The New York Herald Newspaper, December 26, 1862, Page 1

O_O rr THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 9600. NEW YORK, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1862. PRICE THREE CENTS. | Gbione! Fateh, with bis © | Jowa snd Seventh ordered t dismount and repel the attack, This was quickly done, and, concealing his men behind a sharp ridge, he waited patiently the rebel attack. When within (weuty yards of our mea, as @ thoy “rose the crest of the bill, the order was given to fire. The order was cbeyod with tremen- | /Seurman SEARCY Mevements of Gen. Grant’s Army. THE THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. dons effect, and the rebels itropped by scores. times was the volley repeated, until our ving rifles were emptied, amd we retired to take Apother position, For two long miles was Ubis attack And yotreat continned. during which both officers and men performed prodigies of vaor. Theo the pursuit fo Wacken, and inaily ceased altogether, The columa was once ior jor, and we leisurely took SRANDOLPH ~~: eee ey. The rebel logs we hay of learning, but it was " es ee t very mueh larger than ‘be their columes were Pre iminari to thi real sol and presenied a bett et for our revolyio, Conflict nwt : : 4 Where all did #0 well it may seem to be invidous meution particular inatancs ever, forbear to refer to y, Col. Lee, Col. Hi of the Seventh Minais ca h, of the Fourth cavalry, amd Major Coon, command- Second lowa, There are other cases deserving spe- cial mention, but space forbids. Our Oxford (Miss.) Correspomdence. Oxvoxn, Miss., Dec. 6, 1862. ‘The cxcupation of thie point has put ap, end to our forward movement in force for tho prosent. The supply trains, which have been greatly delayed’ by bad roads, will have t» come np before wo are ip Acondition to advinae, though even then Ido not anti- cipate a further movement untii the raiirond to this potas isentirely repsired. Tho cars are now rupuing reguiarly to Holly Springs. The railroad from the jatter place to this is ima depierabie state, the moxt revere gap being _At the Taliakatebio river,at which point throe bridgos and 4 large amount of trestie work bas ween compieloly destroyed. The engineers are now working rapidly tc repair these breales, in order to have them in readtuess by the time the rest of the road is finished, At least Successful Reconnoissance by Union Troops. Graphic Descriptions of Recer# Mildbr tary Affairs. ‘ Great Battles Expected at Jackson and Vicksburg, Miss. IMPORTANT FROM THB YAZ00 RIVER. PRBALDW YN Ubree weoks wil! be required t complote the reconatrus- tion Rec igrenoneneerer aS. SGUNTOWN A OLD VENTURE. - RONTOTSER ‘The veoture of this army, so distant from its base, con RETURNING LOYALTY IN THE SOUTH. renvattey—— stitutes oue of the boldest, and promises to be one of tho DALLAS 7 ABINELAR FT\UPELO most effective, movements of the war, By it Tennessee VERONAE has been quietod and apparently restored to the govora- Our Army and Naval Corres- Fcoonow, ment. Missiysippl is invaded, our army, successful and CFFEEVILLE yo—__\ in exceliont condition, is already some distauco within her Pponde nce. Dorders. It was the boust of the confederacy that our aruy Destruction ef Commerce, Miss., by Union Treeps. REBEL RAID INTO TRENTON, KY. THE VERY LATEST, ae, ae. ae. ‘The storm of war begun ‘at Fredericksburg bas aot bated. 1 has only swept by, apd wii) soon be felt in redoadied fury on the Mississippi. To that point every- ‘thing indicates an unpending battle, or series of datties, hat will puta new phase on tbe war. The hostie armies re both moving into position for the coming conflict. Our own army—targer by far than tbat of Burneite— Rae already moved Into-\hb-enemy’s territory with some ‘success, the rebois making but feebic resistecce aod fal)- ‘The retrograde movement of the. enemy jocks sus. plelous. Our Commanding Genera) treats it this. in thi view of affairs matters on the Missiestpp! are looked upon ‘with deep public solicitation. We therefore presest to the reacers of the Henacp to-day letters from our corps ef correspondents accompanying the Mississippi expedi- which capmot