New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-15


war and military necessity compelled TO apply the
torch.
It wa part of the military programme for Gen.
Smiths cavalry expedition, which left Memphis, Tenn,
10 operate in conjunction with Gen ShermGns forces
and unite at Meridian and it the failure of this
portion Of the plan that induced Gen. Sherman 10 re-
main seven days in Meridian. Gen. Sherman sent out
several scouting parties far north as Louisville and
Kosciusko. hoping TO gain some information OF Gen.
Smiths whereabout but was unable TO gather any in.
telligence of his movements.
number OF small expeditions were sent from Nerd
Ian IN different directions for the purpose Of destroying
whatever might benefit the Rebellion. Among the
places devastated Enterprise Marion, Cuitman,
Hlsboro Canton, Lake Station, Decatur, Bolton, and
Lauderdaie Springs. At Enterprise, the depot, two
sour mills II 0oO bushels Of corn COO bales Of fine cot
ten branded C. s. A. two military hospitals, and sew
eral buildings connected with parole camp were
laid in ashes.
At Marion the railroad station woodhouse and few
small buildings were burned. Quitman visited and
two -four mils ane saw.in, railroad depot and other
storage buildings with several thousand feet Of lumber
fell prey the fire king At iilsboro several stores
were set on fire. Seventeen damaged locomotives six
locomotives IN tine running order number Of cars and
repair shop with hand cars quantities of cepors ard
tool house were destroyed at Cantonal belonging TO
the Mississippi Central Railroad No private property
molested injured at Canton the inhabitants never
having fred upon our troops Beyond the depletion Of
few unguarded henroost very little depreciation was
committed One rampant female secesh discovered a
vile Yankee surreptitiously purioning pair of TAT
chickens Terribly incensed al this wanton robbery
and gross violation OF tho rights OF personal property
she made bold onslaught but regret TO say that al
her erpostulations failed convince the demoraaed
and hungry "InaGs.l" that he was SHINING for be re-
piled Madam this aceursed Rebellion must be
crushed IL it takes every chicken in Mississippi The
door was slammed to with violence and the enraged
feminine retired Disguised with Yankee habits 10
inourn over the loss Of her plump pair of chickens
Our troops raised sad havoc with the Mobile and Ohio
and the southern railroad lines. infictng such damage
as million dollars cannot repair. The Southern road
was tcrn up rails twisted. and seepers burnt from
Jackson 70 twenty miles east Of Meridian 20 Cuba sta
to,, The Mobile and Ohio road was destroyed Tor 30
miles extending from Quitman TO Lauderdae Springs
Five costly bridges we're totally destroyed the one
spanning the Chickasawhay River was 30 feet long
with trestle.work which required four months hard
labor Of hundreds Of mechanics 10 construct IT, 1t was
substantial covered bridge. The bridges over Octchi'
bacah, Alligator. Tallasha and Chunky Rivers were
also burned On the nth, Capt Foster. OF the 10Th
Missouri Cavalry received instructions to make raid
Lake Station miles from Hllsboro. and to
destroy all property available for the Rebels. Two
livery sabes several machnesLops, three locomotives
tin etabe. IS railroad engine house
two mils and thousands Of dollars worth OF lumber
consumed spirits OF turponine from the Signal
c-sr- si.s .-s~sf-fS is ss ,.pid ds-srassisa Of th
buildinga
Decatur was entered on the 18th Of February where
some thirty bulldogs were burned Decatur is the
county seat Of Newton County The 18th Army Corps
Gen. HurIburi entered Meridian the l4tb OF Febru.
nv lust m mo 10 witness the hurried departure Of Cen
Baliwns Rebel brigade on special train for Mobile.
fow shells went Kissing after the tran. but We could
not learn Of ans damage resulting from them.
About two miles east Of Decatur party Of 40 or 20
Rebels attacked OF trains. killing II mnles The
guard repulscd them killing FIVE and capturing three
\ one Of our men we're injured. Gen. Sherman with
two Of his stsf in perilous condition at this
inc and il was feared the euire party would be sur
rounded by fucrrllas. They escaped however aud
oia ID their command some four miles distant without
nol-statoB.
Gen. Crocker commanding the ith Division. l1th
rray Corps deserves great credit for the eiiectul
manner In which he destroyed Enterprise and other
places and the discipline be maintained among his
roops, preventing lawlessness or pIage on private
property
Ii is impossh!c to state with any degree Of accuracy
he exact loss of either armies reports ayng been
made up 10 the present time. staff officers estimate
hat our loss in killed and wounded will not exceed 20
men with about 100 captured The captured men we're
AIKEN TO Mobile. The Rebel loss In killed and wounded
IS much greater their loss by dcserion and capture
being estimated at CO., Among tho prisoners are
Lieut. Tomlinson Of the Rebel Brig. Gen ferguson's
staff and Lieut. VIM, tho Rebel conscrpton officer at
Jackson. The deserters who focked 10 our lines in
squads report universal feeling Of dissatisfaction in
Bishop Folks army and the renegade Bishop has pub
icly proclaimed his inability TO restrain his men from
and desertion.
The Mobile and Ohio Road. which was so thoroughly
considered by engineers to be the finest
built road in the United States, costing $4,000 per
mile II was built principally by English capitalists.
and George Peabody, tho London banker owned sew.
,rl thousand shares. The destruction Of this road viii
,reyent the Rebels from reinforcing Mobile by rail- and
,tectuely cuts off the fertile region Of country in
Nor,hern Mississippi from which the Rebels derived
immense subsistence supplies. The weather was most
nropitious for such bold movement and notwithsand
inc the female Secessoniss prayed loud and long for
rain AS soon they heard of troops crossing the
Biz Black yet the elements failed to wage wnr against
this instiablc crusade into the yitas Of the enemys
country. Such strong influence has Gen. Sherman
over his brave men that but very little struggling was
although the expedition marched 400
mites in ~ days go
Ten thousand slaves were liberated from cruel bond.
400 and full brigade ofathlctc colorcd troops will i'm
ncda,ely be organized. The slaves form most mourn.
fu curiosity with their lacerated backs. branded faces
ana Jagged garments Such Heterogeneous collection
M humanity was perhaps never before gathered 10
re,her They embrace both sexes OF every shade Of
COMPLEXION and vary In age from one month TO 100