Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-23

1oO1. .GgnAI
INST, having met with complete success
after an admirable flank movement on
Jackson, on the 14th ult. The expedi-
ton started for Big Black River on the
which was reached on the 9th,
and, after stubborn resistance, destroy
ed. 1t thus cuts Hoods army off from
large quantities Of supplies and stores
at Jackson, Miss, and
makes the railroad, which is his main
reliance, unavailable to run for months
to come. Besides this, many important
bridges and trestle works were destroy
ed. The following property was COM
pletely destroyed: Thirty miles Of rail
road track, Including culverts, the
wagon bridge over Big Black, Vaughan,
Picket and Goodman Stations, with all
their depots and buildings, 1900 bales OF
cotton, 20 locomotives, 4 cars, 4 stage
coaches, 20 barrels of salt and $780, 900
worth of stores at Vaughan Station.
The expedition was considerably
harassed, on their return, by large
force of the enemy, but suffered no ma
terial loss, and brought back more re-
cruits than its entire loss. It's
Mai. B. Cook, commanding the Third
Colored Cavalry, distinguished himself
and all his regiment, by the gallantry
with which the force guarding the Big
Black Bridge were driven from the bank
of the river. Our men had to charge
across the bridge dismounted, with
nothing but railroad ties for protection,
in the face of sharp fire. al .,..r
't (Signed) /. r. CANBY, 49,.
-, I'D. Bio. Major General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
Dec. l7-S:35 A. Mo Maj. Gen. Die:
The following official report Of the great
victory achieved yesterday by General
Thomas and his gallant little army over
the rebel forces under Hood in front OF
Nashville, was received this morning.
One of the most surprising circum-
stances connected with, this great
achievement is the small loss suffered
by our troops, evincing among lOther
things the admirable skill and caution
of Gen. Thomas in his disposition of the
battle. .,a segi l.-,Y5 .g..a
In our rejoicings at the defeat Of the
rebels, thanks are due to the Almighty
for his protection to oucgallant officers
and men in the great conflict they have
passed through. - ....,.f a. .
The report of Thomas and also the un.
official report containing interesting de-
tails, are subjoined: 'GJa s' -'.5
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OFTHE
CUMBERLAND, s MILES FROM NASH
vILLE--6 p. NJ, DEC. 18TH. - 10 the
President Of the United States, Hon. f.
III. Stanton and lit. Gen. Grant: This ar-
my thanks you for your appreciation OF
its conduct yesterday, and to assure YOU
that it is not misplaced, have the hon.
or to report that the enemy has been
pressed ut all points to-day on lis line
of retreat to the Brentwood Hills.
Brig. Gen. Hatch, of Wilson's corps,
Canby's division, On the right, turned
the rebels left and captured a large
notyet reported. Mai. Gen. Schotield's
corps, next on the left Of the cavalry
carried several hills, captured many
prisoners, and six pieces of artillery
Brevet Mai. Gen. Smith, next on the
left of Mai. Gen. Schofield, carried the
salient point of the rebels line with Nc
Nlillan's brigade of McArthur's divis-
ion, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery
and two Brigadier Generals and 1000
prisoners. Brigadier General Garrard' IS
division of Smiths command, next in
the left of McArthur's division, carried
the enemy's entrenchments, capturing
all the artillery and troops OF the enemy
on the line. Brig. Gen. Woods troops
on Franklin pike took up the assault,
captured the enemy's entrenchments,
and in his retreat also captured eight
pieces of artillery, something over 600
prisoners, and drove the enemy within
one mile of Brentwood Hills Pass. Maj
Gen. Steadman, commanding q detach-
ment of the army of the Miss
issippi, most nobly supported General
Woods left, and bore most honorable
part b in the operations of the day. l
have ordered the pursuit tobe Continued
in the morning, at daylight. Although
the troops are very much fatigued, the
utmost enthusiasm prevails. | must
not forget to report the operations of
Brig. Gen. Johnson, in successfully
driving the enemy, with the co-opera-
tion Of the gunboats, under Lieu :.
Smith, commanding, from the, estab-
lished batteries of the Cumberland
river, below the city Of Nashville, and
of the success Of Brig. Gen. Saxton's
brigade, in covering and returning our
right and center in the operations Of
yesterday and to-day. Although l have
no report of the number Of prisoners
captured by johnson and Saxton's COM
mand, know they have made q large
am also glad to be able to
state that the number of prisoners cap
tured yesterday greatly exceeds the
reported by telegraph, last eve-
ming. The woods, fields and entrench-
ments are strewn with the enelny's
small arms, abandoned in their retreat.
that all this has been effected with but
hOt ,IVy< do. ,<,f
ceed 800, and very few killed.
GSigned.1 GEO. HI. THOMAS,
~ :l - Maj. Gen. Cong.
NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE Herdld's
gives the following &C
count of an expedition up Roanoke riv-
er: "a gunboat expedition sent up the
river, when opposite jamestown, eight
miles above Plymouth, suddenly came
in contact with some torpedoes placed
in the channel by the rebels, and three
gunboats were blown up. The flagship
commander Macomb, Sc
nior officer, took the lead. She passed
safely through. The Otsego, :" double
ender,. Lieut.. Arnold, commanding, fol-
lowed. The bow came in contact with
an obstruction, but which was success
fully passed, until being struck by the
stern proved to be a large torpedo, which
blew up the Otsego, sinking
her in few minntes. After the blow
ing up of the Otsego, the remainder of
the fleet remained by her until morning
when those vessels uninjured by the ex-
plosion passed up the river. Soon after
Macomb dispatched on
special duty his aid, Paymaster Lewis
Sands, on the steamer Bagley, with two
guns. On arriving in the vicinity of the
spot where the Otsego was sunk, a tor
pedo exploded under the Ragley, blow
ing hole through her, causing her to
sink Immediately. One man and boy
were killed. The rest of the crew es
capped by swimming. Paymaster Sands
and Capt: Ames, commanding the tug,
swan to the wreck of the Otsego, and
were picked up soon after the sinking
Of the Bagley. The picket steamer,
Launch No. 5, was also destroyed.
river is perfect network OF