Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-16
OPERATIONS BEFORE vICNsBURG.
An Expedition 20 Luke Proyidence-Rich.
mend. .Louisicna. Shrllrd-The Sevess
tut In the Lever Mississippi.

An Expedition 10 Lake Proyidcuce-Rich.
mone. Louisic mn. Shellrd-The Sevess
Cut In the Lower MisSiSSippl.
tDispatch TO the Cincinnati Qazettel
CAIRO, Feb. II, In SIeHT or TCKsBURe,
Feb. 5.-S-ry little OF interest Is at present
ranspiring about rs. The river l. rising rapid
~. and threatens to overflow The ground now
occuped by our troops. There II q large break
IN Tie levce at Young's Point sou feet broad,
shrouxh which IL the rise continues, the water
will rush f-arlully. -s- ....
large force Is now engaged in closing It,
The blockade y still rigidly maintained n the
mouth of the Isxoo
i fire. broke out in Vicksburg, near the summit
OF the bluffs, just IN the rear OF the railroad de-
pot, and continued Tor three hours. Quite an
extensive tract was burned over The Are Wa.
confined to dwellings, although Yves u: first sup.
p0srd IL The burning Of cotton.
The Rebels re placing heavily loaded barges
outside the steamer Vickshurg, to protect her
from the hutting propensities of our Southds wn
rams.
Gen. Grant and stan went mp the river on
hhr steamer Magnolia last evening. He lis cx-
Peeted TO return to- day or to- morrow.
An expedition OF considerable importance
consis ting OF u brigade, McArthur's division,
LEFT several days since for Lake Providence.
IL would b improper TO mention the object OF
the expedition, bat GU may be assured of its
Importance.
LastTbursdsy force from NJ Arthur's divi-
sion was cent 70 Richmond. Louisiana. ana
captured the telegraph Office st Tallula, Ia
with large number OF dispatches, and de-.
-trOy-d several miles OF wire. This lire ex :.
tended from Lake Providenc" to Taliuia, and
was used 70 telegraph the names OF steamers
passing down the river.
just in front of Richmond they had a Skin
mish with rebel cavalry over n deep bayou,
and lost one severely wounded, Corn Rrins-
nv, Of the 9TH Illinois Cavalry, and three
hGrsrs killed. Night coming ON they rctiroi TO
camp
The following Saturday the same force Wis
Tied Richmond and sbelled the town, driving
the Rebel cavalry out OF it In considerable con-
fUsion Six mrn crossed the bayou on RATS
ara snrs red the town, when they were fired
upon az Rebels concealed in houses, and som.
psllrd To heat n hasty retreat
Lieut.. Cadie, of McArthur's staff was shot I'm
the cheek, the ball passing out behind his ear,
causing = slight wound.
The town was subsequently shelled, and the
houses whence the firing proceeded DESTROYED
Thomas W. Knox, cores pendent OF the New
CT Gen. Sherman. upon the ridiculous charges
of giving AID and comfort TO the enemy, OF dis.
sstdience of orders, ana b, ing a spy.
Inc publication of his account OF the late
battle at Nicksburg in the Herald, in which
Gen. Sherman IL severely handled was tho
occasion OF he arrtst
THE LEVERS.
The leyecs Gu the Mississippi river between
Helena and Lake Providence, Al Gazoo Pass,
have been cut by the Union forces. This has
breu GrTe probably to Tcod the country nsar
Lake Prov idencs. and thereby assist in OPEN
iUg communication with the newly proiec ted
Iut. Cff. The New York Commercial SAYS.
IL val! hs remembered IN At when Col. Bissel
III tie early part of April last, was prosecutiuy
she later upon the canal which subsequently
united Il portion Of fiag-oiIicer Foot-'s feet
above Island No 10, with Gen. PopeS force
below the work was greatly facilitated by tn q
RIB state OF the river, which Hooded She sur
rounding C untry. Col BISsel yirtu ally made
an overland C;snal-that il, by cutting down
tie tres ltlCw the surface. OF the water ne
made chanuei for his boats over the sub
merged lsnd
Al NiCkshury the enemy seems IN ha rou-ar
tr1ting troops and streng thruing batteries with
persistent Ntsor. The ram Vieksbur, has been
protected against further attacks by tha Union
''Souihdown, as Col. Eilett's ram Is termed by
noorinc barges alongSide. The rebel am W As
pot mater,sny injured by her collision with
thr Queen Of the " est, as ON th, afternoon of
fhe Sd shs' dropred down from her mourings aud
poured frw shell into the Union canps At
Ware nt0p, 81 the mouth OF the cutoff The
rebels continue To labor upon her, and unless
destroyed. she may yet prove r formidable
antagonist
A hTi@ abe OF Gen. Nc Arthur's division is ar
work upon The new cGt OF from Lake Proyi-
ii nee, OF the Louisiana side of tbs, river and
in.l OTttnt rtSul'S may soon be expected. The
tl greph liue connecting Lake Providence
WI tie rNtei stations below has been cut BY 4
boC;y OF the Union troops who went to Rich
moSd and TG!iala-iL Tor the purpose Sub
sS4uently The town OF Ri ,hmond was sheIled,
and al lnsrCrt1nt point Of observation for thu
F~beis as rSlS>essed by the Union forces
Ike operations before yicksburg are pro-
crossing slowly and surely, and Gen. Grant
Viii soon De IN a position IA accomplish has
xrest mission, probably with the loss OF few
hyts and the gain OF immense advantage
Tie Chicsgo Post says a letter from the army
2 fVrS ickShurg STAIRS that the Hon Jarob
Thompson, Bpchanan's Secretary OF the Int
nor, was found IN the river on the 3ist, in =
kkH, oy one OF our musketo boats and COM
PEELED 10 he2ye 70. He Is now in care of Rear
Admiral Porter. and Gen. Grant has Just gone