The New York herald., 1864-03-15

impressed.
Upon The occupation OF Meridian General sherman 10.
sued The following congrauatory address 10 his troops
HxApou ARrras, DEPARrsEsr TSsyEssEE,
MERIDIAN, Miss, Feb. 10, 1864.
The General Comrandng conveys his congratulations
and thanks 70 the officers and composing ha com
mand for their most successful accomplishment OF one
OF the grea, problems of Meridan the great
railway centre OF the Southwest now in our possession.
and by industry and hard be rendered useless
70 tho enemy and deprive him Of the chief source OF sup
ply 70 his armies Secrecy In plan and rapdity OF exc
cuton accomplish the best results Of war General
Commanding assures all by following their leaders
feaeesy and with confidence they will IN time reap the
reward SO dear ala peace that win again be
disturbed IN our country BY disc ontened minority
! BY order Of W. T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding
OF ACTION.
The following Instructions ssuedto the troops BY
HEADQUARTERS DRpARrmENT JHB TENNESSEE, 4
MERIDIAN, Miss Feb Is, 1854.
The destruction. Of the railroads in.ersecting at Me.
eiectualy Every tie and rail for many miles in each
direction should be absolutely DESTROYED or injured and
every bridge and should be completely destroyed
To insure this end to General Hnrtbu Is entrusted the
destruction east and north and TO General Meherson the
roads and south The troops should be impressed
with the Importance Of this work. and also that tme
| is material, and therefore It should be begun al
Working parties should be composed OF about one half
tho command, and they should move by regiments pro-
vded with their arms aud haversacks, ready repel
attacks OF cavalry The other half In viii be able
1 TO watch the enemy retreatng eastward.
q. Colonel E. =. Wnslow, commanding cavalry, Will
keep cavalry advance OF the party working east.
ward and will act as though this army were slowly pur
s. Special instructions will be given as TO TO the gen.
eral supply train; and the troops In Meridian will
under proper brigade parties, collect meal mea. and
TN the last moment, when special detail will be made
| for that purpose.
BY order Of W. T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding.
rnB RAILROADS Observation-Disclosures o. ENTERPRISE AND
oUrMAS.
In obedience 10 the Instructions the destruction Of the
railroads in the village and vicinity entrusted to the
Of Chief Engineer Hickenooper assisted
by Captains Black and Merritt and the pioneer companies
Of the divisions Of the Seventeenth corps Gene
raj yeatchs DIVISION Of the Sixteenth corps destroyed
the road fifteen miles cast In the direction Of Demopcls
Ala General A. J. Smiths DIVISION OF the corps
towards the NORTH Crocksrs and Lesgsts divisions Of
the Seventeenth corps, towards the west and south.
General Crocker. with bis division, the second day
after our occupation Of Meridian moved against and
captured the town Of Enterprise destroying the railroad
completely along his route.
General w. Q. Gresham, OF Crocker's division, with
his brigade penetrated fourteen miles further aouth to
outman, tearing up the raroad burning the ties, bend
ing the rails, destroying three miles Of trestle work.
several steam mills and bridge two hundred feet
10 length still more remarkable feature OF this expe
dton she fact that the brigade, from seven A. NJ till
nine r. H. OF the same day, marched twenty miles
spending four hours OF tho time In eecting the above
mentioned destruction. This ID quite aatterins com
mencement Of lhc Generals under hs new rank
s---z~. 9JHSSe fQynsEra
Generals Msby, Force, Kirby Smith and Colonel Hall,
with their brisades also did valuable service on the
southern and western sections Of the road the second
n T Dotta, hp(una nanu AAatnp sho
railroad towards the west and completed ns destruction
after which no moved FOR the wagon train parked Big
chunkey creek, and relieved General Chambers, who
ordered here with bis command The great feat OF the
expedition in the way Of marching performed by
this brigade this occasion. On the day after Colonel
Potts arrived It se out at seven A. n. and marched
herea distance OF eighteen mes'n six hours having
spent hour out Of the six In resting During our occapa
on OF this place up to the present the work OF destroying
railroads has boon continually going on but the burning
OF government buildings reserved for the day Of cur
departure return. This matter Of foresight, with
the design OF sheering troops In case Of return Of
the rain experienced on the morning Of occupation.
MERIDIAN
Meridian is village OF three hundred inhabitants, in
Mississippi, about midway between The northern and
southern boundary OF tho state and dtcen miles from
the Alabama line. Is situated at the point OF inter
section OF the Mobile and Ohio Railroad from Columbus
KY and the Southern Railroad from vcksburg to Selma
Ala In consideration OF this the place was one OF i'm
mense importance TO the enemy, in military poin, Of
view and has been the centre OF much Of the material o.
war belonging to the coufederlcy In this section
Prior to the success attending our arms last
summer Meridian the key TO communications
between the iransMississppi Department. vIcksburg
Noble and the bast. The surrender OF vicksburg and
The destruction OF the railroad to Jackson put end 10
rebel occupation Of the Pearl river, wrestei from
M dt~t,r
armies west OF the Mississippi The present expedition has
been equally important the destruction OF the centre
OF entire network OF communication In the Southwest
hitherto advantageousy used by the enemy. The last
line OF railroads has fallen from bis control Henceforh
force destined 10 reinforce Mobile will be obliged 70 per-
form many mics OF the distance foot, or eso use
wafer Communication by the Tonbsbee and Alabama
rivers
MILITARY VALUE REBr1s
From the character Of buildings aud improvements
OF the town was evidently the intention OF the enemy
10 establish here the great military post Of the entire
southwest An arsenal, extensive depots and ware.
houses, machine shops, barracks aud hospitals, all new
and s,il unfinished, found upon our occupa
ton. partly completed residence was pointed out 10
having been erected for the Of General Polk,
the commanding general OF the department Many
other buildings were being constructed probably
with view to the accommodation Of officers. How.
ever, oil these plans have been pretty enectuauy
dsarransed. and The confedeYacy In The future viii bs
obliged to select less convenient locality IN order 70
carry out iu dreams Of authority 10 tne Southwest
From present appearances there VIII shorty be choice
ieft them west Of Georgia.
rHs COUNTRY AROUND.
The country through which the army passed vas
mainly uninvitins In prospect and quality Of soil. The
iaud 10 poor and IN many parts sandy or Tow and
swampy The country between tho Pearl and Mississippi
rivers 10 much more fertle than that between the
Pearl and Tomblgbec. Agriculture In she 6rs.
mentioned section receives some attention,
and the Investment Of capital and lasor
has brought into existence some excellent
plantations bat west Of she reari the land Is almost
worthless and hardly repays the primitive and econon