Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-25
EROM NEW ORLEANS

correspondent at New Orleans communi-
Gates the following
IL had the pleasure this afternoon Of meet
ing, at Col. BIS headquarters, Union scout
who had just returned from a trip through
Hancock, Marion, Perry. Jones and Jasper
counties, Mississippi He had teen absent a
month, and as the fruit Of his visit to those
counties he had recruited one hundred and
fifteen men for Union regiment forming in
this city, He also brought away several wo-
men and children. From him 1 gather the
following information concerning matters in
the locality which he visited He states that
the Union sentiment now predominatcs, and
that the Union men have things their own
way, completely turning the tables upon their
enemies. Instead Of being driven to the
swamps and other hiding places for shelter,
they have driven the secessionists to those
places to preserve their lives. They had de-
clared a war Of determination and hunted
down the rebels and shot them wherever
found. This man is native Of Mississippi,
and well acquainted throughout the region
through which he passed He states that so
relentless has been this civil strife that most
If not quite all Of the old men of his acquain-
lance are all in their graves, shot in their
W. hNAiAos lAh WIS ANA tthttAl AhlH WlAhll
sound of Sherman's rifles, and saw him when
on his advance and retreat He states that
on his retreat he took with him an immense
amount of supplies captured from the en-
envy, besides large numbers OF negroes. -
Cotton and provisions wero plenty, but as
both parties were destroying all they could
belonging to the other, the prospect was that
there would soon be scarcity. Guerrilas
u. Al f..
to burn the cotton, but in reality getting pos
session Of it and forwarding it to New Or
leans, where it is sold for their benefit"
---1.---..-------
The Richmond Dispatch Of the 9Th instant
has boastfu article concerning the repulse
of Generals Smith and Grierson's efforts to
join Gen. Sherman during his late expedition
in Mississippi, which says that the junction
Of Smiths cavalry force wish Sherman at
Meridian was the key Of the whole scheme
Of the Yankee plan for the occupation and
subjugation Of the Southwest :" that eff
successful Sherman would have been in a
condition to advance upon Demopolis and Sell
ma, or Mobile 5" and that these important
points, az well as the rich counties adj acent,
would have been at the mercy of the enemy"
The rebel General (Forrest), the Dispatch
says hoh why hhOuh NNtuAN -lNAi uuuhiHA
men to oppose from five to seven thousand,
and the repuse was effected by very simple
process.
As Gen Smith charged with his cavalry,
armed only with sabres, the rebels, as describ-
ed, slipped from their horses, converting
themselves into infantry, each man taking the
most favorable position, ayaling themselves
of every advantage the ground afforded, and
so the Union horsemen " did not advance far
before the balls of two thousand rAomen be-
gan to rattle through their ranks with fearful
effect - and thus, by this simple device,
Smith and Grierson we're driven back, (their
sabres being Of no use against riAemen fifty
or hundred yards off ) and so Gen Sher-
man failed to reach the main object of his ex-
petition. The circumstance suggests the SUI
periority Of mounted infantry in such oxtrem-
tiles, and will probably lead to an extension
Of that arm Of the service.