The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-03-10
Gen. Smiths Cavalry Expedition,

MEMPHIS, Feb. 26.-Ihe reports of strag-
glers that Gen. Smiths expedition has been
cut up, prove false. That General himself
returned here II o'clock last night From
an officers diary report during the progress
of the expedition l condense the following
particulars in addition to those already for
Warded:
THURSDAY, Feb. 18.-The expedition reach
ed Okalona on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
70 miles south Of Corinth, $50 miles south.
east of Memphis. Here they heard that Sher-
man had captured Meridian, and was advanc-
ing east.
FRIDAY, Feb. 19.-Marched to Egypt Sta
ton, on the NJ and O. r. R., where we cap
tured and destroyed great quantity of Con-
federate corn. One column went through
Aberdeen the other west of the railroad con
centrating at Prairie Station. TIE Aberdeen
column, under Gen. Grierson, had conside-
rable skirmishing near that place and de-
stroyed over 100000 bushels of corn at
Prairie Station, also large lot of Confeder-
ate cotton.
SATURDAY, Feb. 2O-Brook's Corps re-
ported in force at West Point. At II a. III.
advance skirmished heavily with the enc
my. At 3 p. m. halted within one mile of
West Point, lost one Lieutenant killed and
five men wounded in skirmish We killed
one rebel Captain, captured and wounded a
rebel Major and private.
SUNDAY-21-Movedw west and found For
rest, Lee, Chalmers and Roddy were com
bined against us. They tried to cut our col
umn in two but without success. Very
heavy fighting occurred both rear and ad-
vance. The I'd Iowa had number killed
and wounded on a gallant charge. From
two to three thousand rebels were on each
flank all in heavy force on our rear and con-
stantly charging. We here lost three pieces
4pounder steel guns, which were spiked be-
fore captured. All their ammunition was
saved.
Smith now fell back slowly our troops
ambushing the rebels as they advanced.-
The rebel loss was quite heavy, and Smith
burned every trestle on the Mobile and Ohio
road, destroyed miles of the track and a very
large amount of corn as he fell back.
MONDAY, Feb 22.-BroBe Camp in the
morning after resting only two hours. There
was severe fighting on our rear all day. The
rebels lost heavily as the roads were heavily
ambushed at every available point, and vol
ley after volley was poured into them at
short range as they advanced, but having 50
much the largest force, they continued to
press our rear heavily the rebel column NOV
ing on each flank with the evident design
of reaching the Tallahatchie in advance of
our force, and forming junction to prevent
our crossing, and thus capture the whole
command but by forced marching Smith
passed both thanking columns and marching
all night crossed safely at New Albany.
TUESDAY, Feb. 23.-Rear guard skirmish-
ed all day.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. -Skirmishing con-
tinued.
THURSDAY, Feb. 25.-Merched ffty-two
miles, arriving at Memphis at II p. m
Most Of the expedition, however, stopped at
Colliersville.
The following is an estimated result of the
expedition: Destroyed over million BUSH
els of corn, tore up and destroyed many miles
OF track on the NJ. & 0. r. r., burned many
bridges and trestles, captured and brought
in over /, 500 mules and horses, about 1000
negroes, over 800 rebel prisoners who are
now in Armory prison
| 1t is impossible to give our loss. but it is
much less than the enemy's.
| The expedition was successful in every
point and every particular except In the i'm
portant one, that of making junction with
Sherman, which is attributable mainly to
the slow movement of the New Jersey and
Pennsylvania cavalry regiments, causing
delay of one week in starting the expedi-
ton.
The retreat was not at any time a route
aIthough there was some struggling.