, 1864-02-17
FRGM NASHYILLE.
TIE EXPEDITION OF TEE
15Tt1 A1kHlT cox rs.
"Details Of Its marclh-UufonS Sentiment
In Northern Alzbnuaa-IieheIs Ooto-
Ing 1n-Latcr from Knoxvtlle-EQp.
tehnlent Of SeceHsi0nfktSs
From Our Special. Correspondent
~. "a ct-i


Your readers have been informed of an cx-
pcdition from the 18th army corps, which
recently penetrated Alabama. The Important
facts which it developed entitlc It to mere
thnn passing notice in the columns of the
TRIBUNE. Gen. Logan had intended to take
the personal command OF the expedition, and
came up to Larkinsyille for that purpose
,but, on The era of its departure was taken
suddenly Ill, and the command deyolyed up-
on Brig. Con, Morgan L. Smith. On the 25th
of List month, the pontoons which had been
In Mud Creek, were ferried down the Ten
ncssee, TO larkins Ferry, by the 6th Missouri.
The construction Of . pontoon bridge was ut
once commenced under the supcrintendence
of Capt, Jenny, engineer Of Gen. Shermau's
staff. By 8 o'clock OF the 2Gth, the bridge
was completed, the work having been done
during the night By the pioneer corps Of the
1st and I'd divisions.
SAND MOUNTAIN.
Twelve miles south Of the Tennessee at
this point, is ridge of mountains running
Sand Mountain. Between It and the Teupes-
see is a low qufcksand bottom, that in rainy
weather becomes very muddy, This wiley
was heretofore pretty thickly settled and It
the time speak OF, had considerable popu-
latiou. Since the commencement of the rebel
conscription, number Of rebel officers with
small squads Of TROOPS have been In the valley
for the purpose Of fconscripting the Inhabitants
liable to military duty. Considerable num-
bcra hare been hurried away from their homes
to the army, and others have been compelled
to lidc in the mountains to avoid compnl-
sorry service In Il causc they disliked
Since the occupation Of the line between
Stevenson and Huntsville these squads have
been doing picket duty in our front,
CAPTURING REBEL CoEsonur OFFICERS,
Gen. Smith, rs soon as the bridge was con-
etr1ctcd, crossed with SIX regiments of his
DIVISION and made dispositions to capture
these officers and their squads. Two re.1-
menls under ue command Of Col a: D. Par.
r, Of the 41th Ohio, were dispatched to. the
Junction Of Santa Rosa and Town creeks a ;
second force Of Two regiments, under Col
Theo Jones, Of tho 10th Ohio. were sent to
Gourd Neck; while two regiments under Ma
1or F1oman, Of the 11Gth Illinois. made a.
forced march Of twelve miles to Smith Gap,
In Sand Mountain: Gen. Smith accompanied
the force under Major F1oman. The different
movements were made In excellent order md
TING, and the result was the capture Of A
number Of commissioned officers and men.
MOVEMENT or TUE MAIN roRcE.
While this movement was taking place, the
remainder Of the troops composing thc expo
ditionary corre moved across the FLYER. The
forcc consisted OF Q. brigade and two regi-
sions Of the corps battery a, Capt Wood;
bnttcTy b, Lieut. Dc Gruss 1st Illinois ar
ti!lcry; the 18th Michigan mounted infantry:
q detachment Of the 9Th Ohio cavalry, md a
detachment of tie LIST Alabama cavalry under
Capt. Allen tho whole cayalry being under
tho Command Of Col Oliver. r,
A STORM:
Cn nIondoy tire column moved at daylight
with ten doy6' rations. During tho night
severe rain storm set In, and the lncn without
tents or cover Of any kind were dreuched.
Alter hasty breakfast, such as soldiers gen-
orally make II, storm, Of hard breat, un-
cooked h:con and poorly cooked coffee the
bng1c sounded mud they fell In with shout |
and flied out from their bivonac as complai-
sanity as ii the sun shonc and the roads
were paved. The storm continued a1l day,
tho water falling In such quantities rs 10 l
make the bottom vast mud hole. Upon 4
reaching Sand Mountain the mud was SO deep
ns to render the movement Of the artillery |
and transportation almost Impossible. There |
being no Indications of a cessation Of the |
etorn, Gen. Smith was Obliged to send back |
all OF bis artillery, transportation and arnbu- 1
fnnces. The troops received six days' rati0us |
which was disposed Of In their haycrsacks !
ind knapsacks; us best they could. On Tllurs- !
day morning The command moved toward |
lllc cavalry moving towards Guntcrsyille IN |
a1arshau county, on line west br Lebanon. !
! he advance y IFS skirmishing nearly. all day,
inc enemy appearing in squads of mounted
men, but on no occasion making stand for
battle. .lebunon and GuntcrsyiIIc were both
reached on Thursday, a number Of rebel ofH-
march.
90 CAPTURES AT TOWN CREEK.
At Town Greek q lieutenant and two cou.
der stations and IS, 100 In confederate money
yns caotured. This money it WIS ascertained l.
lad been sent there for the relief OF The fuml.
les Of soldiers.
An ATTACK THREATENED,
Immediately aftar the return oi the cavalry
rom Guntersyille 10 Lebanon, :Gcn. Smith
:ent the 18th Michigan, mounted infantry, to
place ii mics to his lctt, to
connect with force under Gen Stanley, sent
nut by Gen. Thomas. Col. Oliver reached
lie ploce without difficulty, but could learn
lothing Of Stanley's command, and returned. !
That night 1t was aseertgincd from different
onrces Of information, descr.e1s, prisoners
0 attack him with a superior forcc-two
egfmcnts ofmountcd infantry with two field
,atterics, which were already moving from
Kingston, a large cavalry force under Wheel
+ and 1toddy, estimated at 1900, together
gith the force which Ind fallen back before
Lac ANtIuNEy "C4E W Liz AEAk uA1
t Town Creek, at m admirable place for often
I've operations, and which he was obliged to
'nss On his return. Smith had nothing but
Infantry and cavalry; no artillery and no
Fagons in which to bring off his wounded In
ase Of an engagement, He was then forty
NO miles from the Tennessee, and from any
and the enemy wcro In double
Is numbers. The object Of the expedition
fas not to bring on or risk general engage
acnt- 1tslegitimnte purpose under the or
ezs, of Gen. Logan had-bcen fully accom-
liGhcd. But just at that point tho General
,und himself confronted bya superior force
m attack at Lebanon, but really
loving TO cut off his return-as captured !:
Ulcer boasted, "sure to bag the whole
'ankce concerr,.' It las been your CORES
ondcnt's fortune to accompany the army in
NC ca;1acity md another upon all the CAM
aigns In which Gen Smith had q command,
P 70 the time that he Was wounded before
i .lchsnurg. He has had no sererer. test Of
aa3a p neantaes as General officer, than this ex-
-. ~ :n':' /" 49, ~...s fi:r
TIE REBz1a THwARrRD.@T = :. d ~
me command left Lebanon bn Wednesday,
ds;a 40 Ieasaed and crossed Town Greek with No I
pposinon- Here they halted for several
Hulh+ Hnt Tie enemy ref,ne1 RI offarE-> | ,