, 1863-04-21
1Coreerondence Of the Chicago Tfibnne.1
TnASsroRr FLKEE,
Orr MrLLlkEN's BEND, Ii,
Anrij nth 1863 J

~1AA1-sts~
TnASsroRr FLEET,
Orr N1IIkEN's BEND, La,
~ april nth, 1868. J
ARRIVAL OF GEN. THOMAS.
The steamer Rocket, little rickety STERN
wheel boat, arrived down yesterday morning.
! having On board Gen. Thomas, Adjutant ten
eral, making his tour Of inspection tnFopsn
tbc Southwest. Gen. Thomas was recei'eu
hr Cen. Grantand staff, aboard the Rocket
Init kent his state room duringt the ony' o"iuS
| to indjepositiop, consequent to the ehuA".e "
| this unhealthfu1 part Of the coun11y' ioa
are nrobab}y aware Of the nature OF his s1sH'
r7e Is authorized to proclaim the policy OF the
Administration On the contraoano qaest'on'
and to investigate in general way the ousl-
| ness conduct of the army at large. 4.
| THE POLICY ESUSc1ArED BIT GEN. THOMAS.
Il be gratifying to the friends Of the
Government to learn that the last policy it
| hiss seen proper to adopt with regard to the
negro in the lines Of our advancing armies, is
meeting with the hearty appreciation OF all
tic loyal officers to whom it has been an-
! uounrcd, ard that no difficulty, whatever, will
be found in placing efficient and undoubtedly
patriotic officers In command Of the new reg
imcnts. Applications are made daily, in ad-
vance, for positions, and most encouraging
spirit and enthusiasm prevails. The time had
come long since for the formation of negro
regiments, ant their remains little doubt o1
| their SUCCESS.
REBEL PRISONERS.
Col. Morton, Provost Marshal General
to General Grant, received iyc rebe
prisoners this morning, sent in from
Richmond, La, town on the shreyepor
and Texas Railroad, and situated twelve mile:
in q direct line back from Milliken's Bend
The prisoners include Lieut. Col. R. s. Tay
lor Of the Sd Arkansas, and ]. II. Leitch, al
ex-ncmber of Congress from North Carolina
and were taken by some troops under Gen
| Osterhaus, in O sEirln1sh, o few days ago, tn
! particulars Of which I did not learn. Til
rebel officer wore homemade uniform, o
| grey cloth, embroidered at the cuffs and col
, ton staff-buttous Of the United States, stolen
no doubt, from the uniform Of some Unite
J States officer, either captured or killed By th
> enemy. He WAS placed under guard on tn
: Minneha1a, but had the freedom Of the cablt
: ! where he went through the usual vulgar swle
: ger peculiar to the rebel officers, especial
i | those belonging to the pistol and boHie.kni1
S State Of Arkansas.
SANITARY.
. . weather, the clouds lowered yesterday unit
!. suEdown, when g most refreshing rain set II
: accompanied by yapoT. .diispclaipg thunder an
!, lightning To-day the atmosphere Is refrcsl
- Ing, but It is lsdan with dainpness, and Il
= = ek{es still betokcn rain.
4 There is nothing worthy Of particular no
~ " ut Young's Point, except that 1t grows dai
"a more uncomfortable on account Of the accum
y latfon Of filth. The river continues to reccd
- but its M1 is almost imperccptibfe; j
- deed, the only certain means cf judgil
! Is By tie gradual disappearance Of water
~ the s1oughs and bayous back 4 little ways fro
- the shore. The water in these has already :
~ ~ snmed that green, repulsivc .slimiuess pee
~ ~ liar to u}l etaguant water, and during the
- tense heat Of the moro intensely hot days
~ ~ deadly malaria exhalcd from them can
- . scnsib1y detected on the breeze. There is
II doubt at all Of the ae1eterious effect Of inh
=, - fng such..an atmosphere, but It must be {
- dufed for tine, and We must make up q
~ - minds to loose q percentage of our troops
-. !. time, either by sickuess or altogether
~ ~ death produced BY the unavoidable sicklin
"a Of the locality: On the whole there is e.
improvement In the condition Of the tr0o
eyen within two weeks, and everything VIC
more cheerful aspect than Was wont to N
the eyc in this army.
~ DEsERTER.
es 4 deserter from the besieged city brings
az usual story Of the tremendous strength Of
al rebel Notifications, suffering among the re
'-- troops, but their expressed determination
hold their ground at all llazards. lie at,
that tlc rebel commanders Ind alread lear
Of the
ow EXPEDITION TO TIE sCSFLowER,
me by way Of Greenyillc. THIS, it will be
hit membcrcd consisted Of Gen. Steel's diyisi
80 which left 9oung's Point about ten or TIVE
n't days ago, and which Is now probably eug,sy
lay the rebel forces known to bo thick1y cncam
ers between the Sunaowcr and Yazoo Riy
,nt Heavy firing was heard in the direction of
-. Yazoo, of from this point yesterday foreno
'te, which Garors> the opinion that steel's 70,
9od arc already operating in that direction.
the was the intention to clean all that cous
w. ont, eeize all the forage and subsistence tc
n1p found, and make q good job, or in other wo
nc not to leave a THUG; ludonc which might f
ave the basis for future annoyance to our arm
ono that section. This SIS aconkummation n
a .n deyoutcly to be wishca'' for tho swamps
EFce bayous tlcreabouts have hitherto afforded
af- most convenient and safe lodgment for
be- throat bands Of guerilas whose operat
in, wc hare had abun 1ant reasons to dread
49, guard against. Bo