April 23, 1863, Peoria Morning Mail (Illinois)

Our dispatches this morning announce the evacuation of Vicksburg.The news comes through rebel sources, yet little reliance can be placed in the rumor.

April 23, 1863, Clarke County Journal (Alabama)

We are glad to learn that the plan which some of our liberal and patriotic citizens have adopted to aid the poor of the upper counties is proving successful, says the Selma Reporter. A large sum of money has been raised, besides a considerable quantity of provisions, which are being judiciously distributed among the needy. The Central Supply Committee are very active in the discharge of their duties, and it is hoped that none of our people will forget the importance of adding to the means already placed in their hands for doing good. Many have been liberal in making contributions; let others follow their example. In a charitable and patriotic point of view, they will be more than compensated by the satisfaction it will afford them, and in the rejoicing it will create among the destitute. Carry on the good work.

April 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

FROM PORT HUDSON.

PORT HUDSON, April 21. – The New Orleans Era of the 16th confirms the report of the destruction of the Confederate prizes, Queen of the West and Diana. The former got aground in Grand Lake. The Yankee fleet approached and a fierce bombardment ensued. A shell from the Cobham exploded on the deck of the Queen of the West, igniting a quantity of powder. The fire, communicating with the magazine, caused an explosion, blowing up the boat. The Diana is reported to have been burned by the rebels; 136 prisoners, including seven commissioned officers and three sergeants; eighty of them being from the crew of the Queen of the West, had arrived at New Orleans on the 15th; among them Capt. FULLER, the commander of the fleet, who was slightly wounded in the ankle, and is now at St. James’ Hospital. The prisoners report forty-five of the crew missing, supposed to be drowned or killed. A despatch from Berwick Bay, of the 15th, reports the Federals beyond Franklin. They had joined their forces and were marching on.

FROM BRAGG’S ARMY.

CHATTANOOGA, April 21. – A number of prisoners arrived today from Tuscumbia, captured by RODDY’S cavalry. The fight began at Deer Creek. The enemy, 5000 strong, drove our advance to Cave Creek, eight miles from Tuscumbia, where we made a stand, capturing, after a severe fight, 170 prisoners. Our loss is reported to have been 20 killed and 40 wounded. Enemy’s loss heavy. The Yankees have not yet advanced, our forces still holding them in check.

Seven more persons have been sent South through the lines by order of ROSECRANS. One family was allowed a half hour to go South or to a Northern prison.

Scouts from the Tennessee River report that 24 transports are landing troops at Eastport, eight miles from Iuka. The troops are chiefly cavalry.

All is quiet in front, with no immediate prospect of a battle.

April 23, 1863, Peoria Morning Mail (Illinois)

Correspondence of the World.

Federal Flotilla, Mouth Yazoo
River, Miss., April 9.

 The interest attached to the operations before Vicksburg will hardly be borne out by the facts. A greater contrast could hardly be presented than things as they are in General Grant’s army and the combined fleets, and the light in which they are viewed by the people at large. Expectation is on the tiptoe at Memphis and all points north of that city to learn the latest news from below, and the slightest fact in relation to actual operations, which are very few in reality, is seized with the avidity of gluttony and worried into the most incredible shapes, which, in their turn, change to the next eye, and are represented as “further particulars” or “corrections” of the meager account from which they sprang. This is unavoidable, however deplorable it may be, for considering the difficulties of transmitting intelligence and the many biased mediums through which it must necessarily pass, it is no wonder that the public is frequently cheated out of its just dues by those whose only desire is to cheat it out of its purse. To make this more clear it is necessary to state that the mail is very unreliable, that there is no telegraph nearer than Cairo, Ill., and that there is a strict military surveillance over matter for the public journals. With almost every boat leaving the fleets for the North there are interested and irresponsible parties who carry such accounts above as will best shape public opinion and feeling to our interests, and such people have little care how much damage may be sustained by others so they can profit by the deceit. As there is much in forestalling public opinion, these traffickers in principle know it, and, availing themselves of the opportunities afforded them to anticipate news through its legitimate channels, pervert truth and present it only in such a light as shall show them the way to gain.

