Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-26
syatiplisl gtpnbIitau


GuruRLL wnsoS's OAvALRY ExPADI.
TIos.--A full account OF General Wilson's
recent cavalry expedition in Alabama
and Georgia h given ~ correspondent
OF the Olnelnnati Cog,msrsial. Tho
following narrative Of incidents Is interest
s,fhe rou,a divided into ne important
staees, was from Chlckasaw 70 Elyton,
from thence 70 Selma, thenee 70 Mont
gonerV. thence TO Columbus, Georgia, and
thonce 70 Mncou. II crossed great rivers
upon pontoons, and numerous smaller
streams grown formid able with the abun-
d,nt rains Of the season. In 70 ct, in al.
dition 70 pontoon troublca.a good part OF
the route had 10 be corduroyed. Il was
with great dlheuity that the cavalry and
pAek-animais passed, while the obstructlons
encountered BY the Wagon-trAln may DO
inferred from the pontoniers' diary below.
The wagons mlred, aud were lifted out by
tho tnen, who were moro than once three
nights running without sleep. At ono
pisee the wagons had TO be let down with
ropes on one side, and lifted upon the other;
while, at the Alsbama river, the immense
qusntlty OF drift-wood floating, made tae
construction Of pontoon bridge soven
hucdrod feet long q work OF great labor
and hazard. TwIeethebrdge waslbroken,
the second time swinging round with the
loss Of fifty feet, end dragged back by
ropes with great dlfilculty.
Tho average distance travelled by tho
whole command was ave hundred miles,
accomplished In thirty days, an average
OF over sixteen miles day, Including stop
pages. In fact, portions Of the command,
at lines, acc ompllshed forced marches o.
sixty miles adAy, and frequently the murcu
begun a dawn was continued long after
dark. The commaud foraged, and AFTER
passlng the Black Warrior River, subslsted
entirely upon the country. - ~
Tho security OF Selma and Montgomery
had been that no great force could
cross the mountains OF North Alabama.
Georgia and Alabama were the last
GranAry len 70 the South. Besides, the
lsst strongholds OF the rebellion were
cHpturedby Wilson's raid. Next 10 tho
Trcdegar Works, at Richmond, the prin.
cpd source OF supply 10 tho rebels OF the
munitions OF war, were the vast Iron
works, and rife and pistol factories, besides
the extensive cotton factories, employed in
tho manufacture of rebel clothing, found
aud destroyed, IN Alabama A rebel ram,
nearly ready for sea, was Also destroyed
with Arsenals, armorles, accoutrements,
- chops, pApof-mllls, &c. In addition, the
RAILROAD from Selma 10 Blue Mountain,
connecting with the iron works, also, the
Montgomery and Georgia Railroad and
Hn immense quantity Of rolling stock were
torn mp and burned. 0ath Montgomery
Toaithlrty-slx culverts and larse amount
OF rack suffered for treason. The effect
Of these terrible Ores In the rear OF the
Confcderacy cannot DO over estimated
They edsctually consumed the propaRatlVe
quality OF the last dragons tooth, aud
sundored every nerve OF the last gang
llOa OF rebellion. The effect ofWllson's
raid upon the southern hotbed Ia Aignlhcant.
ly apparentin the submissive tone Of all this
region. There 10 not . hand that has the
nrfVe, nor voice the spirit, left, to be
lifted again In hostility 10 is government.
Whether or not II fastened the incvi table
rcsult due 10 the inviuclble' arms of Sher-
man, undoubtedly Wilson's raid greatly
Intensified the catastrophe. In dismay
Johnston appealed TO Sherman during the
con ference, and ahermau approving the
irreprcssible young cavalryman whose
'1loI ID was up hastily interfered TO stay
him"