Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-22
Gen. Sherman S ExpeditiOn.

From the Correspondence Of the N !. Yrtunel
VlcksBURG Miss, Fen. %, 1864
Considerable commotitn exists In this obnox
ious town to-day, occasioned by the sudden and
unexpected appearance OF the veteran hero,
Major Gen. W +. Sherman. The daring Yam
kee expedition into the interior OF this Rebel
domain, Mississippi, has returned in triumph
accomplishing its important object with but
little loss of life. The entree Of Gen. Sherman
at an early hour this forenoon, covered with
dust, and accompanied by three or four staff
officers and two mounted orderles, created
great sensation among the secesh, with whom
1t had been currently reported that rebel
bullet had laid him low.
On the morning of Feb. 3, Gen, Sherman,
with force of $4,000 men, marched from Big
/ Black River Gen. Sherman and Gen llurlburts
division crossed at Messenger Ferry, five miles
above the line of the Southern Railroad, and
Gen McPherson's division at the railroad cross
ing. After the entire army had crossed safely,
orders were at once given 10 push on to Bolton,
small station at the Raymond junction on tho
/ Southern Railroad, some 10 miles from the Big
Black River. At this point our advance had u
/ lively skirmsh with the enemy, resulting in
| the killing of II men, and the woundng OF 80.
The Rebei loss was much larger, number OF
their dead beng left on the field. General Nc
/ Pherson's infantry forces marched up rapidly,
and dispersed Lees cavalry, estimated al 5000
men, without any serious encounter. With his
usual energy, Gen. Mcpherson continued to
press them closely, and so hotly were the re.
treating rebels pursued that, four miles east OF
/ Bolton, Acting Brigadier-Gen. Winslow, for
mery a Colonel of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, sue
ceeded in thanking them with force OF 400
/ cavalry The capture of the whole force
seemed inevitable at this juncture, but the main
body escaped, and only few prisoners were ta
ken.
Without much opposition, the entire army
marched rapidly toward jackson, Lees rebel
cavalry fleeing IN the greatest disorder IN the
direction of Canton, dourishlng little town
twenty miles north Of dickson, Here Acting
Brlg.Ge Winslow's Cavalry closed in upon
the rebel columns capturing large number
OF prisoners and one piece of artillery, To-
FOUNDER Parrott gun, together with casson
stocked with ammunition, which was subse-
qaenlly used with good effect upon the enemy I
lines. The prisoners taken belonged to Misslss
lppi aud Georgia cavalry regiments with lew
mounted inhntrymen. Jackson was reached
on the evening OF Feb. 3, and Gen. Mcpherson
at once ordered the gallant 10th Missouri Cav
airy Regiment to seouue the rebel pontoon
bridge across peaIl River. Gen. French, the
rebel officer, had cross d this bridge nut u few
moments in advance of our cavalry, and large
gang of rebels were buslly engaged in destroy
ing it, when the sudden appearance OF The
,, brave and determined Missourlans caused them
t. beat q preclpitate retreat. A number o.
their men embraced this favorable opportunity
to desert to our lines, telling US dooiul storiu
Of the generalization of tho so.caed ConieG
crates The bridge was saved, and the mex
day our trools found this rebel pontoon brdg'
! convenient Tor crossing Pearl River. Gen
Sherman ordered the advance 10 proceed t
brandon, some twelve miles distant, arriving
Sunday noon, meeting with bul slight resistance
, on their march.
u At Jackson, some twenty buildings were de
= stroyed by the slaves in retaliation for the IN
: human cruelties porpetrated upon them b,
a their rebel masters At Brandon, simila
: scenes were witnessed, and the outraged DO
L men and bandwomen royenged the brutality o
e those they once were compelled to call masters
n From Brandon the expedition moved on Z
Il Morton, a small depot on the Southern Rail
e road, where the depot and outbuIlilngs wei
speedily consumed by fire. 0nlJ a few build
'e ings were burned ut Brandon by tho troops, th
so.called Confederate Government not ocupy