Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-06
05io Statesman,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
The Ohio Statesman Company.
FRIDAY MORNING, $1,000 MAY 8.
EXPEDITION UP THE YAZOO.
LOSS OF A FEDERAL GUNBOAT.
Correspondence of The st. Louis Republican,
VICKsBURG, MISS, April 25, 1864.

Correspondence of The st. Louis Republican,
VIcKsBURG, Mss, April 25, 1864.
An expedition up the Yazoo was planned
and executed during the past week. 1t has
Just returned, and the result is anything but
satisfactory. 1t is currently reported, and
that, too, with an air of truth. that its sole
object was cotton. Government specula-
tors were prone to believe that they could
secure large quantity Of cotton few miles
above YazOo City, and accessible to the
river. They induced our stauIch military
officials to olisten to their syren songs. Quiet
ly, and with much dispatch, two thousand
five hundred soldiers of land forces, to act
in concert with the navy, consisting of two
gunboats and five transports, also tugs and
shallow water crafts, were ordered to move
up the YazOo. For the first two days every
thing wore the face of a consummate sue
cess, but as the National forces were ap-
preaching the vicinity of YaZoo City, an
antipathy arose OH the part of the white
troops toward the negro.
am informed that they refused to march
with the colored soldiers, saying that they
would as soon kill the negro as the enemy.
The gunboats and crew moved along most
harmoniously and steamed up six miles
above Yazoo City, and one of them, the Pc
trel, or No. 5, went to bank and tied up to
wood. When there, the rebels came up
with battery and opened well directed
fire upon the boat, which soon terminated
in its capture. Some twelve or fifteen shots
passed through the boat, but only killed
nine of the crew. The Captain and twen-
ty others were taken prisoners. While the
engagement was going on the gunboat No.
IL came to the assistance of the No. D, but
the second shot from the rebel battery to-
tally disabled her. knocking out the cylin-
der heads and piercing the boat in several
other places. Thus we came near losing
two gunboats on wild goose chase after
''King Cotton"
1t is sad to think that we are to be affiict-
ed with Treasury Agents and military Of
ficials who will ieopardize the lives of the
soldiery to CRAFTY their pecuniary gain.-
The Yazoo expedition is nothing more than
the repetition on minor scale, of General
Banks Red river trip. and q sad defeat.--
However, in order to chastise the rebels for
such unwarranted tricks, am told that the
gunboat Essex will be ordered to proceed
up the river and burn to the ground the
city of YaZoo. But the question is, will
that restore to us the killed, or heal the
wounded, or return the gunboat so inglo-
riously captured? Verify, if there is any
thing that will lead to the torch being ap-
piled to the country as the army passes
through. this lust of gain will inevitably
induce such result.
During last week a little incident oc-
CURED on Big Black river which causes
some gossip and speculation. The son of
Mr.. Mellen, the special agent of the Treas
ury Department, has trade store on the
Big Black river. Ever since its establish
ment the firm have dealt largely in flour
and other articles, which things are report
ed to have been taken across the river into
the rebel lines. The soldiers witnessing this
continual exodus of the prime staple of Ii e
naturally felt indignant and chagrined, that
the enemy should be so bountifully sup
piled from our own lines, and they entered
their protest to Gen. Dennis, the command
ing officer. The General disregarded their
protest, which increased their indignation
and resulted in the utter destruction of the
store, and placard was posted OH the tent
of the General with this inscription: "Come,
boys, let's hang the traitor"
The rebel Gen. Kirby Smith reports the
defeat of Gen. Banks as complete. They
officially claim to have taken four thousand
prisoners; two thousand five hundred
wounded; eight thousand stand of arms :;
two thousand and odd mules; two hundred
and fifty wagons; nine hundred barrels of
flour, and thirty-five pieces of cannon.
The gunboats are still above the rapids
and unable to get down. 1t is to be hoped
that they will not be captured or burned.
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