fail to be read with deep iwterest, as the detalis of them record the preiiminary movements And reconnoissances which arejthe sure auguries of an Smpending conflict. The letters of our eorrespondents fre illustrated by the accompanying large map. showing ‘the theatre of operations frem Memphis 10 New Orleans, ‘and comprising such portions of the States of Tenncesee, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alebemea and louisiana aa lie within the mensced distriet. From the map a good Sdea may be formed of the position of both armies at tbe time of the date of oar letters. The iate operations on the Yazoo river may becom. idered as @ portion of and suriliary to the Mississippi movement. The avant courters of the great Seet of ad. mira) Porter have already felt the enemy's position. The great movement will soon foliow. ‘The latest news from the Mississippi movement—the in. formation coming via Cairo—states that the rebein wi ‘Wreateving General Grant's rear, taking Mempbis as bis ‘Base. It isreported in Memphis that the rebeis bave gone foward Grand Junetion. witb the mteption of tearing up ‘the road; but nothing is known positively. General Sber- man bas reached Heiens, preparing 1o move down th river. Tie reported bere that Jeff Thompson is moviog on New Madrid with two thourand men, from Pocahontas» Arg., and that be was within forty miles of that place en the 22d inst. The revel force operating in Noribwestern ‘Tennessee recently buroed Unien City and ibe bridge ever tbe Onion river. Our Yockena Correspondence , Ay Camp, Norte or Trax Yoousna, Dec. 6, 1862. TAR BNGMT VALUING BACK. ‘The present pursuit of the enemy's fleeing coluioas is ended, and the cavairy division of our army bas failen ack to the corth of the Yockeos. We have encouatered the enemy, aud bave been forced to abandon the expedi, tion witb a considorabie loss of men and material. The qmemy bad concenirated at Coffeeville an immense foree Of infantry, cavairy and artillery, which they studiously Rept conceaied until they bad selected the pesition they desired, when they opéncd upon us with terrible effect and compel'ed a basty retreat to Water Valley. ‘My last communication was dated in camp pear tbat village, and jn it 1 indicated oar pians for the morrow. Oo}, Misoner’s Third brigade was ordered to take the ad~ ‘vance, Col. Lee's Gret brigate the centre, and Col Hateb, @econd brigado, the rear. Sy some mistake io the seieo- |. Miseuer switched off on the Paris Poad, and when he reached the Coffeeville read, five miles Badvance, bis position became the centre, while Col- Lee took the lead, and, in conection with Col. Dickey who bad charge of the expedition, directed our move’ ments. We encamped on the night of tbe éth at Water Vai- fey, and two miles south of the Otuckafaffa, across which during the night an excellent bridge was discovered. At @oven we were ready to start, aod (be columa moved in the order indicated above. SNOOUHTER IN WATER VALLEY. ‘There was 10 trouble on the route until we reached a point Ove miles from Water Valley, where we oncoun tered the rebel videttes and a company or two of rebel cavalry. Our advance guard was strengthened and a line of skirmisbers thrown out om either side of the road, which succeeded io oy J to tigbt the enemy. They fell back to the bill ta rear, made tand, were re ned , and again made a stand on th just in frout of this iaNer eminence was an open teld and valley through which rans & small stream, each sido of the fold Ln | skirted with beavy timber, with a dease undergrowth of brush and shrubs. Here Colone! Lee first piaoved bis gun, and Gred a dezen rounds of shell and shot, which caused the bandon the position. A hile £ again planted, and the woorls in a At @ plantation owned by Wheells tl er decided stand. from which they were dislodged jorabie dificulty. from here on there kirtmisbivg (or & oui OF more, until her open eld, where Colonel jee $ wi planted bis gun aod threw & few shell in ad wance of our skirmishers. Hardly had exploded before the enemy repiied with Mt heavy artillery, dropping the shell in d fly to our gun aod column. T she ten feet of our