DESPATCH FROM GENERAL BUTTERFIELD. Major-General Butterfield, under date of Cairo, March eleventh, addressed the following to Lieutenant-General Grant or General Halleck : General Sherman arrived yesterday at Memphis. His command is all safe. Our total loss in killed, wounded, and missing is one hundred and seventy only. The general result of his expedition, including Smith's and the Yazoo River movements, are about as follows: One hundred and fifty miles of railroad, sixty-seven bridges, seven thousand feet of trestle, twenty locomotives, twenty-eight cars, ten thousand bales of cotton, several steam-mills, and over two million bushels of corn were destroyed. The railroad destruction is complete and thorough. The capture of prisoners exceeds all loss. Upward of eight thousand contrabands and refugees came in with various columns. JOURNAL OF THE MARCH. VICKSBURGH, March 6, 1864. our rear, to attack the supply-trains. Hope they will have a good time cutting our communications. Marched to-day thirteen miles to Brandon; Captain Foster commanding the cavalry advance, and Major Foster (Eleventh Iowa) the infantry advance. Our infantry advance made this distance in four and one half hours' marching time. Slight skirmishing. February eighth, leaving Brandon "purified as by fire" of much rebel nutriment, we marched sixteen miles, and camp in a grove of pitch-pine. Thirteenth Iowa engaged in destroying the rail road. February ninth, marched ten miles, to Morton Station, and engaged in tearing up railroad track; some miles of track torn up, rails heated and twisted, bridges, culverts, and stations burned, etc.; Sixteenth army corps, under General Hurlbut, pass to the front to-day; slight skirmishing to-day. February tenth, marched fifteen miles to-day, and camped three miles east of Hillsboro', DEAR EDITOR: On the third ultimo, Sherman's county-seat of Scott County, which place was expedition left Vicksburgh for Meridian, cutting purified also as above written. The payment right through the capital and across the centre in kind" of tithes of the farmers' and planters' of "proud Mississippi." The army was made crops to the rebel government, which has been up of two divisions-General Veatch's and Gen- collected in large quantities at these towns, eral A. J. Smith's-Sixteenth army corps, and feeds now the vandal hosts, and the residue is two divisions-General Leggett's and General consigned to the flames, which sometimes spread Crocker's Seventeenth army corps; together to buildings not ordered to be burned. The jail, with Colonel Winslow's brigade of cavalry, and too, where Sambo once waited for his kind and one brigade (General Chambers's) infantry; mak-indulgent master, vanished in smoke and ashes. ing in all forty-one regiments of infantry, three We hear of slight skirmishing again to-day in of cavalry, and seven batteries of light artillery, front. with one battalion of cavalry under Captain Foster, commanding the Fourth Ohio cavalry, of General McPherson's body-guard, two pioneer corps, and making a force of less than twenty thousand fighting men. I am thus particular in giving numbers, since our force has been every where overstated, and if any credit is due for what was accomplished, or blame ascribed for shortcomings, let praise or blame be awarded understandingly. A brief diary of events, marches, etc., will convey some idea of our trip. Three men of the Iowa Thirteenth and two of the Iowa Sixteenth were captured while out foraging. One other was captured, robbed of hat, coat, and boots, shot twice after being taken, and left for dead, but got back to camp in the night. He thinks his comrades were murdered after being taken. February eleventh, lay in camp until six P.M., then out all night, making seven miles through the swamps. Thirteenth Iowa sent forward to support cavalry in a raid on Lake Station. Déand road destroyed, also two locomotives and thirty cars. February twelfth, marched eighteen miles to Decatur, county-seat of Newton County. Purified. Slight skirmish. We lost twelve men killed; the rebels lost six men killed, and twelve wounded and taken prisoners. February third, marched seventeen miles, cross-pót ing the Big Black at the old railroad bridge, and camped near Edwards's Dépôt. Weather fine and troops in good condition. General Hurlbut is crossing Big Black at Messenger, on the old Jackson road, six miles above our crossing. February fourth, marched fourteen miles and camped beyond Champion Hills. Some skirmishing with the enemy. February fifth, marched to-day fifteen miles, and camped two miles west of Jackson. Had sharp skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry, losing some seven men killed, thirty wounded, and thirteen prisoners. The enemy's loss was much heavier than ours. February sixth, marched into Jackson. The Iowa brigade cross Pearl River, and take the advance. March of five miles. February