Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-20
THE EVENING STAR.
GRlERSON'S EXPEDITION.
Ths Great Cavalry Operations in the
Southwest.


On the morning of April 18th, Col: Grierson,
commanding the FIRST Brigade of Cavalry,
andrr Gen. Grant, which WAS rendezvoused at
Lagrange, Tenn, received orders to move into
was taken southwark. A force OF rebels was
met the same day at PontotOc, Miss, and their
entire camp equiPage was captured, also tour
hundred bushels Of salt, all OF which was de-
etroyed. Col. emerson continued his march
until about eight o'clock, when he encamped
six miles south of Pontotoc, on the road lead
ing 10 Houston. A large rebel mail was cap
tured. and number of gueriiias killed at
Pontotoc.
On the 2lst, Col. Hatch, acting under Grier-
sons orders, destroyed q portion OF the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, and Gen. Grierson ha wing
thus accomplished his present purpose, viz !:
deceived the rebel Gen. Chalmers, he turned
northward, leaving . portion Of his force TO
continue on to Starkviile, where another mail
was captured and other damage done. Four
miles from Starkyille, at Dismal Swamp q
halt was ordered and half OF the command lett.
The rest continued on southwark for about
five miles, and, after swimming bsyous, and
Wading through almost impass able swamps,
reached one of the principal tanner;es in the
country, which was fired and completely de-
stroyed.
After the uniting Of the command on the I'D
q further march was had to within one mile of
Louisville, Miss.,-a distance OF twenty. seven
miles-and thence proceeded to philadelphia,
Miss, and thence to Decatur and newton, where
mails were captured and railroads destroyed.
GIierson then continued on in asouth south west
direction, and at Gallatin captured PARROT
gun intended for Port Gibson. From Gallatin
. detachment was ordered east, and destroyed
the n, w Orleans and Jackson railroad.
A flint having been made toward Port Glib.
son, with a view to deceive the enemy, and a
similar movement made in the direction of
NatcheZ, to menace that place, the main body
march ed on to BrookhaSen, already occupied
by our advance, and where was captured
large number Of muskets, tents, &c. At Was
sita 6 rerson had a skirmish with rebel cavalry,
and defeated them, killing and capturing q
number; and thence our forces proceeded to the
Tickfaw river, and changed their course to one
directly south. AT Oseyka plan was laid to
capture our forces, and Il rebel cavalry regi.
ment was posted to flank him; but having
whipped them in several successive skirmishes
he marched on, and on the seventeenth day
from the time Of starting the inhabitants OF Ba-
ton Rouge were startled by the arrival of g
courier, who announced that a brigade of cav
airy from Gen. Grants army had cut their way
through the heart Of the rebel country. and
were then only five miles outside of the city.
Eight hundred miles travelled in sixteen days
eomprehends Grierson's eventful journey from
upper Mississippi into louisiana. He cut his
way through the enemy's country with two
regiments of cavalry, destroying on his route
four millions of rebel property, capturing over
thousand men and twelve hundred horses,
demolishing camp of instruction with all its
equipments, cutting the communication on the
Great Northern and New Orleans and Jack.
son railroads. and destroying a large number
of car, telegraph wire, water tanks and army
stores The expedition left its mark on every
railroad in Mississippi. Passing through Il
host OF dangers, and working great injury to
the enemy, Col. Grierson halted on the Let OF
May st Baton Ronge. and thence pushed on To
New Orleans, where he was received with en-
lhusieSm,