The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-03-15
SHERMAN DEFEATED AND HIS CAM
PAIGN BROKEN UP.

The great campaign under Gen. Sherman, an
nounced in the Yankee papers of several weeks
past, to consist of 10000 men, to move in three
columns, successively from Vicksburg, West Ten
nessee, and Huntsville, Ala, to sweep through the
cotton States of Mississippi aud Alabama, break
up their railroads, destroy their grain and manu-
tactares, and capture and reduce their capitals,
has been brought to grief
The commanding general of this department,
while deheient in troops, seems not to have been
wanting in tact, energy, skill or judgment The
plans of the astute Sherman seem to have compre-
bended and bafaed, his movements broken down,
and his army forced to retreat. Sherman left
Fioksburg with 40, 900 men, 10000 of whom
were sent up the Yazoo; the rest marched in one
column through Jackson into the heart of Misss-
sippi. This was composed chiefly of infantry and
artillery. This column was first confronted by the
cavalry commanded by Gen. S. D. Lee, then by
the small infantry force at the disposal Of the COM
manding general After crossing Pearl River,
Lees cavalry was thrown upon its fanks and rear,
aud with snch success as to prevent all foraging
The stores in depots on all the railroads between
fearl RlVer and the Tombigbee were sent East,
and the whole Of the rolling stock of those roads
was placed beyond the enemy's reach This be-
ing accomplished, the commanding general placed
his Infantry the East side of the Tombigbee, to
defend the crossings, and concentrated the whole
of his cavalry on the enemy's second column, from
West Tennessee, which had now moved.
This column, which consisted of cavalry and
mounted infantry, 10000 strong, commanded by
Gen. Smith, had been held in observation BY Gen.
Forrest. 1t was charged, first, with the destruc-
ton of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad above Me-
ridian, and the large accumulation of Government
grain in the praries, then with the duty of forag-
ing and subsistng the infantry from Vicksburg.
To crush it was to crush the expedition
So soon as it moved, Gen. Forrest, uLder orders,
moved after it, and threw his command between it
and Gen. Sherman. Gen. Lee was ordered, by
forced marches, to join Gen Forrest, who was fur
ther reinforced by cavalry command under Gen.
Ruggles, and the Mississippi State troops under
Maj Gen. Gholson. This complication accom-
plisned the object The Yankee Gen. Smith i'm
mediately fell back and attempted to escape. He
pressed by Gen Forrest, overtaken and attack
ed at Okolona, and, after days desperate fight
ing, was thoroughly routed, one hundred and fifty
of his command killed, wounded or taken priso-
ners, and six pieces of artillery captured.
Gen. Sherman, finding his cavalry cut off, fell
back toward the Mississippi, and, at the last ac-
counts, was being pursued by the cavalry of Gen.
Lee, while Gen. Smith was flying before the pur
suit of Gen. Forrest.-Demopolis Cor Mobile
Register.
The State of Mississippi is almost wholly clear
ed OF ankeeS. Sherman Is once more In his for
tifcations around Vcksburg and Port Hudson,
and there Yankees whatever in the North
ern part of the State The enemy, therefore, now
hold about the area of one county, and nothing
more.
Never did an expedition prove such an abortion
as has that of Sherman. He .traeersed poor pi-
ney woods belt of land running throush the South
ern portion Of the State, and burned the small
cabins and villages of its inhabitants, and tore up
in all about fifty miles of railroad. The plea Of
the Yankees now is that they set out only for the
purpose of forcing back General Polk the Tom
bigbee River-the merest stuff and nonsense. 1t
is perfectly plain that they after Mobile, and
that Sherman and Farragut were to cooperate TO-
gether.
We expect the latter has not heard of the re-
treat of his ally, else he would abandon his eff
forts against the forts at the mouth of Mobile bay
Our works there and along the shore to the city
are stronger than our works about the harbor Of
Charleston, and there need not be the slightest
apprehension felt about Lincoln's admiral taking
them. 1t is simply impossible for him to effect
anything with his water craft in that locality.
Upon the whole, the situation in the West is
perfectly satisfactory.