Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-22

approach.
Geo Lorinz, wi b bis demoraizad army,
llo s9d Pearl River on the 9Th Of February at
Madison crossing, and formed a junction with
Gen. French the two forces amounting to 500
men Gen Sherman felt quite couidenl the
enemy would make a stand ut this sIrOng posi-
zion, bu. our scouts soon brought tho amusing
Intelligence that the rebels were in full retreat
on the Hlllsboro road The cause Of this change
Of base, we learned from deserter who entered
our lines, was the supposltion that Gen. oher-
man was endesyoriDg " flank them via. the line
OF the Southern Railroad. Col WinslOw,
commanding brigade OF cavalry, consisting Oh
the 4th Iowa 9th Wisconsin, 10th Missouri
and llth Illinois, chased the enemy 10 Merldl
an, capturing and killing quite number
Our cavalry occupied the town on Feb. IA, and
remained there seven days, destroying the state
Arsenal which was flied with damaged fire.
arms aud immense quantities Of ammunition Of
all kinds together with a large supply OF cop
per and lead
The Ragsdale and Burton Hotels were de-
stroyed after the luruIture had been removed
it being the intention OF Gen Sherman to dc
sry nothing except what might bo used by
the Rebel Goyernment. The State Arsenal was
stocked with valuable machinery for the manu-
iacturo and repair Of small arms and all sorts
OF ordnance stores the destruction OF which
will prove q serious blow 10 the eugmy. Twelve
extensive Government sheds, "a large building
called tire Soldiers Home, and a number OF
hospitals and warehouses; hlled with misceane-
Gus military stores, were st Oh fire and totally
destroyed. Two large grist mills were llkewls9
burned, after our army had ground sufficient
supply of corn meal. Twenty thousand bush.
els U. corn fell into our hands, and was speedily
converted into corn cakes Tor the hurgry sol
diers. Nearly every building 10 Meridian was
destroyed save those which were occupied, and
the smoking ruins, with their backened walls
and chmneys standing as giant scntnels over
the sorrowiul scene, sen. thnll ol pity to The
hearts Of these whom stern war and military
necessity compelled to apply the torch
1t was part Of the military programme for
Gen. Smiths cavalry expedition which lett
Memphis, Tenn, to operate in conjunction with
Gen. sherman s forces, and to unite at Merldl'
an and it was the failure Of this portion OF
the plan that inluced Gen. Sherman to remain
seven days in Meridian. Gen. Sherman sent
out several scouting parties as far north as
Louisville and Koscclusko, hoping to gain some
information of Gen Smiths whereabout but
was unable to gather any intelligence Of his
movements
A number Of small expeditions were cent
from Meridian in dile. ent directions, for The
purpose Of destroying whatever might benefit
the Rebellion. Among the places deyasted
. were Enterprise, Marion, Quitman, llillsboro
e Canton, Lake Station, Decatur, Bolton, and
e Lauderdale Springs, At Enterprise, the depot
two flour mills, $4,000 bushels Of corn, 2 0Ot
4 bales OF fine cotton, branded G. ). A., two mill
= tary hospitals and several new buildings con
. nected with parole camp, were laid in ashes
, At Marion the railroad station woodhouse
and a few small yuidings were burned Gait
a man was visited, and Two lJur mills, fine saw
e mill railroad depot and other storage baildiogs
& with several Thousand feet of lumber, tell pre-
g to the fire king At llillsboro several store
were set on FIRE. Seventeen damaged lOcomo
lives, six locomotives III line running order,
number of cars, and repair shop, with hand
cars, quantities Of s!cepers, and tool house
were DESTROYED at Canton-al belonging to th
Mississippi Central Railroad. No prvat
property was moested or injured at Canton, tn
D, inhabitants never having fired upon our troops
Beyond The depletion OF u lew unguarded hen
y roosts, very litte depreciation was Committed
\ One rampant female secesh disc yered VII
1 Yankee surrcptItously purloinlng pair OF ia
= chickens Terribly incensed at this wanto
, robbery and gross violation OF the rights O
!, personal property, she made a bold onslaught
a but | regret to say that all her expostulation
. failed to convince the demoralzed and hungr
~" . mudsill." that ho was slnning for he replied
! Madam this accursed Rebellion must b
4 ga n ntaka IN taaiag
The door was slammed to with violence, an
q, the enraged feminine retired, dsgusted wit
T Yankee habits, to mourn over the loss 9
6 her plump pair OF chickens.
d Our troops ras,i sad havoc with the Mjbil
1, aud Ono aud the southern railroad lines, II
,. dieting such damage as million dollars car
J. not repair. The southern rad was torn up
10 rails twisted, and seepers burnt from JacksO
. to twenty miles east of Meridian, to Cuba Sta
a tlon. The Mobile and OHIO road was destroye
n lor IS miles, extending from Quitman to LAT
!. derdale Springs, Five costly bridges wei
# totally DESTROYED the one spanning the CAi3i
9, asAw6ay River was 2l0 ieet long with trestl
y. work which required four months hard lab,
10 OF hundreds ul mechanics to construct lt
is was substantial, covered bridge. The bndg
% over Oetchibaelh, Aligato., lallasha, au
q, CHUNKY Rivers were also burned. On the Ia
,f Cant. Foster, ol the 10Th Missouri CavAlrl
r received Instructions to make raid on Lak
,. station. seventeen miles from Hillsboro, and
0 destroy all property available for the rebel
70 Two livery stables, several maohne'sh0ps, thr'
in locomotives water.iauk, timetable, 30 rallrou
n cars, engne.house, two saw.mills, and thou
ands of d liaIs worth of lumber were consumes
" spirits OF turpentiue from the Signal Corp
Il aiding materially in the RAPID destruction
e Of the buildings.
n Decatur was enetered on the 10Th Of Fehruar
. where some thirty buildings were burned. ID
IN catur /, the country ceat Ct Newton Count
or The 10th Army Corps Gen. Hurlburt, q
J. tered Meridian on the l4th February, just
m time to witness the hurried departure OF Gel
Q. Baldwu's Rebel Brigade on special train f
s Mobile. A few shells went hssng after q
4. tram, but we could not learn OF any damaI
w resulting from them.
ed About two miles east Of Decatur, party
IN 40 OF 50 rebels attacked one OF our trains XII
" inc Ii mules The guard repulsed them XII
N ng tive aud capturing three. None ot OF
le men were injured. Gen. Sherman, with two
\ his staff, were in perilous condition at th
,e time, and it was feared the entire plriy wou
y be SURROUNDED by the guerrilas. They escape
be however, aud joined their Command, some to-
m miles distant, without moestation.
y. y, Gen Crocker, commanding the ilh Diylslo
y l7h Army Corps, deserves great credit lor u
y Ell ctual manner in which he destroyed Ente
y, prise and other places, and for the dsolpllI
~a ho maintained among his troops, presentr
8 > lawlessncss or pilage on private property
IN Ii is impossible 10 state WI h any deSree
=, accura the exact loss OF either armies, no
X -. l,,,a, ho,,, made IN Ia the uresent tim