seventh, messengers from Big Black came through last night with despatches for General Sherman and found the enemy already in February thirteenth, marched thirteen miles, and packed our extra teams. The Iowa brigade remain four days with the transportation, guarding it, and skirmishing with the enemy; then marched on the eighteenth to Meridian. Here the destruction of rebel property was very great, including railroad and railroad buildings, State arsenal, with guns, machinery, etc., all of which are utterly destroyed. General Crocker's division went south, twenty-seven miles, utterly and completely wiping out the railroad, and also the rebel camps at Enterprise, Quitman, etc. The cavalry did a similar work east to the State line, and the Sixteenth army corps north to Lauderdale Springs. This grand crossing of the main railroads of the south-west, at Meridian, is crossed out for the war, and the "tax in kind" will hardly be wagoned out of Mississippi to any great extent. February twentieth, commenced our return march, making sixteen miles. February twenty-first, marched fourteen miles to Decatur. February twenty-second, marched eighteen miles. February twenty-third, marched twelve miles to Hillsboro. Found the graves of Walker (company I) and Griggs, privates of the Thirteenth Iowa, both murdered after being captured, as narrated above. February twenty-fourth, the "Iowa brigade" marched twenty-three miles in eight hours and a half, to Pearl River, to guard pioneers in building bridges over the river on the Canton road. February twenty-fifth, finished the bridge and crossed to-day. February twenty-sixth, marched thirteen miles to Canton, county-seat of Madison County, remaining four days, the town guarded by the Iowa brigade. March first to fourth, marched sixty-four miles to Vicksburgh. Some skirmishing. Lieutenant Kilpatrick, with nine men, was captured while out foraging. As the result of our expedition, we cut off the rebel supplies from this State, demonstrated the ability of our veterans to go where they please, brought in some two hundred and fifty prisoners of war, about as many refugees, nearly six thousand negroes, (several hundred of whom go into our army,) several hundred teams, with cattle, mules, horses, etc., in large numbers. We buried sixty rebels killed, and lost ten killed in action. Our losses were small, and mostly from stragglers and small foraging parties captured-in all not exceeding two hundred and fifty. B. MINER. A NATIONAL ACCOUNT. ON BOARD THE STEAMER CONSTITUTION, March 5, 1564. try from Vicksburgh to the Big Black is completely stripped of every thing that can afford sustenance to man or beast, and such is the case only in a less marked degree as far as Jackson. Our After crossing the Big Black, both columns had skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry at intervals until we arrived at Jackson. The cavalry belonged to S. D. Lee and Ferguson's commands. These skirmishes, though in some cases severe, caused our forces but little delay, as they speedily drove the enemy back. In this day's skirmishes, the enemy acknowledge a loss of ten killed and thirty or forty wounded. Among the former was Major Bidden. This loss was at least twice as great as our own. The confederates had four pieces of artillery, and there is no doubt that it was their intention to make a stand at the fortifications of Jackson. These fortifications consist of earthworks and rifle-pits, and would have afforded considerable protection against an assailing party. A force of cavalry was sent out by another route, which ran parallel to the main road, and succeeded in flanking them, when they retreated in great haste. cavalry captured one of their guns, a rifled tenpounder, with caisson, horses, etc., and several prisoners. The flight of the enemy through the town and across Pearl River, was a perfect skedaddle. So great was their haste, that they had no time to destroy the fine pontoon-bridge which they had erected across Pearl River, except to cut the ropes; and it was used the next day by our troops in crossing. After our army had crossed, and was on the way to Brandon; the bridge was destroyed by the confederates to cut off our retreat. We had no desire to retreat fill our mission was accomplished. Jackson is a sorry-looking place; all the public buildings having been destroyed, except the State House and City Hall. Besides the public buildings, nearly all the stores and many private dwellings have been burned. Most of it was done during the occupation of the city by our forces one year ago. Our march from Jackson to Brandon was mostly free from skirmishing, the enemy having become thoroughly demoralized and chiefly occupied in making good their escape. We found plenty of meat and corn on the route, which the The expedition under the command of General Sherman set out from Vicksburgh on February third, in two columns, one under