The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-23
FROM GEN. SHERMAN'S ARMY
Important Movements in Progress,
GENERAL ROUSSEAU'S GREAT RAID.
rNAcuy1n or rnr cNvAtnY.

iSACtIvITS OF THE CAVALRY.
NAsuyILE, Tenn, July lO.-The operations
Of General ShermAn's cavalry, during the eau
paign still progressing in Georgin, have not been
of a very extensive character, owing 20 the
scarcity OF forage IN the Mountainous country In
which it has been operating
Heretofore lis operations have been confined
to the protection Of the TANKS, the gu riding OF
trains and patrolng of the railroad line Of com
munCations. But light as this compulsory duty
hos been, the cavalry have suffered very badly.
and many thousands Of horses have died Of
starvation.
GENERAL RoUssEAU's PLAN.
At the time General sherman was making his
famous raid in Mississippi. Maior-General l.. II.
Rousseau, commanding the district Of Nashville,
proposed to General Grant II concerted move
m,nt nom Decatur upon Selma, Alabama. flo
had obtained great deal of valuable information
regarding the route and the vulnerability Of
Selma, and was anxious 10 make the movement.
But as the raid Of General Sherman was inst-
tutt only for the purpose Of SO thoroughly de-
stroy ing The Mississippi railroads that no extou-
sive force of Rebel infantry could operate against
the points on tho Mississippi river, which 1t was
Intended to weaken in order to prosecute the
pretent campaign and did not contemplate the
occupation Of Selma, General Rousseau's prOpo-
siton was declined.
Lately, however, General Sherman, becoming
desiTons Of the dcsiruct on of the railroad be-
tween Montgomery, Ala, and Columbus, Ga,
ordered General Rousseau, June 30, to make
preparations for a raid upon the road between
the points named; and this raid as ordered, ia
the one upon which General Rousseau departed
last evening. The solc purpose of the raid is, rs
before stated, the destruction of the railroad.
This is 60 be done so eIiectually as 10 cat oT
for the rest of the war the line by which the Rebels
get their supplies of heef, &c. Orders were given
and preparations mnde for the destruction of the
rails by twisting and burning them with the ties,
bridges, water tanks, &C.; the blowing up of
culverts, locomotives, machine and Government
shops, arsenals, &c.
Orders were also given for the destruction of
Opelika the point at which the Columbus road
DIVORCES from the Atlanta, West Point, and Mont
gomery road. By the complete destruction of
rbs point General Sherman hopes to cut off
Montgomery from communication by both routes
with the east.
General Rousseau hopes to irretrievaby de-
strOy The railroads from Montgomery 20 Column
bus and West Point, and if practicable. the
greater part of the Rebel government property ia
Montgomery, Columbus, Tuskcgee and the
principal points along his route.
Having completed all his preparations, and
having on the 4th instant received the final orders
TO move, General Rousseau and staff left head
quarters In this city on the Sth,
TIE PARTING SCENES.
The party left with the idea that they might
land in q Southern prison, but congratulated
themselves that Grant had cut off the route to
Libby. With this view Of a prison In their minds,
the party made all preparations for Southern
residence, and quite an amusing scene was wit
Dessed at headquarters in the closing and bslauc
ing OF accounts, writing farewell letters and Civ
ing directions for the disposition OF priyate
property.
The Provost Marshal, Major Blguey with his
usual &, g,nerosiiy, gave each of the officers
couple OF thousand dollars in Rebel money
not fac siR,ile, but the grnuine aricle-whiCh IS
said to be nearly as valuable as the imitation,
though rot equalling it In engraving and printing.
1HE FORCE UNDER GENERAL ROUSSEAU.
General Sherman's order for the raid restricted
I'll N al fKpa HhnuuanA fua hun slrah
The men are all veterans, recruits Of the regi-
mes Is haN ing been left behind. General Rons-
seau ard Colonel Harrison left very confident of
success. Both are fighting, energetic men, and
ii success Is possible they will accsmplish the
task laid ont for them.
The route to be taken by General Rousseau is
one that has never been followed heretofore
during the war, though it is nearly identical with
the trace" pursued by General Jackson In the
war against the Creek Indians. The first point
of any importance on the route is Blountsvlle
the next Ashyile. A few miles bcyend Ashville
is the COOsa liver.
General sherman first directed Rousseau to
make the crossing at Ten Islands, hut subsc-
quently this WAS changed so as TO allow him to
Cross at the nearest ford. lie Is then 10 move
rapidly up the Taladega and the nearest bridge
| or ford over the Tallapoma river The ronte
| betwctn these two streams il 20 he very rapidly
pursued, and the bridges are TO be completely
| destroyed.
liability, be made ut Tehopeke. aud will bring
| the force into Dadevilie. Mountain roads will
| carry il TO the railrosd at convenient points,
| when the work OF destruction will be begun.
| There are eight bridges on the railroad between
Montgomery and Opeika, the most important
| Icing over Oakfuskee, Cupin, Uatchie, Caeebec,
and Uforkee creeks.
II also crosses three branches OF the latter
siTcII, and, as II follows The course OF Soncha-
| hatchee creek, IL Is more than probable that
| numbers Of luhnels and hT dges are to no found
| in the valley. Between Opeita aud West Point,
| ON tb9 Atlanta road. are two bridges over the
| Big Halawockee aud Osonuppah creek Near
| Columbus, on the other route, are three bridges
| over the Nctampka creek aud ono over Mill
| creek.
THE RETURN ROUTE.
Returning after the destruction Of these roads
Rousseau is 10 move up the west side Of the Chat
! tahoochee, if the opportunity offers, and join
| General Sherman between Marietta and the Chat
! tahoochce river If this route is threatened by
the enemy, Rousseau is to make straight for Pen
| sacola, and take vessels 70 New Orleans and
| thence TO Nashville again.
TIE IMPORTANT POINTS.
| In his orders General Sherman aludes 10
| Montgomery, OpelikO, and Columbus, as being
| the important points but do not know that in,
structions were given him TO attack either Mont.
| gomery or Columbus.
Orders were issued for the destruction oi
| Opelika. Selma is alluded to in the orders as
| point Of secondary importance.
| GENERAL RoUssBAU's ARRIVAL AT DECATUR
| NASHVILLE, July l3.-General Rousseau and
| his forces arrived at Decatur on Saturday night
| July 9, and were engaged all the morning on the
| 10th preparing TO depart. The pack mules which
| were TO carry the ammunition, broke from the
corral on Saturday night, and about one hundred
were lost in the country around Decatur. Grea
| difficulty was encountered In collecting those
| secured.
| THE START PROM DECATUR
| At last, about noon on the 10th, the head of tb(
column mGved out Of Decatur. General Rousseau
and staff left about p. NJ, and thus the great raiC
began. Tho column has probably effected the
crossing Of the Coosa by this time.
PROM THE CHATTAHoOCHEE.
General Sherman .elegraphs that tine Rebe
works at the ChattahoOchee are the strongest h,
has yet encountered, being finished Ia the highes
style 0f the art.--Neie York Herald