Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-02-19

heavy fire from our guns. A lew Gays
ago a squad of 10 rebel soldiers, incldd'
ing lieutenant, escaped into our lines
They say starvation stares them in the
face, and that the military rulers have
full sway over the civil authorities thai
they are becoming desperate, and thai
every means in their power will be re
sorted to to force the blockade here
They report that the city is badly dam
aged from the effects of Gillmore's con-
slant bombardment.
EXPLOITS OF A LOYAL ALABAMA
REGIMENT.-There is regiment of cav
airy in the Union service at the wesi
composed wholly OF loyal Alabamians
1t was organized at Corinth, Miss, and
now has over 1900 men. 1t has been
in constant service, and has captured
over nine hundred prisoners. 1t has lost
in one action, killed and wounded, up
ward of one hundred men. 1t has de-
stroyed vast deal of property belonging
to the enemy, in various raids. The
regiment is commaaded by Col. George
Z. Spencer, who has asked leave to raise
brigade, believing that he can raise
three or four regiments in short time.
The present regiment was raised in this
way. Men acquainted with the coun-
try, were sent from the camps to the
Union counties in Alabama, travelling at
night and through the woods to avoid
observation in that way penetrating a
distance of from one hundred and fifty
to two hundred miles. They would
then hide themselves in the caves 10 the
mountains, and by stratagem manage to
communicate with the Union men. At
ter having got together forty or fifty
men willing to run the risk Of attempting
to gain the federal lines, they would start
cautiously, travel by night, and through
the woods, strenuouSly. avoiding the pub
lie roads till out OF reach of danger
Under every trial this mode succeeded
admirably, Corinth being reached safely
in each instance. This was carried on
so successfully for some time that Gov.
Shorter of Alabama, offered ten thou
sand dollars reward for the body of any
federal recruiting officer taken in the
State.
GRANTS ARMIES ALL IN NOTION
A Chattanooga letter of the 18th states
that Gen. Logan left Huntsville, Alaba-
ma, some days since, with the 10Th army
corps, to act in conjunction with Gen.
Sherman. The cavalry expedition un-
der Grierson and Smith crossed the
country from Corinth, moving southwark
ly. 1t is understood that these columns
are intended 10 act in conjunction with
the one to Alabama which has gone for
ward from Larkinstile, and the other to
cut off Folks retreat, and dispense the
cavalry of Forrest, reported as securing
Central and Northern Mississippi.
There is no reason to doubt but that be-
sides this enterprise the combinations
are intended to aid n great flank move
ment on Johnston.
The army at Chattanooga is also by
this time in motion fer Tunnel Hill and
Dalton. Its movenent may have been
delayed by circumstances unknown, but
it is under marching orders.
There was great ARRAY in Johnston's
army on the 9TH. The I'd Kentucky
regiment refused en- masse to be con-
scripted and were placed under guard
of the Sd Alabama. Col. Woodward,
Major Davis and three captains of the
I'd Kentucky, free revolyers into the
Alabama regiment, killing and wound
ing forty.two. Boil regiments broke in
disorder.
GEN. SHERMAN's PRoGREss.-Gen-
erals Hurlbut and Mcpherson have ar
rived at Jackson, Miss, and taken pos
session, and Col. Coales took Yazoo City
after slight skirmist. Jackson was &C.
cupied on the 9th, at 6 p. M, Gen. Nc
Pherson's corps leading the advance. A
slight resistance was met with near Ba-
ker's creek on the morning of the 4th,
in which we lost three men killed, nine
wounded and eight captured, in an at
tack of the enemy's cavalry on our ad-
vance. The force dispatched to occupy
Yazoo City was under the command off
Col. Coates, and consisted of the 11th
Illinois infantry, the 4th Illinois cavalry
and 9Th Louisiana infantry, corps d'Afri.
que. No resistance was offered to op.
pose the advance of this small column
until it reached Satartia. Here a brisk
fight occurred on the mornina of tbe /
4'n' IN wh'ccSa we lost nine Zen killed of
the nth Illinois and 8th Louisiana. Both