 The capture of Vicksburg is uncertain. The position, naturally strong, has been improved n every possible manner and there is apparently no abatement in the efforts to guard all its distant approaches by such means as the best military skill and foresight could suggest. While this is palpable to the most unsophisticated eye, expeditions are fitted out week after week in the vain hope that some of them may succeed in finding a vulnerable place to assail, and by carrying it, upon some hitherto unexplored passage into the rear of the city. This reminds one of the fellow who stood on his head to take off his boots; yet it is well to give the troops something to do, and these expeditions have some good result; they prove the impossibility of clearing the Mississippi river by circumvention, and they teach the geography of the country.

 The batteries at Vicksburg are not casemated; hence, it is probable that they are a good deal of a bugbear to the iron-clad fleet, not yet fully tested in storming them. Last summer demonstrated that they could be silenced in two hours’ bombardment, but the want then was troops to hold the city after the forts were carried. It is not unfair to suppose, then, that now, as the fleet is even more powerful than it ever has been, and that troops are abundant, either a want of co-operation or some circumlocution policy prevents the taking of the place.

 The steamer Magnolia, hitherto occupied by Gen. Grant as his headquarters, has been set free from military possession, and the general, with his staff, has gone ashore at Milliken’s Bend, La., a few miles above Young’s Point, opposite the mouth of Yazoo river. The latter place has become dreadfully disagreeable and unhealthful. Thousands of troops had been encamped upon a few acres of swampy land for several weeks and the hygiene of the place was sadly neglected, for it was believed that the stay would be brief, and carelessness for the future engendered disregard for present precaution. In a space of a few hundred square yards it is not uncommon to see a row of tents, with no attempt at cleanliness, and half a dozen graves partially trodden under foot. This was an unavoidable condition several weeks ago, but now, with the daily improvement of the weather and the manifestations of a long stay, it should be the duty of the commander to enforce the most rigid discipline in the sanitary departments of the army.

 The new headquarters of General Grant is a vast improvement upon Young’s Point, for the land is higher, and there are no swamps for many miles around it. The “place” belonged to a wealthy planter, whose name it bears, and every care has evidently been taken in past years to improve it. High levees run the entire length of the plantation to guard against the encroachments of the Mississippi, and the now abandoned fields betoken the bounteous crops of cotton gathered in the years gone by. Milliken’s Bend is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful places on the Mississippi river, but the eye accustomed to eastern scenery would find very little in it suggestive of beauty. The land is flat and the soil rich, but no attempt has been made toward landscape gardening. The planter’s home is generally surrounded with rude flower-beds and shrubbery, but outside that, his plantation has ever been regarded as a workshop or manufactury–simply to make money. It will require the work of years to restore these plantations that have been occupied as camp grounds to their former state of perfection.

 The same dullness in the army characterizes the fleet, which still lies at anchor at the mouth of the Yazoo river. Haine’s Bluff rejoices in the peaceful possession of itself, and its guns still grin defiance at the unassailing foe. Repairs are being made to the boats injured in the last expedition, which was not a success, in a military or naval point of view, and that settled air which indicates repose breathes softly around our fleet. The more anxious for fight men daily express the wish that the enemy would open the raft above and send down another Arkansas to stir the lazy spirit of the fleet and awaken action.

 Some are of the decided opinion that Vicksburg is evacuated, with the exception of the few soldiers who are left to man the batteries, but the best information received contradicts this flatly, and the highest intelligence would seem to show that there remains but one way to make it ours, and this is by hard fighting.

April 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

We lay before our readers the proceedings and debate in the House of Representatives in Congress, on the resolutions denouncing Martial Law. It is the very best conclusion that we can make to our observations, calling their attention to three points.

1. The usual motion to postpone the resolutions, and thereby to kill them, was made and carried; but on the motion to reconsider this postponement, and debate arising, the reconsideration prevailed, and the resolutions were passed. If the proceedings had been in secret session, there would have been not the slightest chance of their passing.

