New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-09
EIGHT DAYS GOING 40 MILES.
THE PANIC AMONG THE PEOPLE.
Wholesale Destruction Of Cotton.
CAPTURE OF ENOUGH TO BUY A GUNBOAT,
THE FRIENDLINEss OF THE SLAVES
Special Dispatch to Tho N. Y. Tribune.

RearAdmiral Portsr's report Of his recent expe-
dition through Steel Bayou, Deer Creek and other
bayous and creeks with intent TO reach the Big Sum-
flower River and to follow that stream into the va
700, which was received at the Navy Department
to-day, reads like romance. With his iron-clads,
Porter was eight days in The heart of the country,
navigating series of bitches in which not even q
fatboat ever oated before. In those eight days, al
though making herculean efforts, he worked his way
only seventy miles aud back again. one twenty-four
hours was consumed in accomplishing four niles
The channels 10 both creeks and bayous were ex-
ceedingly narrow, SO narrow, in places, that the
boats nearly touched both banks. They were
choked with fallen trees, which had to be removed,
or with cumps or rows of willows which bad to be
pulled up by the roots. For time the fleet toll
somey crept along unobserved the levee, which Of
ten was three feet above the guns, assisting TO
| screen it.
When the inhabitants, who had hoped TO escape
the horrors Of war; perceived the dreaded gunbosts
in the midst of their plantations, they ran down to
get nearer view, and the blacks crowded the banks
Of the stream and showed qualification at the arrival
of the Yankees to whom they gave every assistance
in their power.
A Rebel Government agent presently began put
ting the torch to all the cotton he could lay hands
upon, and melted the planters to assist him in the
| work of destruction. Twenty thousand bales, ac-
cording to the computation of Admiral Porter, were
burned by this agents orders, beside chat marked
G. 8. A., which Porter himself burned, and con.
siderable quantity, enough he says. to buy guu-
boat which he carried off with him.
| Some of the planters, however, declined to burn
their cotton, and abused the Confederate Govern.
ment roundy for its purpose TO make them do so,
contrasting it with the action of Porter who de-
stroyed no private cotton. IA considerable proportion
of the planters manifested their affection for the old
aag and the negroes were unanimous in their devo-
ton TO it.
The feet bad accomplished good part of its
voyage before any efforts were made to stop it.
News finally came that Rebel force of infantry,
with artillery, was preparing to dispute tho passage;
that a larger force its way from Haine's
Bluff on the Yazoo and that the negroes were being
forced at the point of the bayonet, to fell trees to
obsruct the channel. This information, like all that
which Admiral Porter received, was brought him by
the African residents of tina. part of the Safe He
sent one Of his smaller boats, armed with howit
ger in advance TO checkmate the Rebels, and thus
fought his way successfully, for time, putting the
Rebel guns to flight, scattering the sharpshoo,ers
aud infantry who begun TO line the banks, and re-
moving the trees almost as fast they were felled
across the stream.
The Reles, however, finally added SO seriously
10 the obstruction of the channel that it WAS with |
great difficulty the Admiral could proceed. AT the
same time news was brought him that the Rebels !
l. ell; . ha in
ii. rear and planting guns with view to his cap
lure. Even after this news was brought him, he
pushed on awhile, bat finally, when within 800
wards of Rolling Fork, from which 1t would have
been plain sailing down the Big Sunflower River
into the Yazoo miles above the fortified places in
the rear of Ycksbnrg, he was obliged to turn back.
Had Gen. Sherman, with bis soldiers, who bad a
shorter road than the ganboats TO travel, reached
this point as early as they should. passage could
have been forced and the YaZoo entered but re-
ceiying no intelligence Of Sherman's movements.
which were necessarily impeded by want OF trans
portation MS well by other causes, Admiral Porter
deemed it prudent to return.
The distractions thrown by the Rebels in the
way of his retroerade movement would have been
more serioos than they were had not the natural
obstacles been removed during the forward voyage,
and had not Gen. Shermans forces, first detach-
ment and then the main body, appeared at critical
moment. The assistance OF the latter was particu-
larly valuable in driving away the infantry and
sharpshooters who annoyed the voyagers. The Og
gus OF the iron-cads proved too much for the red
field pieces Of the Rebels
Admiral Porter reports that the country through
which be passed s rich and fertile, Astounding IN
live stock and with barns filed with corn, OF which
tbe Rebel Government OWES q considerable proper
ton.
The white residents were, he thinks, better In
clned 10 the Union cause when he left than when
he came among them. As for the negroes, all tho
able.boded ones who were not forced to stay fol-
lowed Gen. Sherman's soldiers. The rest are in
sta,e of such decentralization that Admiral Porter
thinks that little more planting will be done this
season. and predicts serious trouble for the masters
10 come.
The only officer killed during the expedition was
Henry Sullivan, 81 assistant engineer of the tug
Dahlia. Two others, whose names are not given,
were seriously wounded. The only injury to the
irOn-cIads was suffered by their boats, damaged by
the. fallen trees. ..r. 4
Admiral Porter speaks in the highest terms OF the
good conduct Of the officers, sailors, soldiers ana