Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-29
FROM MEMPHIS

MEuPHIs, February 90.
Reports Of stragglers that General Smiths eI-
position bad beeneut up prove false. The Gen
eral arrived here at IL O'Clock last night.
From an officers diary, kept dunng the pro-
gress ofthe expedition, ! eondense the following
nshed
On the 18th the expedition reached Okolona,
| Is miles south Of C0rinth, and $50 miles south
east OF Memphis, Here We heard that Sherman
had CAPT ured Meridian, and was advancing east.
on the 18th We marched TO Egypt Station on the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, where we captured
and destroyed q vast quantity Of Confederate
corn. One column went through Aberdeen,
and the other on the west side Of the railroad,
concentrating st Prairie Station, Aberdeen and
ColumA, under General Emerson. We had con-
siderable skirmishing near that place. We dss-
troyed over 100000 bushels Of ConIederate corn
at Prairie Station, also large lot Of cotton.
20th-Broke camp at so A. NJ. Forrest report
ed IN force at West Point. IL A. N. advanced,
skirmished heavily with enemy; p. N. halted
within mile Of West Point lost one Lieuten-
ant killed and i've men wounded in skirmish ;
killed one rebel Captain, captured and wounded
one rebel major, and one p iVste.
2lst-Moved west found Forrest, Lee, ChRl-
mers land Roddy were combined against US
they tried to cut our column in two, but with
out success very heavy fighting occurred both
rear and advance the Second Iowa had q num-
Der killed and wounded in gallant charge two
to three thousand rebels were on each flank, and
we were constantly changing front; we here lost
which were spiked before eaptured and ali tbeir
ammunition saved (; Smiths men fell back
slowly, our troops ambushing the rebels as they
advanced rebel loss very heavy; Smith bnrned
every trestle on the Mobile and Ohio road, de-
stroyed miles Of track and very large amount
Of corn as he fell back.
22d-Broke camp at A. NJ, after resting only
two hours. There was severe fighting in the
rear all day. The rebels lost heavily as the
roads were ambushed at every available point.
VOlley after yolley was poured into them ct
short range as they advanced, bat having so
much the largest force they continued to press
our rear heavily; the rebel column moving each
flank with the evident design OF reaching Tslla-
hstchie in advance Of our force, and forming
ajunctiOn, prevent our crossing, and capture the
whole command but by forced marching Smith
passed both fankng 0olumns, and by marching
all night arrived safely at New Albany.
Noon, 23d and 24th.-Skirmishing continued.
25th-Msrched 90 miles, arriving at Memphis at
IL in the afternoon. Most Of the expedition
however stopped ct Colliersville. The following
are the estimated results of the expedition:
Destroyed over q million bushels of corn tore
uu and destroyed miles Of track OF the Mobile
Ohio Railroad, burned many bridges and trus-
ties; captured and broughtin over 1,5OO mules
and horses, 1000 negroes, and over 800 rebel
prisoners who are now in Irving prison.
1t IS impossible to give our loss, but it is mneh
less than the enemy's. The expedition was sue
cessful at every point, and in every particular
except an important oHe--the making Of iune-
tion with ShermAn-whch is attributed mainly
to slow movements Of the New Jersey and PEN
syvania cavalry regiments, causing delay Of
one week In starting the expedition. The re-
treat was not at any time rout, although there
was some struggling.
The Presidents Amnesty Proclamation Cen
erSl Grant ordered extensively circulated
throughout the country.