New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-01
RetQrn OF General Smiths
Expedition.
4 Unicn with Sherman Imprac!lcable
Heavy Fighting with Superior Forces.
Rebel Railroads and Supplies Destroyed.
MEMPHIS, Friday, Feb. %, 1854.

mthfbis, rrluty. eD 20 ico1
The reports Of stragglers that Gen. Smiths
expedition bad been cut up prove false That General
arrived here at II O'Clock last night.
From officers diary, kept during the progress Of the
expedition, condense the following particulars Ia add
ton to those already furnished:
On the 18th tho expedition ;roached Okolons, the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad. rs miles south Of Cornth
and 100 south cast Of Memphs. Hero they heard that
Sherman had captured Meridian and was advancing
east
On tho l4th the expedition marched to Egypt sta.
ton On the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, where was cap
tured and destroyed vast quantity Of Confederate
corn. One column went through Aberdeen. and the
other 10 the west Of the railroad concentrating ct Prai
rie Station.
The Aberdeen colann, under Gen. Grerson, had con-
siderable diminishing near that place and destroyed
over 10000 bushels Of Confederate corn at Prairie
Station, also large lot Of Confederate cotton.
On the Goth the expedition broke up camp. AtH
o'clock Forrest was reported ip force at West Point
At II O. IN. advance skirmished heavily with the
enemy At D. M. we halted with O mile Of West
Point.
We Loaf one lieutenant killed and five men wounded
in the sSrmish, and killed Rebel captain capturing
a Rebel major and one private.
TN the 2lst we moved OH west foint fouh" N"'-
rest Lee Chalmers and Roday combined against us
They tried to cut column in tgo but without sue
cess Very heavy fighting occurred, both in tho rear
and on the advance. The % Iowa had number Killed.
and wounded in a gallant charge. From 900 10 300
Rebels hovcrcd on each flank while al tho heavy force
in our rear was constantly charging. We have lost
three fed pieces (pounder steel suls), which were
spiked before captured. All their ammunition was
saved.
Smith now fell back slowly troops smbushng tho
Rebels as they advanced The Rebel loss was quite
heavy.
Smith burnt eveyy treste on the Memphis and Ohio
Railroad and destroyed miles Of the track and large
quantities Of corn Us we fell back.
On the I'D we broke camp at a. m. after resting
only two hours.
There has been severe fighting in the rear Ell day. As
the roads amDushed at cg available point voHey
after voey poured into them at short range as they
advanced; but having much the largest force. they
Continued 20 press heavily. the Rebel column
moving each flank with the evident design OF reaching
the Taahstchie in advance II force and forming
junction TO prevent crossing and capture the whole
command, but By forced marching, Gen. Smith passed
both aanking columns and marching ell night crossed
safely at Eew.Abany.
23d, NCon.--Tho rear guard has been skrmishing all
day.
2ith.-Skirmshing Is continued.
e5th-we marched 50 miles arriving at Memphis at
Il D. H. The most Of The expedition. however stopped
at ColaergviIe.
The following IL an estimate 81 the results;
The expedition destroyed over 100000 bushels Of
corn tore up and destroyed miles Of the Memphis and
Ohio Railroad track burned many bridges and tsstiss
captured and brought In 500 mules and horses,
about eco negroes. and over 500 Rebel prisoners
1t Is impossible to give loss bat It Is much less
than the encnys
The expedition successful at every point and In
every particular except the important Of making
junction with Sherman hch is attributed mainly TO the
slow movements Of the NewJersey and Pennsy svania
cavalry regiments which caused weeks delay In the
starting Of the expedition
The retreat not at any time rout, although there
was some struggling.
The Presidents amnesty proclamation and Gen.
Grants orders extensively circulated throughout
tho country.