The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-25

ether men did not want to fight" and in
consequence, but little resistance was
made in cur advance.
The afternoon of the l4th, Sunday, our
advance entered Meridian with but little
opposition; the often-repeated reports
that the rebel army would give us battle
at Meridian, resulted in skirmish last
ing but two hours, during which time we
drove them for five miles, and three miles
beyond Meridian. The retreating rebels
burned train of cars at Meridian, they
not having time to do anything else with
them.
The command remained at Meridian and
vicinity until the morning of the Goth of
February. The cavalry brigade and one
division of infantry occupied Marion. The
town of MERRIAM was completely de-
stroyed, euery house being burned to the
ground. The railroad from, Jackson to
Meridian was completely torn up, and the
same road twenty two miles beyond Me-
ridian to Selma. The Mobile and Ohio
Railroad was completely destroyed from
Lauderdale Springs to twelve miles below
Enterprise, a distance Of about fifty miles.
The success of the expedition was be-
yond expectation. Fair weather and good
roads, our march was rapid and successful.
But three hours rain fell from the time we
left Black River till we reached Canton,
February 25th. On our return, one part
of the command, under Gen. Hurlbu.,
took the road from Marion to Hillsboro,
and the 18th army corps: under Gen. Nc
PhersOn, to Hillsboro from Meridian A
junction was made at Hillsboro, and the
command moved to Canton. On the
morning of the 22d of February the cav
airy brigade took the right hand road to
Phila lelphia, and thence to Kosciusko,
making detour of 100 miles, and Joined
the main command at Canton on the even
ing of the 25th. But few scattering rebels
were seen on our return. The greater
portion of the rebel army retreated to
Selma, Alabama, portion going to
Mobile.
The rebel army in this section of the
country is disheartened and disorganized,
and will not fight. Deserters, by hun
dreds, are leaving every day. In one reg
ment, the 18th Mississippi, 200 deserted
in one night the same feeling in many
other rebel regiments, that the Confede-
racy is "played out" Deserters say that
their cause is hopeless, and they begin to
see where the mistake is; that is, the poor
and deluded begin to lealn that the rich
have hired them to fight, and keep up a
rotten concern. The citizens throughout
are tired of the war, and are anxious for
peace. A great portion of the country
passed through is very poor. Plenty of
forage and provisions were found in the
country to subsist our army, though the
prospect of raising another years crop is
very poor.
The enemy's force consisted of the cav
airy commands of Gems. Lee, Adams and
Ferguson, and Loring's division of infantry.
They were reinforced by Polk with several
thousand men from Mobile, at Morton
but Notwithstanding their large force,
failed to give us battle, and returned in a
disorganized state to Selma 1t was the
intention to oppose US at Jackson, but our
generals were too quick for them. Several
thousand rebels were camped at Brandon,
for the purpose of occupying Jackson as
soon as the bridge across Pearl river was
finished, but in their retreat they suffered
worse defeat than could have been
brought on by an engagement, and Gen.
Polk, with his reintorcements to Loring,
went back quicker than he came
To-day our army is encamped in and
about Canton, having performed several
hundred miles marching, with great sue
cess and but little loss. Several hundred
prisoners were taken, besides negroes too
numerous to mention. 1t is the present
opinion that the war will end in few
months, and one would judge so could
every expedition be as successful as this
one has been, and Gen. Sherman truly
deserves credit for his perseverance and
energy.
The troops Of our command. bore the
fatigue march with fortitude, the cavalry
brigade especially; having done tie great
er part, if not all the fighting The 10th
Missouri cavalry were in the advance
during all the severe skirmishes, and at
Bakers Greek showed their courage, driv-
ing three times their own number, repel-
ling the fnemy in the charges made upon
them. Officers and men deserve the high
accommodation. MEX