Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-03-17


accompanied the army of Gen Sherman
gives the following account by telegraph
OF the progress of the expedition and
summary of its results -
'.The expedition left Vicksburg ON the
| S0th Of February. The next day IL
crossed the Big Black river, as before
stated, with Writ Adams cavalry drawn
up IN line of battle. Col, Potts brigade
advanced and were strongly resisted by
the enemy who began to retreat after a
night OF an hour and half.
our troops pushed on in line of battle,
following them five miles, and by night
had driven them beyond Jackson.
lhey drove squad ofrebel cavalry out
Oh jackson and occupied it, The State
House is in good condition and not
burned as has been reported.
In the night some soldiers burned
down number of houses.
Inc next morning the pontoon bridge
was thrown across Pearl River, and the
army marched to Brandon, where they
sKlrmlshed with the rebel cavalry and
drove them out.
On reaching Morton they encountered
a division of Loring's and Frencb,s
they had been throwing up defences and
evidently intended to fight, but as our
forces came up slowly, they retreated
without firing gun.
On the 18th Gen. Hulburt's corps en-
tered Meridian, the remainder of the ex-
petition following the ensuing day,
having destroyed the town of Hillsboro',
In Scott county, on the way. In Meri-
dlan we encountered some rebel cavalry
and drove them out, after some Skin
Alshlng, and then took possession of
the town and held it four days. At that
time expeditions were sent out which
destroyed fully one hundred miles of
road on the Mobile and Ohio railroad
and on the railroad leading to Selma.
This includes over 10000 feet of bridging
and large amount of rolling stock was
also destroyed. We found that the rebels
themselves had destroyed much rolling
stock to preserve it from falling into our
hands. While this was being done the
town OF Enterprise and village and rail
road station of Chankey were destroyed
together with a large amount of rebel
stores which were burned up at Chan
key.
to Selma, and the main body of the
army never went beyond Meridian.
The expedition took with them only
twenty days rations, and all was accom-
plished that had been intended
Our entire loss in killed and wounded
and missing is put down by correspond
ents who accompanied the expedition as
onlyabout one hundred. Our force cap
tured and brought away 124 prisoners,
received 200 deserters and killed and
wounded about 200 of the enemy.
Nearly 5000 negroes of all ages and
sexes followed the army on it's return to
Ficksburg, escorted by Col. Potts bri-
gade.
Smiths cavalry was to have Joined
them at Meridian. If it had done
so 1T would have been used TO do i'm
portant service on the Tombigbee river,
i'll addition to the serious damages in
fiicted by other troops.
The expedition was at no time in dan
ger from the enemy's resistance and so
formidable that the utmost terror was
caused by their advance, and the coun-
try generally helpless before them.
Confidence was felt that with neces-
sary provisions the expedition could |
have marched successfully to Mobile.
The expedition penetrated one hun |
.dred and fifty miles into the heart of the
rebel country, with no communications |
kept open in its rear, and without meet |
ing any opposition except skirmishing |
with the enemy's cavalry. 1t is conf |
IDENTIFY reported that Gen. Polk had A. |
600 men at Meridian, but with this force
he dare not make stand.
We have destroyed over seventy miles |
of railroad, SO that there is not a tie nor
rail left. All the raids extending from
Meridian, of which there are four are
destroyed for long distance.
We killed rebel Major and captured |
one, besides other officers. The country |
is thinly peopled, and most of the resi- |
dents poor. They were not originally |
secesh, but most of them became So
Many would be glad to return to the |
Union.
Some cotton was seen, most of which
was burned
Our army subsisted almost entirely on
the enemys country, and at no time was |
it short of provisions. 1t left Canton on |
the 4th, and returned to Vicksburg on
the 9th and It'll inst.
TAMMANY DECLARING IT'S INDEPENDENCE. |
The sachems Of Tammany Hall, New
York, have taken action that threatens |
a serious schism in the democratic par
ty in that State and elsewhere AT their |