Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-17
Another Great Cavalry Raid into Mis-
sisslppl-Thlrty Niles Of Railroad
Track Torn mp.

FROM sks Memphis argus.
Oar xieksburg correspondent sends us
the following particulars Of the late
cavalry expedition sent out from Vieks-
burg By Maj Gen. Dana, 70 tap the Mis-
sisslppi Central railroad, gashered from
the oHiears aud soldieEs engaged 10 il:
Ga November 23d, some twenty-five
hundred cavalry and t~o batteries Of
artillery, eight guns, accompanied By
pontooa train, q most tremendous
wagon taain, and all the attendants OF =
large column, moved from Nicksbarg,
10 attack jackson, the capital OF Mis-,
sissippi--at least Col. osband, who
commanded, said So The rebels be-
lieved him, aud made their little ar
engagements accordingly.
| The pontoou bridge was laid over
| Big Black, part Of the cavalry was
crossed and sent up the Jackson road
some distance, making every dsmon-
stration Of advancing on Jackson.
That night the cavalry re-crossed, The
bridge was taken up, and everything
but the cavalry and artillery sent back
To vicksburg.
Al daylight the next morning She col.
umn took the war path, moving rapidly
up the east side OF the Big Black, aus
two days hard marching brought il &C
the long railroad bridge (Mississipp
Central Railroad) over the Big Black
near Canton, Miss
Here fighting commenced. The re
bels had walked up, and we're found II
force in the Notifications built on eael
aide Of the road to defend this very in
portant structure No approach eoui
be found TO the bridge, save over hi
tressle work, through an impassibl
swamp. As the orders we're to ntterl
DESTROY the bridge, it was determined {
advance over the open trsstle and do
Accordingly, the Third United State
Colored Cavalry, Major J. B. Cook con
manding, vas dismouuted, and, led
the gallant Cook, actually charged aero
the trestle-work and bridge, leaping fro
. timber to timber, stOrmed the work
drove out the rebels, and held the p
:, sition against repeated attempts by q
rebel infantry, by this time heavily rel
forced from the Hays Bluff Static
about one mile distant, to recover the
lost position.
. While the Third cOlorsd Cavalry sc
: be. ,ally holding the position, the b
; anee Of the command was gathering a
carving over the tressle, brush, "a
and timber to FIRE mp with, through
;. storm of bullets from the rebels liui
The bank on the opposite side above a
below. The work Of destruction u
commenced was aided by high vii
which famed and spread the consami
A flames over the entire extent Of this
po7tans and costly triumph Of engine
az ing skill
% After completing this, the ain Of
expedition, the command comment
on the railroad track The Pifth
u. nois cavalry, Col John Mcconnell G
Ga N handing, and the llih Illinois eava
Major Burbridge commanding, destI
II ed some thirty miles Of track. bur
", several railroad stations, an i'm me
quantity Of grain, about 1900 bale
Sc. c. s. 4. cotton, several locomotives
cars, and large amount Of stores
supplies en- route for Hood army.
- On November 29th the expedition
back to and occupied 7 AGO City, and
enemy, having crossed the Big b
With a considerable force Of infantry
cavalry, brought up from Jackson, "
they found was not IN any great pre-
danger, attacked most obstiusteiY
;. persis;ently, bat were invariably
z pulsed with sevsre loss After SCI
days marching and fighting, the el
expedition returned in safety on De
Der 4th.
=. Too much praise cannot oe ava
the gallant regiments engaged in
siOns one Of the most perilous raids Of the
sss and the pluck and endurance displ
. By the officers Of the Sth and lltt
being nois and Sd Wisconsin cavalry regir
s's entitle them fully to their honorAb
set. signation Of veteran soldiers