the command of General Hurlbut, proceeding by the old Jack-soldiers were not slow to avail themselves of to son road, and crossing the Big Black by a pontoon-bridge at Messenger's Ferry; the other under command of General McPherson, crossing the river at the railroad bridge. In order to facilitate the progress of the army, all unnecessary baggage was left behind, the soldiers taking twenty days' rations. The weather was beautiful, and the roads in excellent condition, and every thing bid fair for a speedy and successful march. What made it much more auspicious than such expeditions usually are, was the fact that the enemy knew little or nothing in regard to our numbers and intentions; in fact, the expedition was a complete surprise to them, and throughout the march they seemed completely nonplussed and at a loss what to do. The coun lengthen out the supplies which were brought with us. It was the expectation, when the expedition started out, that they would draw most of their supplies and all the forage for horses and mules from the country. There was very little difficulty in finding enough for our purpose, even in the most barren part of the country which we passed through. There was nothing left, however, after our passage, and in many instances the people must suffer for the want of food. The statements that the confederates would suffer from starvation are without foundation. There is plenty of corn and meat in the country, but very little else; yet this will serve to sustain life, and people can fight, living on this alone, if they can get nothing else. They appear to suffer more from want of proper clothing than any thing else. On the twelfth and thirteenth we passed several swamps where a small force might have detained us a long time, and perhaps effectually kept us back, but it was evidently no part of the rebel programme to fight; they were all too busy in making good their escape. In fact, what few confederates we saw, appeared to be completely demoralized. On the evening of the thirteenth our advance encamped within ten miles of Meridian. As Polk was known to have quite a large force, our boys were in hopes of having a fight. On this evening our cavalry had a skirmish with the confederate cavalry, which resulted in the death of half a dozen of the latter without any loss to us. On the morning of the fourteenth our forces were up and moving bright and early. After proceeding within four miles of Meridian, we found a bridge burned across a small creek which caused a delay of two or three hours. We omitted to state that our train was attacked by about forty rebel cavalry while passing The country from Jackson to Brandon is very through Decatur, on the evening of the twelfth good, and there are many fine plantations. We ultimo. Several of the mules were killed or dispassed through the latter place on the eighth ul-abled, but none of the wagons were captured, timo. It is a pleasant village, and the county- and the rebs were speedily driven back. seat of Rankin County. This county has a voting population of more than one thousand two hundred, and gave one hundred and sixteen majority against secession when the State went out of the Union. Honorable J. J. Thornton, a resident of this town, was the only member of the State Legislature that voted against secession when the final vote was taken. His drug-store was plundered by our troops. Quite a large quantity of meal was found at this place, which was seized for the use of the army. A large number of private dwellings were burned here as well as at other places on the route, but they were in nearly every case deserted houses and their owners in the rebel army. The burning was mostly done by stragglers, and there were strict orders issued against it by the Commanding Generals. The railroad had been put in good repair by the rebels from Meridian to Jackson, and from the latter place through Canton north to Grenada. It was by this road that the confederates at Meridian and Mobile got most of their supplies. The trains ran until the day before we arrived. We destroyed the road at different places all the way through to Meridian. The march from Brandon through Moreton to Hillsboro was devoid of interest, except an occasional skirmish with the enemy's cavalry, in which they invariably got the worst of it. This is in part owing to the fact that our cavalry always dismount in skirmishing with the enemy in the woods, which gives them the advantage of getting under cover and moving about with greater facility. The country through which we passed is sandy and barren, and the timber wholly pine. The inhabitants were scattered and belong to the poorer class, yet we found no difficulty in finding meat and corn for forage. Hillsboro is a scattered town of twenty houses, and the county-seat of Scott County. Beyond Hillsboro, toward Decatur, we found the bridges across the creeks destroyed, and trees