The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-26
TIE LATEST NEWS.
RY LAsT NIaHrIs NAE.
sOuEHEEEN ACCOUNTS OF sHER-
EKAN'S EXPEDITION.
Parstculars from the HEississippi
Papers.


Parslculars from the HEissIssipp
Papers.
So
From the Macon, sa., Daily confsasrate, Feb. "A
TIE SITUATION IL MISSISSIPPI.
The news from Mississippi is Of thl
highest Importance. It was thought by
many that the enemy would stop a
Jackson and make it 3 permanent camp
But this idea was absurd, taken in con
nection with the fact that they weF,
foFty-two thousand strong. Oar newI
this morning is that they have crossed
Pearl River upon which Jaekson is sit
uated) and that they were advancing
along the line of the Southern Railroad
in the direction Of Meridian.
The plain truth about this whole mat.
ter is, thst this expedition has started
out 10 capture Mobile. Il may fra
strike the Tombigbse at Demopolis, anC
capture Selma and Montgomery, bu! thl
final point is the Gulf City. Oar army
under General Polk, confronting the enc.
my, is very small Il does not hardly
number one half the enemy's forcs
General Polk, if be fights thsm at al
outside of the bseast@orks around No
bile, will toll them as far toward Meri.
dian as possible. Perhaps he viii de
liver battle on the Chunky River, an i'm.
portant stream erOssingssthe railroad east
of Brandon.
Oar force is 700 weak to risk . pitch.
ed battle in the open field with much
prospect for success. If we can get the
advantage il ground q general battle
may take place. But our hope seems tC
be chiefly in msssing the cavalry of Lee
Forrest and Chalmers, and effectuallJ
cutting the communication with the
basis of his supplies. The country
through which he will move is one OF
the most sterile and unprOductive in the
South, affJrding scarcely anything upon
which to subsist an army of the msgni-
tude of that of Gen. Sherman.
No Geographic dispatches for the press
are SLOWED over the wires, and conse-
quently we are forced TO rely upon our
excellent western contemporaries for
news.
TFrCm the Meridian Clarion, lOth-
SITUATION IN MIssIssIPPI-THE ENEMY AD-
VANoING EAST OF JACKsON-THEIR FORCE
42O00-A BATTLE IMMINENT.
We have just returned from the front.
The enemy is steadily advancing, and
policy thus far has prompted as to retire
before him. Saturday they crossed
Pearl River from Jackson, and Sunday
night found them at Spears Cut Mon
day evening they reached the vicinity of
Morton, where the advance of both
armies skirnished sharply for few
minutes. Oar army was formed in line
of battle about one mile east Of Morton,
but the enemy made no advance up to
the time our army withdrew, which was
during the early part of Monday night
The enemy's force is sscertAined to
consist of 80 600 infantry, 1900 caval-
~ and sixty-two pieces of artillery. Its
destination is, undoubtedly, Mobile,
while a part may, it not checked, attempt
to break up our railroad communication,
which, if successful, will aid them ma
terialy 10 heir adssnee upon that city
OF the steps taken to counteTscs this
plans of the enemy it is not for US to
sneak. We have . calm confidence in
Gen. Polk, and are willing to trust him
and his able Generals, in the important
moves now being made. We are con-
fdent be will do nothing rashly that
he will NOT sacrifice his little army IN
but wherever and whenev' r
a blow can be struck at the advancing
forces it will be promptly given. Oar
people may rest assured that all will be
done the forces in the department are
capable of performing, sud il the fortunes
of the day require cur army to fell back
it must bs done, and we must bring forth
a spirit Of resignation to accept cheer
fally cur lot. No misfortune here will
alter The anal triumph Of our arms and
the independence of the South. Each
man for himself must use his own judg
ment in the course to be pursued on the
line of the enemy's march.
Gen. Lee returned to jackson on San
day night, and there is no doubt ere this
be is on the wing east of Pearl river.
From the Mon gomery Mail, Feb. IL
Private sources of information repre-
sent the enemy still advancing eastward
in the direction of Meridian. General
Polk had his headquarters yesterday at
Newton Station, thirty miles east of
Morton, and sixty miles east of Jackson.
About ten miles from Newton is the
Chunky river, which at this sesrOn of
the year is not fordsble, and can be
crossed only with bridges. Here, it is
likely, our army will take position and
offer battle to thu enemy, with all the
chances in our favor.
If this advance of Sherman on Meri-
dion is an isolated movement, it is the
most fool hardy and sbsurdly adven-
turous undertaking of the present war,
and the probabilities are that his army
will be destroyed. II, on the other hand,
it is part of = combined campaign, en-
bracing an advance from Huntsville
there is danger IN it, for
which it behOOves our military authori-
ties to make ample provision. Grant,
who commands all the military opera
lions Of the Southwest, is the most en-
and reckless campAigner the
war has developed, and it is not i'm
probable that be has resolved to abandon
ais movement on Atlantis, and essay an
advance in the direction of the Alabama
liver, to meet the column marching from
While 8 dangerous pro-
yramme, it is possible, and if successful
would infiict incalculable damage to our
cause, Thanks to Providence, a wary
sits in his front, watching
With eagle eye all his movements on the
military chess-bOard, prepared to check
nate him on the first bad play. While
Johnston is st Dalton, no step of Grants
escapes him, and be has, doubtless,
Ilready provided for tho very cOntin-
,ency we have just indicated.
From the Selma MississippiAn, 10Th
Oar accounts from Morton, though
nssgeF, are quite cheering. The advance
# the enemy from jackson is not
Ieemed ominOus by any means; on the
ontrAry, is regarded as highly favorable
eatures,of the situation.
The force of the enemy is vAriOnsiy
stimaied ct from Is, 900 70 10000. The
'est advices we have, place his force ct
., 600. It was thought in Meridian,
yesterday morning, that battle was
ending either st Morton or Pslehatohis. |
( battle is fought at either place, we |
ave the utmost confidence that its re-
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