New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-16

Special Correspondence Of The Ncw0Ileans TINE Dels
VICKspURo, Miss. Jan. 20 1865.
gentlemen, who has just arrived here di.
recty from Shreveport informs Gen. Washburn OF al.
fairs in the Trans Mississippi Department This m
form ant left Memphis two months siuce for huntsv'e
Texas and has returned 10 our nee at THE pace VIA
shreveport and Camden. l am permitted to send you
some infoI nation which he brings 49,.
L. Kirby Smith Is paying more attention 70 coseo2
than TO military matters. He has an Immense tram OF
wagons carts and every sort OF vehicle useful FOR
trnnsportetion, constantly employed between Shreve'
port and Brownsville carrying cotton TO tnat MARKET
The manner In which this cotton Is obtained shows
Kirhy smith 10 be worthy Of the title OF the C0ton
King the second Jeh Davis OF the ineipen' emPns
of conspirators ,,~..
plantations and cotton depots to make Careful ana
complete inventory OF the staple when the owners
at once called upon 10 give as
Ia sell the other roety to his Excelency kirhy Smth
at the fixed valuation OF 25c per pound ConfeieIae
money. The owners IN this way receive no mog ' s
one cent or one cent and hall per pound In gold ior
their cotton which Is very unsatisfactory ID them ous
mast be submitted to- Kirby Smith is supreme IBIS
onterprsng General who has sucha specaittye 'uIu:
il believed have made several fortunes already out
he still pursues his methods for extracting tho nthy
lucre as seduously heretofore lie absorDs sr ~
possible all the cotton 10 tho Trans MISSISSIPPI depart
ent Tor contributions and by purchase-the trrt os.
tcnsby for the Rebel Government and the second for
himself or his exclusive but now there scarcely
doubt entertained by the citizen minleos VINO are Us
trcssed by bm that he wrongully pockets all but the
tribe they receive for only portion OIL
Kirby Smiths troops are very much scattered, so tnAs
thoy may obtain food and forage. The transportation
OF Ills army is 90 poor and inefficient that any eond
cradle degree Of concentration during tue presenS
season is impossible for the reasons above intiohed
His army must be separa, ed in order to subsst H. All
tho army wagons he using in his grand cotton scheme
which will ultimately surround him with supera0un'
dant wealth or involve him in ruin. is easily seen,
however even now that strong and inyincoe array
of men are forming against him, both east and west OF
the Mississippi in the encmys country hose comonea
inluenc will probable cause his present spcnda
fortunes which promise much TO wanc ~ tneis ia.
Price is reported to have gone TO Mexico on some
INN and confidential mission, under orcers rum
Kirby Smith He has not been sick at All nor mas ne
died. as generally reported and believed. fnces iami5
are residing in Texas: ,.. u,.a,.o,u,
Late reports from the interior state hoeo
Which Is very badly broken up Is now yhS nonS tue
Mobile and Ohio Railroad below CcIintn; me Jam
aac done TO that road by Grerson, IN MS late raid
said TO be entirely repaired. MT .. A..
The Rebel pjciets ON the Big Black. between mere
.nd JscLson arc very vigilant in preventing cotton
Sm Gaming in All that does get by them Is considered
s,o ms,ed into our lines. A Mr.. Randolph was cap'
out there the other day. having in his possession
cotton permit from MIR. Cutler. general purchasing
agent of the Treasury Department, and a passport
from Gen Hnrlbut and taken to Jackson The next
day after arriving there he sent under guard to
Meridian be tried for his life being under charges OF
entering their lines Q sp,. Truly cotton speculatore
do undergo great peris. but they must fee. CERTAIN
satisfaction in knowing they are constantly scckins
their own reward.