2. The Government is not ignorant of the acts of Major-General HINDMAN. General ALBERT PIKE has not only perferred charges for high crimes and misdemeanors against him, but has printed and circulated a pamphlet, to give them notoriety and publicity.

3. There was but one Representative from South Carolina who voted on the resolutions – Mr. BOYCE – and he voted for them. Mr. MILES had not returned from Charleston when the vote was taken.

April 23, 1863, The New York Herald

The steamer Key West, which arrived at this port yesterday from Beaufort, S.C., with dates of the 20th inst., reports that the story of the rebels having abandoned the siege of Washington, N.C., is fully confirmed. We have no later news from that direction.

A despatch from Memphis, dated Tuesday, reports some spirited engagements in that quarter. It says that on Saturday evening last three regiments of infantry and one of cavalry left Memphis on a reconnoitering expedition. When near Nonconna the cavalry came upon a detachment of Blythe’s rebel cavalry. A fight ensued, resulting in the repulse of the rebels. The next morning the cavalry again attacked the rebels, killing twenty, wounding forty and capturing eighty. The rebels fled in great confusion across the Coldwater, where they received reinforcements, and our forces fell back to Hernando. The rebels were so severely handled that they did not attempt to follow.

At Hernando we were reinforced by infantry and artillery, under Colonel Bryant, who moved to the Coldwater and attacked the rebels on the opposite side of that river. The fight lasted until sundown, and was confined chiefly to the infantry, as the artillery could not be as successfully used as desired. Our loss is five killed and fifteen wounded.

The particulars of the passage of Admiral Porter’s fleet under the batteries of Vicksburg show the fact that the transport Henry Clay was so severely damaged by shot that she sunk, and that all hands made for a flatboat as the boat was going down. It is believed that they were lost. The pilot floated down the river nine miles on a plank, and was picked up opposite Warrenton. There are eleven gunboats below Vicksburg now, including three under Farragut. The Navy Department has received an official account of the running of Admiral Farragut’s fleet by the batteries at Warrenton, and his conflict with the batteries at Grand Gulf, the main facts of which we have already published. [continue reading…]

April 22d. Commences with cool, pleasant weather. Crew employed painting ship, &c. Our color has always been black, but owing to a late order from the Department, at Washington, all vessels composing the Western Gulf Squadron are now to be painted a lead color, which is hardly distinguishable from the water of the Mississippi.

Wednesday, 22nd. Finished Fannie’s letter and mailed it. Pitched quoits awhile with Charlie Fairchild. Read in an old Atlantic. “Old Age and Hundred Days in Mo.” Boys went out and got a beef from 1st Ky. Issued rations from what we had. Received some from 3rd Battalion. Stayed out doors till tattoo. Commenced raining. Wrote a letter home. Got a Cincinnati paper of the 20th.

Wednesday, April 22d,
New Orleans.

Yesterday we arrived; I thought we should never get here. Monday we had almost given up in despair, believing the schooner would never return. But in the evening, when all were gathered in our room discussing our hopes and fears, a sail was perceived at the mouth of the bayou, whereupon every one rushed out to see the boat land. I believe that I have not mentioned that this Bonfouca is on a bayou of the same name that runs within a few yards of this house. It is an Indian name signifying Winding River, which struck us as very appropriate when we watched the schooner sailing now to the left, now to the right, apparently through the green fields; for the high grass hid the course of the stream so that the faintest line was not perceptible, except just in front of the house. All was now bustle and confusion, packing, dressing, and writing last words to our friends at home, until half-past eleven, when we embarked.

This is my first experience of schooners, and I don’t care if I never behold another. The cabin where Mr. Kennedy immediately carried me, was just the size of my bed at home (in the days I had a home) and just high enough to stand in. On each side of the short ladder, there was a mattress two feet wide. One of them Mrs. R–– had possession of already, the other was reserved for me. I gave the lower part of mine to Minna and Jennie, who spent the rest of the night fighting each other and kicking me.