felled across the road. These impediments caused some delay, but a pioneer corps was organized and the contrabands set at work, who soon put things to rights. The largest streams we passed were the Big and Little Chunky. At the Big Chunky we had quite a skirmish with the enemy, in which several of their number were killed and wounded; our loss was trifling. A force was sent to Chunky Station, twelve miles south of our route, to destroy the railroad. They had quite a severe skirmish with the enemy, but succeeded in accomplishing their object. This force, moving in that direction, led the rebel General Polk to think that our army had started for Mobile, and caused him to send a portion of his force at Meridian in that direction, and led to the subsequent evacuation of that post. After passing the creek a short distance, we found a sort of breast-work and cotton bales piled up for artillery, as though the confederates designed to make a stand. It was an admirable place for the purpose; but their hearts evidently failed them, and we found their works deserted. About two miles from the town we passed the winter-quarters of the confederate troops. They appeared to be quite comfortable, and admirably located. Soon after passing the camps, our cavalry, under Colonel Winslow, encountered the rear-guard of the enemy; but the gallant Colonel made short work of them, and drove them through the town toward Demopolis, at a doublequick. Immediately following the cavalry came the Third division of the Sixteenth army corps, with flags flying and bands playing national airs. It must have been a novel sight to what few inhabitants were left. They had not witnessed any thing of the kind before since the fall of Sumter. There were no manifestations of joy exhibited by the inhabitants of Meridian, nor indeed were there at any place on the route. The people looked upon it very much as they would on a flood or conflagration-as something which could not be helped, and could only be made the best of. The march from Vicksburgh to Meridian was accomplished in eleven days. The distance is not far from one hundred and fifty miles. We were now in the very heart of the enemy's country, with no possibility of communication_with any point, and supplies enough to last us but a very few days. Where was the boasted Southern Confederacy, that they did not attack and annihilate our little army? Nothing in the whole war has shown the rebel weakness, the inside rottenness of the Confederacy as plainly as this expedition. Polk has been censured by the Southerners for not attacking Sherman; but if he had, he would most assuredly have been beaten. Polk had in the aggregate from fourteen to fif teen thousand men. Nine thousand infantry, under the command of Generals Loring and French, and five thousand cavalry, under the command of S. D. Lee, Wirt Adams, and Ferguson. In an advantageous position this force, if concentrated, might perhaps have made a stand and caused us considerable delay, but the result could not but have been disastrous to the rebels. The braggadocio spirit, and even the disposition to fight, has nearly gone out of the confederates. Very many of them are convinced that it is of no use to fight longer, and that they can get just as good terms now as ever. They think the war is kept up merely for the leaders, and that is a poor cause to fight for. stay at Meridian, some foraging parties were attacked by the enemy's cavalry, and a few of our boys were wounded, but none killed. To destroy what was of use to the enemy in and around Meridian, required five days. It is needless to say that the destruction was thoroughly accomplished, and that it will be a long time before the rebels will wish to see the Union army in that vicinity again. Having accomplished the object of the expedition, and our provisions running low, the expedition started back on the twentieth ultimo. The route chosen was through Canton, to the northward of the one going out. This was done, partly that supplies might be obtained, and partly for the reason that there was confederate property to be destroyed. On the return march, the contrabands began to pour in upon us by hundreds. Old men and young men, women and children, of all ages, some on foot, some on horseback, and some in wagons drawn by oxen. It was a motley sight. Officers were appointed over them, who sought to keep them together, but this was next to impossible. Men might be seen who started with a large family and lost them every one. They were undoubtedly somewhere with the train, and cared for as well as possible. One thing the darkeys showed themselves fully susceptible of: the art of foraging. Not a chicken or a pig showed its luckless head, but, in the words of the darkeys themselves, it was a goner. Nothing so nettled the secessionists as to have things taken from them by the negroes. If our soldiers took what they wanted to