, 1863-05-05
From Our Own Correspondent
M1LIlEEs's BEND, L.. April n, 1868.


M1IIlEEs's BEND. L.. April u, 1868.
DErANTCRE.
Tomorrow at daybreak, your correspou-
dent leaves for New Carthage, to participate
in the ezcitemcnts, and, possibly, dangers Of
an active campaign. Three months Of an In-
active life on steamboats,, where even the COM
monest attentions are dispensed most mig
gardly and ut exorbitant prices, has glyen
me distaste for this kind Of life, and shall
enter upon the campaign prepared, trust, to
record It's leading incidents more faithfully,
and to give better idea Of what I hope will
he the last campaign before the fall Of Vicks-
burg and the opening Of the great Father of
Waters.
RETROSPECTIVE.
At this time It Is proper to look back
and review what has already been accom-
pliEhed. Looking at the vast expenditure
of time, money and life, we are forced to ad-
NIT that the results bear no suitable relation
to the cost. The trouble Is, We have wasted
the best part Of the season in experimenting.
The "Vicksburg Cutoff" for time was
promised to be the grand route by which we
was soon found to be fmpracticab1e. The
Yazoo PaEs expedition was tried, and 1t, too,
was abandoned Lake Providence Was to be
Joined to the Mississippi. and channel
opened, through which transports could enter
Bayou Macon, and from thence the head wa
ter5 Of the Ouchita and Red Rivers. After
infinite trouble, the channel was cut, and
a In nn3 fn
oustrate that . valuable tract OF country lower
than the river could be converted into an ire
claiuaable swamp. The Steele's Bayou cxpe-
dition followed quickly aflcr. Then came the
Duckport Canal; and this alone, OF all the
numerous plans and suggestions which have
been conceived in the fertile brain of tile
Commander in-Chief and his advisers, has be-
come partial success. I refer to these fall
ures, not that I wish to create dfstrust Of
Gen. Grant, but In the hope that nc NAV
learn wisdom from the past
We hare found at this late hour that there
Is I practicable road to New Carthage, by
which troops can be easily moved. and the
question arises, Why was not this discoy-
cred, the troops moved thither, and the bat
terics paesed, rs we have since demons rated
they can be, within ten days Of our arrival
Aere:" There may be reasons for this DELAY
Which arc not patent. I hope there are.
TILE FUTURE.
What next? We 60 to New Carthage. AL
ready the army is on the march. Every morn
Ing, troops file past the steamer upon which
am located. The orders are sssfx tlays rations
and no bagEage''-no tents, only one to a com
pany. This looks like fight. 1t is not pos.
siblc, think, that We remain at New Car
thage, but whether we cross the river to Da-
Wis plantation. and seek the bluffs beyond,
across four miles Of intcrminab!e swamp, OF
whether We move upon Grand Gulf and seek
not" hare no idea that ne shall be
allowed to do either without Sc
rlous engagement. Indeed, l look tor
series Of engagements. From the tiule
We land upon the eastern shore Of the Mis-
sissippi until We reach the hill.crowned city.
! am satisfied Gen; Grant will tight when he
can do SO on equal terms and with show Of
success. II he eau induce tho enemy to come
ont Of the fortjfications and fight him, am
confident he will whip them. If he fails, God
help him!
THE T1GREss.
This steamer, so seriously disabled in pass
ing the batteries the other night, 1nls sunk to
"Vicksburg Cut-Of" 4 party Of wreckers
have been busy to-day removing the cotton
ard commissarY stores not ruined BY water.
When this duly is completed the wreck will
be tired.
GALLANT.
Tic eth Missouri regiment furnished the
crew of this boat, and as was expected, they
behaved with uncommon bravery. As they
were passing the lower batteries, Just before
the shell was fired which, exploding in her
stern, disabled her, her Qag staff WIS shot of
and the bunting came near going overheard.
An 1risl1nan named Bradley seized it, and,
standing in the stern Of the boat, waved it in
defance over his head, eSclaining as the bull
you m sons Of b@z.' Z aWho 'ne' are r. youy'' ens'
rebel skirmiEhcrs." "sevcnth Missouri
BY jabers. Why don't you freq" The answer
was tremendous volley Of muskctry, above
the smoke and the roar Of which the grand old
flag waved as delantly and tho 1rish1nan
6wore as roundly as ever.
Col. Lagow and Col Oliver behaved with
great galluntry.
There was rNmor, current here this morn.
ing, brought by an officer from Eew Carthage,
TINT the Ennboats had taken Grand Gulf III
is not known at headquarters here whether It
be true or otherwise. do not think /. likely.
The enemy will not eurrendcra Strategic rofflt
OF so much Importance rs the bluff command
ing the mouth Of Big Black River, without
making desperate efforts to retain it. There
has been no heavy cannonnading within three
days. Weshould certainly have heard it here.
CoSTRADASDs.
Twenty. five hundred negroes, of all aces.
sizes and conditions, arrived here this morning
from Greenville. This is one Of the fruits Of
Gen. Steele's expedition III the Deer Creek
country. The able bodied young men hare
Joined the army; they hare become soldiers
and frecmen. The women and children and
the old men will work the abandoned planta.
tions.
SPECIAL ORDER.
M1L11KES's BEND, La, April "a, 1868.
srEc1AL OnDEn, No. 13.-1. Ono Of the duties to
be required OF the regiments Of African descent
will be to secure abandoned cotton, and hare It
conveyed to ths Lcvee for shipment 10 the Quar-.
termattcr ut Memphis, Tenn. Accordingly, all
officers belonging to such troops will see to the cx-
ccutfon Of this order, and the Quartcttnastere Dc
partmcnt will furnish the necessary transportation
for such purpose, when It can be done without In
jury to the service: Each bale Of cotton will 1,e
distinctly marked q. s. Other abandoned prop
etty, such as stock farming utensils, corn, &C., not
required for military purposes, will not be removed
from the plantations but be reserved for the use Of
loyal citizens to whom such plantations may be
leased.
:, II. In como cases gin houses and other property
haye been burnt. Such wanton destruction OF pfi-
vatc propertyis prohibited; and all Commanders
will see that the troops under their command
plantations have been rendered uaelces for the pur
poses Of the Government, By the destruction OF
gin houses.
BY order Of The Secretary Of War
IL. THOMAS, Adjutant General.
COTTON.
Gen. Thomas Is investigating alleged cotton
IF MI