Just before twelve we “weighed anchor” and I went on deck to take a last look at Dixie with the rest of the party. Every heart was full. Each left brothers, sisters, husband, children, or dear friends behind. We sang, “Farewell dear land,” with a slight quaver in our voices, looked at the beautiful starlight shining on the last boundary of our glorious land, and, fervently and silently praying, passed out of sight. [continue reading…]

Wednesday, 22d–We landed at Milliken’s Bend early this morning and went into camp on a large plantation about a mile from the levee of the river.

APRIL 22d.—The President is reported to be very ill to-day–dangerously ill—with inflammation of the throat, etc. While this is a source of grief to nearly all, it is the subject of secret joy to others. I am sure I have seen some officers of rank to-day, not fighting officers, who sincerely hope the President will not recover. He has his faults, but upon the whole is no doubt well qualified for the position he occupies. I trust he will recover.

The destruction of the Queen of the West, and of another of our steamers, is confirmed. Is not Pemberton and Blanchard responsible?

The loss of two guns and forty men the other day, on the Nansemond, is laid at the door of Major-Gen. French, a Northern man! Can it be Gen. Cooper (Northern) who procures the appointment of so many Northern generals in our army?

I cut the following from the Dispatch of yesterday:

Produce, etc.–Bacon has further declined, and we now quote $1.25 to $1.30 for hog-round; butter, $2.25 to $3 per pound; beans in demand at $20 per bushel. Corn is lower–we quote at $6 to $6.50 per bushel; corn meal, $7 to $9 per bushel–the latter figure for a limited quantity; candles, $3.50 to $3.75 per pound; fruit–dried apples, $10 to $12; dried peaches, $15 to $18 per bushel; flour–superfine, $31 to $32; extra, $34; family, $86; hay is in very small supply–sales at $15 per cwt.; lard, $1.65 to $1.70 per pound; potatoes–Irish, $3 to $10; sweet, $10 to $11 per bushel; rice, 25 to 33 cents per pound; wheat, $6.50 to $7 per bushel.

Groceries.–Sugars have a declining tendency: we quote brown at $1.15 to $1.25; molasses, $9 to $10 per gallon; coffee, $1 to $4.50; salt, 45 cents per pound; whisky, $28 to $35; apple brandy, $24 to $25; French brandy, $65 per gallon.

April 22, 1863, Peoria Morning Mail (Illinois)

Telegraphed to the Peoria Mail.

Vicksburg, April 21.

Official dispatches received here last night say that a portion of Admiral Porter’s fleet, with a large number of soldiers from General Grant’s army, have succeeded in running the batteries at Vicksburg, and are now in a condition to either help Banks in an attack on Port Hudson or to make an assault on Vicksburg from the South.

April 22, 1863, Montgomery Weekly Advertiser

 The New York Tribune, of the 8th, gives a flourishing account of a great “bread riot in Richmond,” for the particulars of which it is indebted to Col. Stewart, of the 22d Indiana Regiment, an U. S. Officer, just released by the Confederates. Col. S. says he witnessed the riot from his prison window. The rioters were composed of 3,000 women, who were armed. They broke upon the government and private stores, and took bread, clothing and whatever else they wanted. The militia were ordered out to check the riot, but failed to go. Jeff Davis and other high officials made speeches to the infuriated women, and told them they should have what they wanted, when they became calm.

April 22, 1863, Arkansas True Democrat (Little Rock)

It has been known, for weeks, that the federals in this State, as well as others, were destroying all farming implements, seizing all provisions and preventing the planting of crops, with the avowed determination to starve the people into submission. We suppose it might be possible that this was the vindictive cruelty of some cowardly commander, who vented his spite on women and children. But it is now certain that orders to that effect have issued from Lincoln’s war department. In Phillips, Chicot, and other counties, where the federals have a foothold they have and are burning all the fences, plows and farming utensils they find. They destroy the property of widows as well as of male citizens. They are sending thousands of women and children within our lines, destroying all the provisions they find and preventing the people from planting. Out of many cases reported to us, is one of a widowed lady, at whose house a number of officers and men called and demanded their dinners. After having eaten, they told her that they had orders to seize all her provisions, destroy all the farming implements and fences and prevent her from having a crop raised. They left her a week’s supply of provisions only. In Phillips county they kill every milch cow, shoot down every hog and cut down fruit trees. In Chicot county, they have made a clean sweep.

