February 18, 1863, The New York Herald
Our news from the Army of the Potomac, though not very important, proves that active operations are going on. An expedition started for Belle Plain on Thursday last, to break up smuggling on the peninsula between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, and to prevent the enforcement of the rebel conscript law. It returned yesterday, having accomplished its aims. The expedition consisted of two squadrons of the Eighth New York cavalry, commanded by Captain Moore; the Second Wisconsin infantry, Colonel Fairchild, supporting. A portion of the expedition proceeded as far as Westmoreland Court House, Warsaw, Union, the Hague and Heathsville, and marched abut one hundred and fifty miles in five days, bringing back to camp twelve prisoners and a quantity of contraband goods smuggled across the Potomac; also four rebel mails and a large quantity of bacon. A large quantity of whiskey intended for rebel consumption was destroyed by our troops. A heavy snow storm was prevailing yesterday.
Our news from the Southwest is interesting. By a despatch from Cairo, dated Wednesday last, we learn that a Union scouting party met a body of the enemy five miles back of Lake Providence, when a warm engagement ensued. Our troops lost a few men. Many rebels were killed, and thirty-two taken prisoners. Ninety horses were captured.
It is stated in a despatch from Memphis that the rebels at Port Hudson are communicating with the Gulf by way of the Atchalafaya river. The same despatch says that […..] million bales of cotton are below Helena, Arkansas, waiting the permission of General Grant for shipment; but this is manifestly an error of the telegraph.
General Hindman’s rebel army is reported as thoroughly demoralized. Three hundred of his troops were frozen to death during their retreat from Van Buren. Hindman was once ordered to Vicksburg, but his men refused to go. Upwards of two hundred deserters were concealed in the brush twenty miles from Batesville, which town, with a large majority of the people, is in favor of a permanent occupation of the country by the Union army.
A skirmish took place on the 13th instant, near Bolivar, Tenn., between a detachment of the First cavalry and a body of rebels, the result of which was four dead rebels, a number wounded, five prisoners and a number of horses captured. None of our men were killed.
The Cumberland river is twenty feet deep on the Shoals, and is still rising. It rained all night on Tuesday and all day yesterday, so that the river is likely to reach a high level.
The steamer Creole, Couch, master, from New Orleans on the 8th instant, arrived at this port yesterday forenoon. Her news, though not important, is of considerable interest. The planters of Louisiana are greatly exercised concerning the continual escapes of their slaves, and have held an important meeting at New Orleans in reference to the labor question, the details of which will be found in our correspondence. The reports concerning the escape of the Harriet Lane are denied by an officer who saw her, and who says she was so much injured as to be unfit for service.
The British barkentine Rosalind, of Liverpool, Gardiner, master, arrived at St. Thomas on the 27th ultimo, from Wilmington, North Carolina, with the following cargo: – 24 bbls. rosin, 368 bbls. spirits of turpentine, 172 bales cotton and 25 boxes tobacco. The Rosalind cleared on the 16th and ran the blockade on the 18th ult.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •