, 1863-03-31

Tic mc:1n1n= z and Use OF Isayous.
We have heard, and read, Of late, great
zeal about bayous, and many people don't
know what to make OF them, nor whether
they are 's fish, tlcsA, fowl or red hcrrins.h
Some imagine them to be vast swamps lying
between the Mississippi and its tributaries
or between any river and the nplands-and
but few arc acquainted with the fact that they
are the odshoots Of large rivers along thelow
alluyia1 bottoms Of the Southwest.
The word is French, and means q gut, or
channel, and many OF them are is jagged and
eetpentinc in their course as the intcstines
themselves, and a good deal longer in their
measurement. Some Of them, for example,
will strike away from the parent waters and
make a long voyage Of discovery through the
! unknown interior Of the country; and after
visiting the most outlandish places, here and
there, and everywhere, bending and doubling,
and curTing themselves into all sorts offan-
tastic shapes, return once more to the bosom
OF their mother, ottcn scores and even hun
dreds Of miles from the original starting point
Of their wanderings.
They arc mostly sluggish streams. NOT very
| deep nor very wide aud it was the knowledge
| that these bayous formed . network Of COM
,nunication with an the Mississippi country,
which suggested to the mind of Admiral Por-
Ter The idea Of sending On expedition 10 .ry
and reach the Yazoo River between Yazoo City
and Ticksburg through ono or more Of these
convenient channels.
lie commenced lis operations By dispatch
ing steamer to StecTs Bayou, Which is FORM
cd By junction Of the Mississippi and Yazoo
Hiycrs, about fifteen miles above Vicksburg,
and directly opposite Johnson's plantation.
The bayou was readily reached and explored,
and the expedition proceeded to LiNIe Rlack
Fork, tlity-iye miles farther, and from
thence to Deer Creek, some FIVE miles from
the Fork.
The course intended to be pursued from
tl,ls point was up Deer Creek to Rolling Bay
some tbirty.dye miles distant; and thence
over ten more miles to the Sunlower River
which the steamer would trayersc for sixty o.
| seventy miles, and then re-enter the Tazoo
about twenty-five miles from Stee1s Bayou
where she started
| The last we heard Of the expedition VA
that Admiral Porter was SO certain Of its sue
: cess that he had followed on its wake Will
, flyc gunboats, and that on Monday tue fore
: most vessels were in the Rolling Fork, an'
hoped to reach the sunaower next day.
Since the above was written, We hayo intel
1igcncc from Memphis-22sth inst.-tlat tw'
divisions Of troops have actually entered III
Yazoo River by this new and uncxpectc
route, landing at Eagle Bend, inst aboy
e Haines' Bluff, within one and quarter mile
: Of the rebel Notifications.
: This wonderful triumph Of enterprise an
q genius will not only render the Bayous IN
+ mortal, but will put an entirely new face upo
= the siege Of Vicksburg, and enable our feet
!, seize all the transports on the Yazoo and SUI
L flower Rivers, and attack Hainc's Bluff bot
} | In front and rear.
's This sunburst Of good news via the Su
s. flower, amply compensates for the somewh
4 gloomy tidings which We received awhile aE
is from the fazoo expedition.