Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-15

Then will religion be respected, and the
liberties of our country, under the bIeasiug 2
OF God, be secure in the hands of a people
both wise and good
Particulars OF that big Cavalry Raid
through the Gulf states a unOuneed
TO Move this Week.
| Special to the n. Y. Times.
WAsHISeFoE, Feb. IL.
1t was announced month ago, that the
veteran and victorious army of Gen. Thom
as, which had then just inflicted such a
series of disastrous defeats upon Hood.
would at once take up its march after the
! remnaut of the belaFmy, which bad found
refuge in Mississippi, at Tupelo, stariou
on the Mobile Railroad, some fifty miles
south Of CorinLh. Our army, in undertak-
ing this movement, would necessarily have
Ito prepare itself for a campaign extending
through the State of Mississippi, and as far
as Mobile, for Hood would simply retreat
from Tupelo and other points az We ad-
vsuced upon them, and would thus draw
our forces on Indefinitely, without result.
This would have been a campaign of great
difficulty and required considerable time in
preparation.
In the meanwhile, there were two things
which materially altered this plan First.
Lieut.. Gen. Grant ordered to other fields
great part of Gen. Thomas infantry. Sec
oudIy, it was definitely ascertained that
hoods defeat in December was of such a
complete character that an army of the
magnitude of that under Gen. Thomas was
not required to operate sgsiuss it, or to do
any other part of the work that remained
to be done in the Southwest. In fact
limited body of infautFy, with q super
al ,F 80
required in all the vast range of country
beIweea the Ohio River and the Gulf OF
Mexico.
A new campaign was consequently re-
solved upon, and by the time this is printed,
a cavalry movement of the most gigantic
character, and promising the greatest re-
suits, will have been begun. The army,
in fact, is in motion. The main circum-
stances have already been announced in
the papers of the West and South.
The starting point of the cam eaiEn is
Eastport, ia the northeastern corner of the
State of Mississippi. where Thomas head
quarters have been for some time located.
The Columbus (Mias.) Republic has recent
ly published the information that large
Federal forces were " concentrating at
Eastport and Decatur for the purpose of
moving on Selma and Montgomery as soon
Sa Inc IOoA5 ore III 5uAl6Oi6 COQOlLlOQ-' VI
course they can stop neither at Selma or
Montgomery; and the articles that have
been telegraphed North from the Mobile
Tribune show very clearly that the rebels
know the point aimed at TO be the great
commercial city of the Gulf. The R ch-
mond WAig of Tuesday informs as that
Gen. Cauby has seut large force of To-
fsntry from New Orleans to PascaZoula,
close TO Mobile; and the city is so weakly
defended that the idea is universally ex-
pressed 10 the South that it win be aban-
doued oy the rebels.
The number of cavalry engaged in this
great expedition is stated in the Western
papers as 40 600, iaelading moaated in
fantry, out the force may not be- as large
as this. The distinguished cavalry lead
er, Gen. Wilson, is IN command. The dis
tauce from E4ssport to Mobile is about 300
miles, through country easily sraversed;
and Gen. Sherman Ass stated under his
own signature, for the i1for ornatiou of th g
army, that sufficient forsge can be had On
tRe line OF the march. The cavalry can
probably mske twenty to twenty FIVE miles
day, and the campaign, if continuous,
would thus occupy from fifteen to twenty
days.
It's by far the largest expedition OF this
character of the war, sni its eouditious
aud prosperity have been so thoroughly
cauvassed in advance, that no doubt what
ever is entertained of its complete success
The deucraiized condition Of Dick TaY-
lor's Cate Hood's) army at Tupelo, not
over 10 600 strong, takes it away as az ele-
mert of danger.
The intense auiuositySof The people Of
Alabama and Mississippi against the rebel
Government and authorities, known to
amount almost to revolution, makes the
prospect of the campaign good in that re-
speet. Il will probably be even freer from
harra5sne1t than Shermanis campaign
through Georgia.
The opening of the Alsbsma aud Tom
bigbse rivers, and the occupation of Sell
ma, Montgomery and Mobile, will virtually
complete our military work in the cotton
States of the Gulf.
Since the shove was written, I have
learned that Gen. Thomas army will move
from Eastpors 500 the euemy's works." on
or about the middle of the week.