, 1864-03-03
TIE WAR IN MISSISSIPPI.
GENERAL SMITHS GREAT CAVALRY
EXPEDITION.
Details Of the Advance and Return,
From Our Special Correspondent

GmlLu Ill PStsOu aiIlfcu 0EEd lAst evening.
His official report to the military authorities
will undoubtedly set forth tile following
facts:
The expedition moved from Memphis on
Thursday, the 1th inst. ,some seven thousand
strong, Brig. Gen. VIM. Sooy Smith in COM
mand, the purpose being to clear the country
Of struggling rebel forces, and II possible,
create diversion In favor Of Gen: Sherman,
with whose rear it was thought the cavalry
expedition might In due scason commnni-
cate. It was stated that the enemy were
posted in force beyond the Tallahatchie, and
that they would determincdly resist the Fed
eral advance. After two days heavy march
ing, the expedition reached the Tallahatchic.
A brigade Of infantry temporarily attached to
the expedition, under command Of Colonel
McMillen, was sent forward and threatened
Pamela, mud afterwards to Wyatt for SINH
The intantrT attracted the attention and the
forces Of the enemy to these points, when
Gen. Smith, swung his cavalry around and
to New Albany, whence he crossed without
firing shot. He then pushed boldly tor
ward to point near the Pontotoc, in the Vi
clnity Of Houston, where he encountered
some State Confederate troops under
the command Of Gholson, numbering near
COCO. They stampeded ut his approach,
throwing away their arms ns theT ran. Gen.
smith pursued them Aotly and until he
reached Houlka Swamp, where he found the
corduroy road, the only one across the
Swamp. This could not be turned either to
the right or to the left, 40 Smith's whole
force was moved rapidly to the eastward,
While heavy demonstration Eas made on
the front, as though he intended to forcc
again deceived, and our forces fell back upon
Oknlona- This vas on Monday, the 18th
inst, The attack upon Okalona was 50 little
expected that several confederate officers, at
home on visits to their families, were cap
tured- Some Of them We're finely mounted.
Burgh commanding, WAS then sent out to
Sheridan to endearor to secure crossing Of
the Tomblgbee. On the next morning Hep
baum's brigade, commanded By Gen Grier-
9th regiment, and at Aberdeen, with direc-
tlons 10 threaten Columbus strongly. With
the remaining two brfgades, Gen. Smith
swept down the railroad towara West Point,
tearing up the railroad completely as he ad-
yanced, and also burning Ill the corn he
cribbed and ready for transportation. The
amount destroyed could not be much less
than two million bushels, and was possibly
much greater. Two thousand bales Of cot
ton were also devoted to the flames. During
this portion Of tho march negroes nockea 10
ands, mounted On their masters
horses and mules, with brides
and saddles Of the most primitive description.
They welcomed Gen. Smith as their deliyerer
whenever he met them. "God bless SC,
las yer come at last, we've been lookin' for
vnY ff1r n i'm had p1v ,oS+
gone give it up," was the cry of maay.
They bid farewell 10 their wives and children
and marched In the van.
Hearing that the enemy was concentrated
in heavy force at Nest Point, the Brigade at
to tllc line on tie railroad at station fifteen
miles north Of West Point, while the main
force moved down upon West Point. Two
milcs north Of thnt place Smith came upon
brigade Of the enemy drawn up in line of
battle to receive him. This was On Wednes-
day, the 18th inst, at about 3p. N. Our for
ces charged IN, in a gallant style and after
sharp engagement Of some fifteen minutes
duration, drove the enemy back, through the
town, into the Suchatoncha Swamp, on the
right Skirmishing continued on the border
evening until dark Meanwhile the whole
Federal force WAS being brought forward
into position. Through his scouts, General
Smith aEcertained that the enemy was upon
Ills front in powerful force, that be held every
one Of The crossings Of the swamp on his
| right and on the line Of the Octibbfha in the
front. He was confined on the left by the
| Tombigbee, which It was impossible to cross.
His force was heavily encountered with the
pack trains, horfcs, mules captured, to
the number OF full three thousand, and
an equal number Of negroes, These he
heavy guard force as to reduce the effective
fighting force nearly one.half, leaving him
| powerless to drive the enemy so strong in
numbers before him, md who had taken up
strong position that lie could better defend
| with muskctry and ritemen than Smith could
| being useless On the ma1shy ground occu-
! pied. There was little time for speculation.
| The position was imminent. Gen. Smith did
the best he could under the circumstances
| rebel center, and while shnrp fighting was
going on drew uu his encumbTances and the
! main portion Of his force rapidly back toward
Okalona, covering his rear with d well organ
| lied force which fought the enemy from every
line Of concealmcnt That offered on their back
ward march The enemy pursued in force,
and mnde desperate attempts to overwhelm
nse rearguard, but without success. They
also failed in attacking the main force ia
flank, which they several times essayed, but
were as often foiled. All their best maneu-
rers were tl'us handsomely checknated, and
Gen. Smith soon had the fighting all IN his
own why until he reached Okalona. At this
place, after the pursuing force had been three
times repu1scd in most brilliant manner By
the 1th Y. s. regular infantry alone, whole
thrown into confusion By q stampede of the
J I'd Tennessee cavalry, Lieut.. Col. Cook, who
hnd fitT men killed in au, md was himself
MORALLY wounded. In the prccipltate flight
from the field Of this force battery Of small
howitztrs-sjx guns OF Perkins Illinois bat
mfr If hn INT . - oT,
where the carriages were SO badly smashed
up that they were unable to get them OF, and
they fell into the encmy's hands. All the
ammunition of the battery was destroyed,
spiked, and horses saved.
It was with the greatest difficulty that this
uncal1ed-for panic could be broken and order
restored. Organized forces were thrown to
the rear as quickly as possible and the I'D
vance Of the enemy Handsomely checked.
was resumed md continued for over ten
miles with the utmost determination on both
sides. Having reached Ivy Far1n, splendid
place, it was Immediately takeu possession Of
and large force dcployed, battery placed
in position. and the whole field cleared for
action. The enemy advanced into the open
field, and the whole strength Of our artillery
was opened upon them at short range with
killing effect, supported By full line of car
bincs firing upon the dlsmonnted troops.
when LnciF HHe Was 6nahen EA1ianL c1afEo
was made npon thelr center and on the right
by mounted 1nen. This mancuser was per-
formed IN handsome style, the enemy were
swept backward ut every point, and SO COM
pletely scared that they made no further at
tack, in force, upon Smiths men, though
they followed mp at q respectful distance
until ne crossed tue la1lahatcme.
Gen. Smith succeeded in bringing off all his
captured stock, pack trains, negroes aud
other spoi1s, having performed march Of