 This is not civilized warfare. It is a war upon women and children. It is a wholesale robbery and national murder. Yet so timid has been our policy that we have let these villains navigate our waters, because they protested against the barbarity of firing into boats. We have paroled jayhawkers whose hands and garments were incarnadined with the blood of murdered patriots. We have forborne until forbearance has ceased to be a virtue, until it has ceased to be manly. What will the action of the President and the military authorities, in this crisis, we cannot anticipate, but that an enemy so violating all rules of warfare and waging a barbarous and fiendish war, should be treated according to the rules of civilized war, is absurd. Surely, these men should be hung as soon as caught. They have thrown away their stars and stripes and hoisted the black flag. They are warring upon women and children, and when caught their captors would be justifiable in killing them as they would be in killing a wild beast.

 As strenuously and sternly as we have resisted all attempts to make this a black flag war, the enemy seem determined to drive us to it. They are organizing insurrections in South Carolina; they have sent a negro army into Florida; they are organizing black regiments in Tennessee; they execute partisans who fire on boats, and guerrillas everywhere, and now, they declare a war for extermination, not only of men, but of women and children.

 This being the acknowledged policy of the federals, it becomes a matter of life and death that we should raise everything that will sustain life in those parts of the country beyond reach of the federals; that we should be economical in the use of breadstuffs; close all distilleries and hold the distillers as public enemies, and cultivate fields and gardens to their utmost limit.

 It has been demonstrated that the Confederacy cannot be whipped, and if we do our duty, we can prepare to ward off this blow, and hold those to strict accountability who seek to inflict it upon us.

April 22, 1863, The New York Herald

The Recent Fighting on the Nansemond River.
Our Suffolk Correspondence.

SUFFOLK, Va., April 20, 1863.

At sunset yesterday afternoon, a portion of the force under command of General Getty, accomplished quite a feat of daring.

Major General Peck for two days past has been watching a good opportunity to launch out upon the enemy’s lines, with the view to the striking of a quick, sharp and decisive blow.

On Sunday morning the enemy opened on our gunboats from one of his earthworks, about eight miles down the Nansemond river. The gunboats immediately replied, and in less than two hours the engagement ceased, our forces, land and water, having completely silenced that of their adversaries. The firing from the gunboats was so accurate that the parapets of the enemy works were deeply plowed with shot, and cut away in some thirty or forty places.

Just about dusk on Sunday evening our gunboats again opened with much vigor of firing upon the enemy’s line of batteries. He replied in good earnest. Thus matters remained in this direction for nearly an hour. While this was going on a couple of gunboats that had come to an anchorage, just around the turn of the point of land on which the enemy’s batteries were located, came together in such a manner as to make a tolerable safe bridge across the water of the Nansemond river. In this way two detachments of infantry, numbering in all about four hundred men (one detachment being from the Eighth Connecticut regiment and the other from the Eighty-ninth New York Volunteers), passed over to the opposite bank. As soon as the rebels were come upon in any force our men fired one volley and charged at the point [continue reading…]

April 22, 1863, Galveston Weekly News

 The Almanac Extra contains a letter from Gen. H. E. McCulloch, dated Camp Wright, Arkansas, March 6^th, stating that as Congress commuted soldiers’ rations in Hospital at one dollar a day, the means from this source will be more than sufficient to support the hospitals of that State, and he presumes the same is the case in other States. He therefore says their friends in Texas may now turn their attention to the wants of the soldiers’ families, many of whom have been left dependent. He says:

 Let these, and the widows and orphans of those who have already fallen in your defence, have ALL that you can POSSIBLY spare them; and, in performing this noble service, remember that you not only dry up the tears and soothe the distress of the suffering at home, but you encourage and warm up the heart of the patriot soldier, battling for our cause in camp. When he knows that his loved ones behind him are not permitted to suffer by his absence, he is better prepared to give his mind and heart, and, if needs be, his life to the defence of his country.