eat, they seldom uttered a word, but took it as a matter of course; but let a contraband capture any thing, and they complained bitterly. Meridian is a new town, built in the pine woods, and derives its only importance from its railroad connections. The Mobile and Ohio Railroad intersects the Southern. These roads not only afforded the confederates means of communication, but supplies from Mobile and other points were obtained over these roads. Their importance to the confederates is almost incalculable. One great object of the expedition was the destruction of these roads, and it is needless to say that it was successfully accomplished. The rails were first torn up, and then the ties were dug up and piled together. Afterward the rails were placed across the ties and fire set to them. The rails becoming heated, bent down at each end, thus becoming totally unfit for use. This process was carried on for at least a dozen miles in cach direction from Meridian, besides at other places along the route. The scarcity of iron in the Confederacy makes the loss doubly severe to the rebels. It will be a long time before the roads are repaired again, if it is ever Our march to Canton was devoid of interest. done by the confederates. A force was sent The country is sandy and the soil poor, until we south as far as Enterprise, where they had a approach Pearl River. This we crossed on a slight skirmish with the enemy. Also one as pontoon-bridge. Afterward the country becomes far north as Marion, where they had another better, and we passed many fine plantations. We skirmish. Our cavalry was saved a great deal found considerable cotton at different places on of skirmishing by the use of artillery. A few the route, all of which was burned. One of our shells sent among the rebs judiciously would in- men who had straggled from his command, was variably send them skedaddling pell-mell. The found tied to a tree and shot. He was not dead booming of our cannon was always the signal for when found, and was taken along with us, but them to start. It seems that the confederates the poor fellow could hardly recover. During thought they were perfectly secure in Meridian, the march we lost several men by straggling, but as the officers were building for themselves fine for the distance marched the number of stragglers residences. General Polk, the fighting Bishop, was remarkably small. As a general thing our had one partly finished. Our boys finished it soldiers stood the march remarkably well. Enough for him, as well as those belonging to the other horses and mules were captured so that those officers. There was quite an extensive arsenal who were sick and tired out could ride. Canton in the place where old guns and pistols were al- is a fine village and contains many splendid resitered, so as to be good as new. Also bayonets dences. It is really the prettiest place in the were altered to what they think a superior pat- State. It is situated about one hundred miles tern, but our boys did not like their appearance from Meridian, and seventy from Vicksburgh. as well as our own. They were broader and Fifteen locomotives were captured near this place. more flat than ours. The arsenal was destroyed, Their loss will be great to the rebels, as they are together with the railroad buildings, and several very much troubled to obtain rolling stock. Their buildings containing commissary stores. The cars and engines are nearly worn out, and their confederates had removed most of their stores. means for replacing them are very limited. The Had General W. S. Smith's cavalry expedition railroad was destroyed at this place for a long arrived as was intended, no doubt much of their distance. A large quantity of meal was obtained stores would have been destroyed. During our at this place, which came very opportunely for our soldiers, for their hard tack had nearly given out. From Canton, the larger part of the train and the contrabands were sent to Vicksburgh in advance of the main army. The second night out from Canton it rained, and continued to do so the greater part of the next day. This was the first rain of any account that we had experienced on the expedition. This was enough to show us how impossible it would have been for the expedition to have succeeded had the weather been rainy instead of dry and pleasant. It was so muddy that the train was all day going the distance of eight miles, and worked very hard at that. It was enough to make one's heart bleed to see the poor contrabands, shivering with the cold, children crying, and women moaning piteously, all endeavoring to the best of their ability to keep up with the train. Their troubles were of short duration, for the weather soon cleared up, and they were able to keep up with the train quite comfortably. The rest of our march to Vicksburgh was accomplished without any event worthy of notice. We arrived on the second