The weekly union record., 1865-03-18
Great Cavalry Campaign.

F., veteran and victorious army of General Thomas,
which had then just inflicted such series of
disastrous defeats upon Hood, would at once
take up its march after the remnant of the
rebel army. which had found refuge in MiSSis
sippi. st Tupeio. station on the Mobile Rail
road, some fifty miles south of Corinth. Our
army, 10 undertaking this movement, would
necessarily have 10 prepare itself for campaign
extending through the State of Mississippi, ard
as far as Mobile, Alabama. Tor Hood would
SIMPLY retreat from Iupelo and other points as
We advanced upon them, and would thus draw
our forces on indefinitely. without result. This
would bave been a campaign OF great difficulty,
and required considerable time in preparation.
I 10 the meanwhile there were TWO things
which materially altered this plan: First,
Lieutenant General Grant ordered 10 other
fields great part Of General Thomas Infantry.
I Secondly, it was definitely ascertaned that
Hoods defeat in December was of such q
complete character that an army Of the magni-
tude OF that under General Thomas was not
+ required 10 operate against it, or 10 do any
other part of the work that remained TO be
done in the Southwest In fact, limited
( body of infantry, with a superabunduuce of
cavalry are all that are now required in all the
vast range OF country between the OHIO river
and the Golf of Mexico.
\ new campaign was consequently resolved
upon, and, by the time this is printed, q cavalry
movement Of the most gigantic character and
promising the greatest results. will have been
begun. The army, in fact, is in motion. The
main circumstances have already been an
nounced in the papers of the West and South.
The starting point Of the campaign Is East port,
10 the northeastern corner OF the State Of Miss
issipp, where Thomas headquarters have been
for some time located TIE Columbus Miss
Republic has recently published the information
that large Fe0eral forces were concentrating
at Eastport and Decatur for the purpose of
moving on Selma AID Montgomery as soon as
the roads are 10 q suitable condition" or
course they can stop neither at Selma or
Montgomery and the articles that have been
telegraphed Nortb 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 Richmond Wbig of Tuesday
informs Us that General Candy has sent large
force OF infantry from New Orleans to Pasca.
goula, close TO Mobile; and the city is SO
weakly defended that the idea is universally
expressed in the South that it will be aban-
doned by the rebels.
The number Of cavalry engaged in this great
expedition is stated in the Western papers as
iorty thousand. including mounted infantry, bnt
the force may not be as large as this The
distinguished leader, General Wilson, is in
command. The distance from Eastport TO
Mobile is about three hundred miles, through
country easily traversed ard Gen. Sherman
has stated over his own signature, for the in
formation of the army, that sufficient forage
can be had on the line Of the march. The
cavalry can probably make twen,y TO twenty
five miles DAY, and the campaign, if contnu
Gus, would thus occupy from fifteen to twenty
days. 1t is by fsr the largest expedition of
this character of the war, aud its conditions
and prosperity have been so thoroughly can
yassed in advance that 10 doubt whatever is
entertained of lis complete success
The demoralized condition of Dick Taylors
Gate Hoods army at Tupelo, not over sixteen
thousand strong, takes it away as an element
of danger. The intense animosity of the people
of Alabama aad Mississippi against the rebel
Government and authorities known TO amount
almost TO revolution makes the prospect Of the
campaign good in that respect. 1t will prob
ably be even freer from harassment than
Sherman's campaign through Georgia
The opening Of the Alabama and Tombigbee
rivers, and the occupation of Selma, Montgom-
cry and Mobile, will virtually complete our
military work in the Cotton States of the Gulf.
As 10 the condition of Hoods army, q
Southern letter in the Chicago Tribune, under
date of February 4th, says:
Intelligence from Alabama, which received
through q perfectly reliable chanoel yesterday,
Is cf a more encouraging character. in potl
cal and military point of view. Dick Taylor's
(late Hood's) army is dwiDdIiug away and dis
banding with great rapidity. Discomfort is
not confined TO the ranks, but extends TO
officers carrying the title Of General AID so
general is the decentralization that it is impossi-
ble to prevent desertions. Since the 18th of
December last, forty five commissioned officers
and l,S3l privates have reported themselves to
the Provost Marshals Office at this place, and
been released on taking the oath of amnesty,
aud other posts have released hundreds. In
addition to this, the woods of Alabama are full
of deserters, and they are in constant cOmmuli.
cation with Union men within our lines. and
from the latter learn that these deserters are
thoroughly organized and determined 10 protect
themselves. and that they are anxious to make
terms with the National Government. That
they could come in and take the amnesty oath
they know, but they have families beyond our
lines, and they feel it their duty to stay and
protect them. | have it from the very best
all the troops between the Mississippi and the
Chattahooche, is reduced below l6 900. Our
forces can take Montgomery Selma and
Mobile al any time.
On the same subject, and on the military
prospect, Nashville letter dated Feb. Sd, in
the Chicago Evening Journal says:
The war may be considered as practically
at al end, now, in this section. True, the
~ 600 cavalry under Thomas and CaDby will
sweep over the States of Mississippi and Ala
bama as soon as the weather will permit, and
many places now nominally held by the rebels
will fall into our bands and numerous railroads
at present useful to the enemy. will be destroyed
and two or three rivers of great importance
will be opened TO our gunboat fleet; but all
this will require no serious fighting; 1t will not
be war, as that term has been understood the
last three years; only mere raid will be
required.
Since the above was written, have learned
that General Thomas army will move from
Eastport ION the enemy's works on or about
/, -