April 22, 1863, Peoria Morning Mail (Illinois)

 It is announced on high authority that the conscription will be enforced in May–that is, the enrollment will be made during that month. The list of provost marshals and their regulations are nearly completed. The delay has been caused by section eight, which requires the appointment by the President of a surgeon and another civilian in each district, who, with the provost marshal, are to form a board of enrollment.

April 22, 1863, Galveston Weekly News

 I take this opportunity to say to those planters with whom I have conferred on the subject of establishing a cotton and woolen factory, some of whom subscribed conditionally to the stock of the proposed Texas Manufacturing Company before I obtained a charter incorporating the same, which was granted at the last regular session of the Texas Legislature, that I have made arrangements for all the machinery for a cotton and woolen mill of any size or capacity desired, and if those planters who were in favor of establishing said manufactory, or any other responsible individual, or set of men in the State wish to establish a large or small cotton and woolen factory in Texas, and will furnish me the cotton at once to pay for the machinery, I will furnish it at such place and on such terms as may be agreed on, and I will turn over to them the said charter at what it is worth, and I will take stock if parties desire me to do so, and do all in my power to aid in establishing such an institution as the planters in this State need.

 I beg leave to say, however, that I am not in favor of the South becoming a manufacturing people to a great extent, especially of the finer fabrics, but I am in favour of Texas and all the Confederate States becoming more self-reliant, and manufacturing plantation goods and producing in our glorious Confederacy every necessary of life we require.

 With the sword in one hand and the plow and spindle in the other, and God on our side, we will gain our independence, and by economy, industry and temperance, and the productions of our soil, the Confederate States of America may become one of the wealthiest, the most independent and powerful nations on the globe–for if God be for us, who can be against us.

 Any communications addressed to me at Brenham between this and the first day of May will receive attention.

Harris Hoyt.

April 22, 1863, Dallas Herald

From the Telegraph.

            By Captain W. T. G. Weaver.
Brave sons of that chivalrous land of the west,
            The first and the boldest in war,
Since the hour you struck for a nation oppressed
            By the light of her rising star–
Remember that field where our countrymen fought
            The heroes of the Mexican foe;
And how dearly the freedom of Texas was bought
            While the blood of her heroes did flow!
Let JACINTO–the ALAMO!  be the war cry,
            When the Northmen in battle we meet;
Let each Texan, like Travis, the hero, reply,
            “We’ll never submit or retreat!”
We’ll swear by the sunniest land of the west–
            By our star that is shining above;
By the rivers that flow by the prairies’ green breast,
            By the homes and the women we love;
By the shades of our sires; by the blood of the Past,
            Besprinkled on Liberty’s tree;
By the cross of the South, we will fight to the last,
            And die in the ditch, or be free!
Ay, the blood of McCulloch, of Johnston, and all
            The hero-crowned chiefs who have died,
Will teach us to conquer or gloriously fall
            Like them in the battle’s red tide!

                      Camp Nelson, Ark., 1862.

April 22, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

Gen. BRAGG has moved his headquarters from Tullahoma to Shelbyville. A correspondent of the Savannah News, writing from the latter place, gives the following account of VAN DORN’S fight at Franklin.

On Sunday last a courier came from Gen. Van Dorn, with despatches containing a report of his engagement with a large body of the enemy’s forces near the town of Franklin. Of the details of the fight no one seemed able to ascertain anything, and the impression became very general that the ‘Little Dragon’ had met with some disaster. This morning I happened to the good fortune of falling in with an officer who was wounded in the engagement, and from whom I received the following particulars of the fight: On Thursday night Gen. Van Dorn was informed by his scouts that some three or four thousand of the enemy had moved on the Franklin pike, and were encamped in some three or four miles of the town. Orders were instantly issued, and before daylight the whole command was in motion. The object of the General was to surprise, attack and rout the enemy before he could get reinforcements; but it seems that by some means the enemy received information of his design, and were all prepared to meet him at his coming. Gen. Van Dorn soon discovered this; but, having gone so far, he resolved to give them battle anyhow. The enemy’s pickets were soon driven in or captured, skirmishers and flankers were thrown out, and onward advanced our brave men. Capt. Freeman opened with his battery of four guns, which were immediately replied to by guns of larger calibre on the side of the enemy. One brigade of our cavalry dismounts, and two others are posted, one on the right and the other on the left; and [….] the commander rings out !’

