, 1864-03-13


arsenal In the place where old guns and PTS
tolls were altered so as to be good rs new.
Also bayonetB were altered to what they
think q superior pattern, but our boys did
not Ike their appearance as well as our own.
They were broader md more lat than OUTS:
tho railroad buildings, and several buildings
containing commissaTy stores. The confed-
crates had removed most ot their stores,
Had Gen. ". s. Smiths cayalry expedition
arrived as was intended, no doubt much Of
tfta1ea ts st0res would nys stsv been % d.
1idian some ioraging parties were
attacked by tie encmy's cavalry, and few
Of our boys were wounded, but none killed.
To destroy what was Of use to the enemy in
aud around Meridian, required five days. II
Is needless to say that the destruction was
long time before the rebels will wish to see
tile Union army in that vicinity again.
~, FoR HOME. &,
Having accomplished tho object of the ex-
peditIon, and our provisions running low,
the expedition started back on the 10th ult.
The route chosen vas through Canton, to the
done, partly, that supplies might be obtained,
and partly for the reason that there was Com
federate property to be destroyed. On the
return march, the contrabauds begun
to pour In upon us by hundreds. Old
men and young men, women and children, Of
MI ages, some on foot, some on horseback,
and some In wagons drawn by oxen. It was
motley sight. Officers were appointed over
them, who sought to- keep them together,
but this was next to Impossible. Men might
be seen WHO had started with a large family
and lost them every one. They we're IN
doubtedly somewhere with the train and
cared for as well as possible. -
THE CoHTHABASDs FoEAGIEo.
One thing the darRics showed themselves
fully susceptible of-tle art Of foraging. Not
chicken or pig showed Its lucIlcss head,
but, in the words Of tie darkies themselves,
it WINS goiler. Nothing so nettled the seces-
sfonists ns to have things taken from them
By; the negroes. If our soldiers took what
they wanted to eat, they seldom uttered
word, but took It as matter Of course; but
let contraband capture anything, and they
complained bitterly.
TO CANTON.
Our march to Canton was devoid Of inter-
est The country is sandy and the soil poor
until we approach Pearl River. This VIC
crossed on q pontoon bridge. Afterwards
many fine plantations We found considera-
Bile cotton at different places on the route,
all of which was burned One Of our men
who Ind struggled from his command, was
found tied to tree and Shot He WIS not
dead when found. and wns taken along with
US, but the poor fellow could hardly recover.
During the march We lost several men by
struggling, but for the distance marched the
number Of stragglers was remarkably small.
AS n general th1ng our soldiers stood the
march remarkably well. Enough horses
who were sick and tired out could ride.
Canton IS fine village and contains many
splendid residences. 1t is really the pretticst
place In the State. It Is situated about ono
hundred miles from Meridian, and seventy
from visksburK a H., % Fifteen ' lecom9iives 9 MeFe
great to the rebels as they are very much
troubled to obtain rolling stock. Their cars
and engines arc nearly worn out, and their
means for replacing them are very limited.
The railroad Was destroyed at this place for
was obtained at this place, which came very
oppoItunely for our soldiers. for their hard
tack had nearly given ont. From Canton the
larger part OF the train and the contrabands
were sent to vicksburg in advance OF the
main army. The second night ont from Can-
greater part Of the next day. This was
the first rain Of any account that
We had experienced on the expedition. This
was ,enough to. show us how Impossible 1t
succeeded had the weather been rainy instead
Of dry and pleasant. It was so muddy that
the train was all day going the distance Of
eight miles, and worked very hard at that.
1t wns enough to mike oue's heart bleed to
@ zee the e, poor eontE,abands, shivering With the
piteously, all endeavoring to the best Of
their ability to Keep up with the train. Their
troubles were Of short duration, for the
weather soon cleared up, and they were able
to keep up with the train quite comfortably.
The rest Of onr march to Ficksburg was ac-
compllehcd without any event worthy Of no.
hce.; We arrived on the I'd insr., having
been absent from that place almost a month.
THE RESULT OF THE EXPEDITION.
The Contcdcratcs will consider this cxpcdi-
ton as the bo1dcst move Of the war. For
IN army no larger than that which accompa-
MED Sherman to advance into the very heart
OF the Coufcdcracy without any comnluuica-
t1on for nearly month, and th8t too where
the rebels had a perfect railroad communica-
lion, was truly bold move. Il shows more
plainly than anything else that has transpIred
the real weakness Of the Confedcracy. Had
could they have been raised in any manner,
he would not have been allowed to return
without serious opposition. It is an eve
opener to the people Of Mississippi, md can
hardly but convince them that ii Is useless to
| protract the War longer. Nearly all with
| gardcd in this light the expedition has done
! a great deal Of good. :,
the pEsTnCcT1oS OF PROPERTY.
Nearly one hundred miles of railroad was
destroyed, and. that in such manner that It
will bavc to be entirely rebuilt with new iron,
ity Of that article at the South, and the in
creasing scarcity Of: labor. These railroads
were OF untold value to the South Us meaua
| Of communication with different parts Of the
Confedcracy, and for the transmission ofsup-
plies. Besides the railroads and railroad build
| jngs, other buildings and stores, horses and
mules captured to the number Of two or
three thousand. and contrabands to the num-
Der Of i've thousand will swell tire amount Of
loss to the Confederatcs to nearly twenty
millions Of dollars. The country through
! Which We passed was obliged to be stripped
army. As the people must seek snstenance
elsewhere, It Is really taking supplies away
from the Confederates. There wan con.
siderable destruction of private property,
which may hardly be considered Justitablc;
yet the houses destroyed were almost lnvu-
probability, in the Confederate army Quite
quantity Of cotton was also destroyed.
This was done with little or no additional
expense to our Government, as the army
drew most Of Its supplies from the country.
TIE LOSS. 80
The loss On our side Is trifiug. Probably
one hundred will cover the killed, wounded
md prisoners. The loss Of the enemy was
much greater In killed aud wounded, and wc
captured more than two hundred prisoners
and deserterE-anong them, several officers.
Our soldiers endured the long march remark
ably well. and there were very few casea Of
sickness;
THE coN7RADAxDs.
The fire thousand, contrabands Is taking
just so much from the productive
interest Of the country, and conse-
euently from the Confedcrates, Nearly all
the uble-badied ones viii" enter the army,
In fact VIC were informed that ono Thousand
hayc nlready DONG so. The remainder viii
be sent to the contraband camp aud employed
to work On the plantations Is occasion may
require. -
TIE WEATHER.
The wcsther, with Que OF two alight ex-
cepuops, was delightful throughout the trip.
Had this not been the case, tho expedition
would have been greatly delayed, as tho roads
In some parts Of the route would have been
nearly or quite impossible. The nights were
cool and frosty, aud sometimes the Ice froze
quite thick.
THE SUCCESS OF TIE EXPEDITION.
The expedition may be considered suc-
cess as all was accomplished TINT was
designed or In our power to accomplish
But for the unacconntable non-arfiyal of
Gen. T. 8. Smiths cavalry expedition from
Memphis, perhaps more Of the confederate
commissa1y stores and more prisoners might
hare been captured. Some may be disap-
pointed because Sherman did not follow up
the enemy to Mobile, but little considera-
ton by one acquaintd with the facts in thecase
and the difficulties to be overcome will con-
vince him that such thing was altogether
Smnructfruh1e Mobile f.nn tn ettlCke1 with