January 26.—A force consisting of Willich’s Indiana regiment, Colonel Starkweather’s Wisconsin regiment and a company of Indiana cavalry, Captain Gaddis, made a rcconnoissance from Camp George Wood, near Munfordville, Ky., in the direction of the enemy. Willich’s regiment and the cavalry penetrated to Horse Cave, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, eight miles beyond Green River. Colonel Starkweather’s regiment was placed in reserve about four miles out. Willich learned that Hindman had recently advanced with his brigade and had encamped only three miles beyond Horse Cave. The railroad track was destroyed in places up to and within five miles of the national camp, and the turnpike was blocked up by trees which the rebels had felled across the road for a distance of four miles this side of Horse Cave. Several reservoirs of water, which they passed, filled the air for some distance around with stench arising from the decaying cattle and hogs the rebels had thrown into them.— Cincinnati Gazette, January 31.
—This day was celebrated at New-Orleans as the anniversary of the secession of Louisiana from the United States. A parade of about fifteen thousand men took place, after which the Governor and principal officers partook of a collation at the St. Charles’ Hotel; the great sentiment of the occasion being the Independence of Louisiana.— New-Orleans Picayune, January 27.
—At St Louis, Mo., General Halleck issued a special order directing the President, and other officers of the St Louis Mercantile Association and the Chamber of Commerce, to take the oath of allegiance prescribed by law. In case of failure to do so for the space of ten days, the officer so failing shall be deemed to have resigned; and if he attempts to exercise the functions of his office, he shall be arrested for contempt and punished according to the laws of war.—(Doc. 20.)
—The Southern expedition left Port Royal, S. C, and consisted of all the light-draft steamers, light gunboats, and eight thousand troops. The object supposed to be an attack on Savannah, commencing with Fort Pulaski.
—Official despatches received at St. Louis, Mo., from the expedition sent from Cape Girardeau to Benton and Bloomfield. It captured Lieutenant-Colonel Farmer and eleven other officers and sixty-eight privates, with a quantity of arms, horses, saddles, etc. Most of the rebel officers were surprised and captured in a ballroom.—General Halleck’s Despatch.