Capt. Freeman moves up, and from his four guns he rains a storm of iron hail upon the foe, and onward goes our cavalry on foot and our cavalry on horse. The enemy gradually give way and are falling back, when to the right is seen a large column advancing in battle line. Reinforcements from the enemy are there, and suddenly the whole scene changes. Gen. Van Dorn makes a new disposition of his forces, orders up his reserve, and now the battle rages with great fury. Captain Freeman – the noble, the brave Captain Freeman – falls at the head of his command, and his battery of four splendid guns are captured by the enemy. A momentpause – a desperate resolve – and a thousand horsemen come dashing headlong upon the enemyranks, utterly regardless of danger. The death of the gallant Freeman is avenged, and his fine battery recaptured. The enemy are falling back in some confusion, and Gen. Van Dorn retires, not whipped, but rather worsted. The casualties on our side are over a hundred in killed, wounded and missing; whilst the loss of the enemy is supposed to be considerably greater.

April 22, 1863, The New York Herald

THE SIEGE OF WASHINGTON.

THE VERY LATEST.

The Siege of Washington raised.

OUR NEWBERN CORRESPONDENCE.

NEWBERN, N.C., April 18, 1863.

Yesterday morning the gunboat Whitehead, Captain French commanding, arrived at this place, with despatches from Washington, stating the enemy had the […..] siege” at that place and were in full retreat. Even the guns on the […..] batteries” had been with our forces at the above place. To us there seems to be considerable mystery to this new freak of the enemy, and it calls forth many speculations, the most important of which is that this siege at Washington has been a mere feint, while the real intent was to procure supplies from the counties adjoining, as in Hyde particularly, large quantities of supplies have been reported, having but on one or two occasions been visited by either army. This is the construction placed upon the recent movements of the rebel forces by secession sympathizers in this place. Others are inclined to think they have been defeated at some point, or that some movement of “Hooker’s army” has caused this sudden change of programme. This, however, is all speculation, and the real truth yet remains to be developed.

Thus ends this siege of Washington, which existed eighteen days; and, for whatever purpose the rebels came, it has shown a courage and indomitable will in our soldiers which finds no superior as yet. A mere handful, compared with the large force at the enemy’s disposal, holds at bay a force its superior in numbers six to one, at the least calculation. No [continue reading…]

April 22, 1863, Memphis Daily Appeal (Jackson, Mississippi)

 Among the many efforts of the ladies of the South to contribute to the comfort of their brave defenders in the field, few, perhaps, have been more successful in accomplishing their original purpose than the enterprise of establishing a lunch house for the passing soldier at Jackson. The association has quietly pursued its generous work, until after contributing to the comfort of thousands from every State in the Confederacy, it has become an institution favorably known in every corps that has had individual members detained in our city. Modestly pursuing the purpose of their organization, the leading spirits in the good work have gone on with great energy and perseverance, until they have placed at the disposal of the soldier a home. True, it is plain and simple, still it is a retreat that has proven a benefit to thousands who would otherwise have suffered.

 In this praiseworthy movement we are pleased to learn a number of ladies from all parts of the State have participated, and all of these can rest assured that every day their enterprise is filling its mission of relieving the distressed and toilworn soldiers, whose blessings upon the kindness and thoughtfulness of women are constantly ascending. The monthly report recently published shows that the hearts of the noble women of the State are enlisted in the work they have undertaken. The institution, to the honor of its supporters be it said, is not a local one, any more than are the benefits it confers confined to the soldier from any particular locality. And as far as the latter is concerned we know a soldier of the Confederacy is always welcome.