cangoo. Yur smal enemy, aud we reluctantly compelied to retire with our piece of ertiliery Meanwhile the line of skirmishers and gupporia wero Deavity engaged 1a front avd ariven by ap over- whelming infactry and cavairy force. The rebel in try advanced by regiments !n rolit column, driving bem. W G08 Bad supports wi Kk. Wheu we reached Grat placed 1 position we aga: timbered and fired a ew rounds of grape aod canister the advancing columo. The effect was terrible--men feli before the deadiy Gre like grain before the reapors’ sickle, others, hewever, steppert ‘crward to Sil their places, jain moved steadily forward. When ‘8 point four rode from the mouth of the ordered it to be unlimbered SLAUREL HILL oe vag KSoON TRRANETS Lent SAILING oat Hinson Sve Z Aa (ARIETTA SEBATON ROUGE\' couid never enter this State, except through the ordeal of @ mest sanguinary conflict. We Lave eutered tt upon the heels of @ disordered, panic stricken ant suffering enemy. Those who spoke most loudly were the first to shirk the defence they conceived would contest our marcb. im- pregnable positions have been evacuated. The conntry is open tous. Ibis snid Grenada will bo beld against us. 1 cannot believe it. The position is net us good as many thoy havo alroady left. It is true the location is one of wast importance = in the operations of our army. This may make it worth a battle, ‘The cause of the enemy is desperate in Unis fiom, and daily grows more impotent. If we secure nada they are (oat ——tho desirabié position in achie They will be able make but * show of reaistabce Before they give up the entire country. A MERARL. AMBUBCADR, When near Coffeeville, a yitlage about thirty miles gouth from here, on night before our cavalry came unexpectedly upou an ambuscade of a brigade of infantry and several pieces of artillery. Our men, though sur- prised, fought nobly, doing the enemy rauch damage, and subsequently withdrawing fo order. Oar losses, 1 bave satis{uctorily learned, are ten killod, twenty wounded and about thirty five missing ©” prisoners. Ameng the number killed js the lamented Lieutenant Golonel of tha Feurth Lljnoie cavalry, Ebon MoCuliough, It was st first reported that an égtire company was out off. Last evening it appeared in our camp, baving cut its way ont, bringing sen prisoners. This unexpected and uncivilized attack somewhat astonished our boys. They retired about twenty miies aud Ybere jn order to repair what mischief they had suffered, In afew day® we wit hear of them again in thoir exploits. ‘A VLA OF TRUCE. Lieutenant D. H. Gilc, aid to General MoI'nerron, bearor of @ fing of truee, left for the rebel lines yesterday and returned to-day. He proceeded as far ae ville, just inside thoir pickets, when be was halted, while the papers addressed to General Pemberton were delivered ‘and a reply made, The message was in relation to the exchango of prisoners, of which we bave & large number. No satisfactory reply was inade Iting several hours, Colvnel Jackson aud staf rode up with the information “that General Pemberton had gono out te ride.” Ho oflered to send it to General Van Dorn, The seme re- sponse was returned. Finally Genoral Lovell opened the Papers, but made a0 satisfactory ly. § dedece from the above that Generals Pemberton aad Van Dorn are in Grenada and Lovell is left as a rear guard. General Price is alo at Grenada. ‘THE MBADGUABTERS OF GENERAL GRART. Oxford, where lies the ceatre of our army, is a beav- tiful place, both by nature and by art. In buildings it exhibits ‘considerable affluence. In ornamentation it displays rare taste. ‘The place is now nearly deserted by ite population In several instances dioner tables, well supplied with tbe posr, fare the people now subsist on in the South, were found deserted, evi- dently designed for the people of the house, 80 aut was our attack, Whitber these fugitives direct their fight I cannot tell. POSTION OF THE ARMY Our army is now in yoo@ positiva and pretty well con ~ eentrated. In natural fortification we hold « strong point. No attack from the rebels is anticipated, but it is & good thing to ' such a location. General Grant now has bis headquarters here; so also bas General McPherson. During the late movemet suecessfu: in the capture of a large number of prisoners. ‘The entire number thus tar brought in amount to fourteen evwmussioned officers, seventy-six sergeants, twenty cor- porais and six huudred and itty privates. da liet of officers. ‘Chey are ay follows:— CAPTURK OF REBEL OFFICERS. Major C. Duckworth , First Tennessee cavalry; J.C. Word, Surgeon, Captain W. A. Rogers, Fourth ‘Mississippi caval- Captain H. A. Patton teenth Mississippi infantry, Ghat J. H Shaw, Quartermaster on the stad of General Van Dorn. Lievtenant E. A. Hatchet, Second Arkansas: Lieutenant 8. J. Willis, Fourth Mississippi Cavalry ; 1. tenant X. B. Patton, Tennessee Kesorve artillery; ant A. J. Williamson, Fiftieth Alabama infantry; J. L. Sandford, Second Arkansas cavalry, Lieutenant J. Burkhead, First Arkapsus cavalry; Lieutenant J. F. Wers- ter, Bullanstine cavalry, Lieutenant J. McCoy, Ballanstine cavalry; Assistant Surgeon K. 4. McClendon. Orvorn, Miss., Dec. 9, 1862 OUR CAVALRY OPERATIONS. The retreat of the rebel forces before tho advance of Gen. Grant’s army, though mainly owing to the dispo- sition of our infantry, was briltiaatly followed up by the cavalry. {n fact, ali the engagements bave been with the cavalry, and the robei retrograde movement rendered by it painful and disastrous. Our men were incessantly upoa their rear, harassing thorn upon every -opportunity. 1 feel confident they suffered dreadfully in killed and wounded, many of the having fallen inte our hands. There is no doubt but the dash of our onset in offensive operatious has greatly to du with the fear of the enemy toencounter our forces, The particulars of the cavairy movements,since our first engagement of the euemy north of the Tallahatchie wit! be of interest and importance. { therefore give them somewhat at length. Itwas on tho moruing of December 2, after a sovere running fight on the preceding day, that Col. A. L. Lee commanding First brigade of the cavairy divifion, crossed the Talial hie river dui the night and entered the enemy's works (which were evacuated except by @ smal; party of observation) at the bead of the Seventh Kausas, Fourth Iilineis, Turd Michigan and a battalion of the Second Jowa cavairy. A briet skirmist occurred 5 which resnited in the fight of the rebels towards their main body, in march southward. In close pursuit we pushed forward to Abbeville, about six miles on the main road. At this point Major Moyer, with the Third Michigan cavalry, was sent south ou the road west of the railroad, while the rest of the command pursued the main Oxford road, When five miles south of Abbeville our cavalry came up to the rear guard of the enemy’s cavalry. Wo drove it steadily a distance of three miles, without ex periencing any strong opposition. When three miles north of Oxford the enomy's cavalry made snotber and more determined stand, openiug upon our men with two pieces of artillery, A bail hour's severe skirmishing sufficed to drive the enemy position with considerable loss, among (be number being bis two gunners, who were killed while serving the guns. Before reaching Oxford they tnade two more stands, placing their guns in position aod dring upon our men. After some sovere Gghting the was dislodge 's Chief of Cavairy, ry, aud was in person in the fight. iy (4 three affairs we took abcut sixty prisoners Major Duckworth, commanding the First Tennessee cavalry, is one of the aumber, ‘After the third engagement the rebel c below Oxford, leaving the Forty-third Missi Texas and ® regiment of infantry in the Second Texas posted at the court other regiment . Diss mounting the ‘command, Colenel Lee deployed th porta, entered the town. Aa P treet fight ensued, in which the evemy was worsted, driven out, and§our forces tovk possession. Over two hundred prisoners were taken during the day Major Moyer, owing to unavoidable circumste: ie not reach Oxford unti the following m rienced severe skirmishing the entire ceeded in capturing fourteen prisoners. ‘an officer and three privates wounded. THR APPAIR AT COFFERYILLS. On the morning of December 8, being ordered (0 com