleet.
The cath, 2sth, and Goth Iowa Infan-
try, and Sd Iowa battery accompanied
the expedition. The I'd brigade, I'd di-
vision, was composed of the 24th and
2sth Iowa, Goth w sconsin, and 5Gth q.
In 'antry, under command Of Col. kinney,
56th Ohio, Acting Brigadicr General.
On the l4th inst, the 10Th Wisconsin
vas temporarily detailed into the Fisk {
Brigade, and remained there until the
lOl, when it was assigned to the 81
,rigadr, ID division, 9 i. McGintis, llth
Ind, acting Blig4dicr General, thus re-,
moving II entirely from the I'd brigade
| aving only the three regiments tctore.
mentioned. The ID division is under
the command of Brig. Gen. Alvin j.
Iove,, who had charge Of the late expc.
tion from Helena INTO Mississippi, tor the
purpose OF cutting the railroads and pre-
venting Price and Van Dorm from retreat
IN. by that means, before the combined
forces OF Sherman and Ora t which youl
readers will doubtless remember was oone
in manner highly creditalle to the
commander and to the tro ps engaged
The 81 and 4th Iowa cavalry, 4th, oath
25th, goth, 2sth, 3Oth, and 3ist lows
Infantry, and lst Iowa battery formed a
part Of that exPedi ion.
Our able and efficient commander, w
A German, at present in command o.
the department Of East Tennessee, wa,
a Major in the Mexican War, served q.
member Of Congress + ON Indiana, was
Governor Of the Territory Of Minnesota
and Colonel of the lsl Minnesota Rcgi
ment. lie is a regular var Democrat
lie was confirmed Brig. Gen. in 1861
lie has been engaged in fourteen hard
fought engagements on the Potomac
and sustaius an ehyiable reputatit n as 4
military commander. 1t. }. w Strong
of the gath Iowa, is acting on tho Ger ),
rails staH. as chief of the Ambul ,pc