 We commend to the ladies at other important points in the State, the example furnished by the ladies engaged in this work. There are other places where a few vigilant workers can accomplish the same beneficial results we have witnessed here. At Meridian, Grenada, Vicksburg, and elsewhere, we have seen our soldiers suffer, when they might, by similar efforts, have been relieved. Let the women reflect and act–the men will aid and assist. The burden will not fall upon the weaker sex alone.

 We refer to the lunch house at Jackson, fully appreciating the good that has been accomplished by its establishment. And, because we believe it is accomplishing so much, we bespeak for the ladies connected with it every assistance that the charitable can possibly afford them. Of course its continued success depends upon the liberality of the public, and to this we would appeal. No matter how small the contribution, or what its nature, if of any value whatever, prudent managers will turn it to account. Nothing can come amiss. We hope the public will continue to respond to the call of the ladies, as heretofore, in order that there may be no intermission in their good works.

April 22, 1863, Galveston Weekly News

 The undersigned begs leave to inform the public that he has succeeded in introducing into this State two suits of double Wool Carding Machines and Picker, and has located the same at Prairie Lea, in Caldwell county, at the Mills of Mr. Thos. Mooney, on the San Marcos river. The machinery will be in operation by the first of May next, and wool will be carded into rolls for hand spinning, for cash or wool, at reasonable rates, and rolls constantly on hand for sale.

 Mr. Thos. Mooney, an old Texian, is favorably known to many, having resided many years at Prairie Lea, is interested in the carding business, and will fix price and terms for carding wool and the sale of rolls. I have secured the services of a competent and experienced man in the person of Mr. S. S. Bryant, my father-in-law, to superintend the operative parts of the business, and can vouch for him in every particular, and I hope we may be able to give entire satisfaction to all who may favor us with their patronage, which we respectfully solicit.

 Persons sending wool to the Factory to be carded will please observe the following suggestions: Wash the wool clean before sending it to the factory, or request in writing to have it cleansed at the factory. You need not pick the wool to pieces, only so much as is necessary to get the burs all out, but the burs must be all taken out before sending the wool to be carded. Send one pound of clean fresh lard to every ten pounds of wool, and strong sheets or blankets to pin up the rolls in.

 The above named machinery will turn off work enough to keep one thousand hand spinning sheets supplied with rolls and furnish filling for two thousand yards of plantation goods per day.

Harris Hoyt.
 Houston, April 21, 1863.

April 22, 1863, The New York Herald

The grand campaign, upon which the rebellion has staked its strength, its resources, its fortunes and its destiny, opens cheeringly for the Union cause, East and West.

The co-operative movements of General Grant and Admiral Porter, General Banks and Admiral Farragut, in Louisiana, lead us to anticipate very soon the tidings, not of one, but of a series of great successes in that quarter. A powerful fleet of Porter’s gunboats had run the gauntlet of the Vicksburg batteries in safety. The rebels were caught napping, doubtless under the impression that our gunboats had gone up the Mississippi on some distant expedition. The reader will readily comprehend the importance of this movement, in connection with the special news from New Orleans which we publish this morning and the accompanying illustrative map.

Some seventy-five miles west of New Orleans, among the lakes and bayous which, through the Atchafalaya river, are connected with the Gulf of Mexico, the rebels had a strongly fortified position at a place called Centreville. This position they were evacuating on the approach of the Union forces, but would probably be captured in the lump, as they were enclosed between General Grover’s column on the one side and those of Generals Emory and Weitzel on the other. That the rebels were intent only upon escaping is evident from the fact that they were leaving their guns and ammunition behind them. The gunboat Diana, it was also expected, as a last resort, she may be destroyed by the enemy. The ram Queen of the West had already been recovered, and her rebel captain and crew were prisoners of war at Berwick Bay.

This item of news is exceedingly important, considering the locality in which the Queen of the West was recaptured; for it suggests a variety of the most desirable military combinations against Port Hudson and Vicksburg, in addition to the complete clearing out of all the country between the Mississippi river and Texas. Doubtless Porter’s gunboats, with a strong co-operating land force, will speedily proceed up the Red river to look after the enemy’s defences and depots of [continue reading…]