instant, having been absent from that place almost a month. The confederates will consider this expedition as the boldest move of the war. For an army no larger than that which accompanied Sherman to advance into the very heart of the Confederacy without any communication for nearly a month, and that, too, where the rebels had a perfect railroad communication, was truly a bold move. It shows more plainly than any thing else that has transpired the real weakness of the Confederacy. Had they the troops to spare from any point, or could they have been raised in any manner, he would not have been allowed to return without serious opposition. It is an eye-opener to the people of Mississippi, and can hardly but convince them that it is useless to protract the war longer. Nearly all with whom we conversed, confessed as much. Regarded in this light, the expedition has done a great deal of good. bability, in the confederate army. Quite a quantity of cotton was also destroyed. This was done with little or no additional expense to our Government, as the army drew most of its supplies from the country. The loss on our side is trifling. Probably one hundred will cover the killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss of the enemy was much greater in killed and wounded, and we captured more than two hundred prisoners and deserters, among them several officers. Our soldiers endured the long march remarkably well, and there were very few cases of sickness. The five thousand contrabands is taking just so much from the productive interest of the country, and consequently from the confederates. Nearly all the able-bodied ones will enter the army. In fact, we were informed that one thousand have already done so. The remainder will be sent to the contraband camp and employed to work on the plantations as occasion may require. The weather, with one or two slight exceptions, was delightful throughout the trip. Had this not been the case, the expedition would have been greatly delayed, as the roads in some parts of the route would have been nearly or quite impassable. The nights were cool and frosty, and sometimes the ice froze quite thick. The expedition may be considered a success, as all was accomplished that was designed or in our power to accomplish. But for the unaccountable non-arrival of General W. S. Smith's cavalry expedition from Memphis, perhaps more of the confederate commissary stores and more prisoners might have been captured. Some may be disappointed, because Sherman did not follow up the enemy to Mobile, but a little consideration by one acquainted with the facts in the case and the difficulties to be overcome will convince him that such a thing was altogether impracticable. Mobile can be attacked with more hope of success in another direction. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. VICKSBURGH, Miss., March 4. Nearly one hundred miles of railroad were destroyed, and that in such a manner that it will have to be entirely rebuilt with new iron-no very easy job, when we consider the scarcity of The great raid of the war is about ended, and that article at the South, and the increasing scar- the army which has marched over four hundred city of labor. These railroads were of untold miles in thirty days, and which has left so many value to the South, as a means of communication terrible marks of its prowess in its track, will with different parts of the Confederacy, and for soon be snug in quarters on the banks of the the transmission of supplies. Besides the rail- Mississippi. The consequences of the expedition roads and railroad-buildings, other buildings and are beyond calculation, and the damage done to stores, horses and mules captured to the number the confederate cause cannot be estimated in dolof two or three thousand, and contrabands to the lars and cents. Injury has been inflicted which number of five thousand, will swell the amount Jeff Davis and all his dominions have not the of loss to the confederates to nearly twenty mil- power to repair. A breach has been made withlions of dollars. The country through which we in the limits of their dominions which will never passed was obliged to be stripped of nearly every be closed during the life of this rebellion. thing eatable to support our army. As the peoPortions of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth ple must seek sustenance elsewhere, it is really army corps, commanded respectively by Majortaking supplies away from the confederates. Generals Hurlbut and McPherson, with MajorThere was considerable destruction of private General Sherman in command of the expedition, property, which may hardly be considered justi- left their camps on the third ultimo, and crossed fiable; yet the houses destroyed were almost in- Black River in two columns, the Sixteenth formvariably deserted, and their owners, in all pro-ing the left wing of the army, at Messenger's |