June 1, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
IMPORTANT FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
RICHMOND, May 30. The Fredericksburg correspondent of the Examiner says that the indications and intelligence from the enemy’s camps on the Rappahannock, favor the conclusion that the Yankee forces are evacuating the position they have so long held in Stafford county, but their destination is unknown. The Examiner, editorially, says: ‘There is no longer any room for doubt that HOOKER is making some important movement. A gentleman who left Fredericksburg yesterday assures us that he saw upwards 20,000 Yankee troops moving down in the direction of Port Royal.’
The Army of Northern Virginia is to be disbanded into three corps d, commanded respectively by LONGSTREET, EWELL and A. P. HILL.
LATEST FROM VICKSBURG.
JACKSON, May 28. The enemy has retired from the immediate front of the fortifications at Vicksburg, and is reported to be fortifying his present position. It is expected that want of water will force him back to the Big Black. WIRT ADAM’S cavalry have had a spirited skirmish on the Yazoo, killing and wounding some twenty of the enemy.
(Private Despatch.)
MERIDIAN, May 27. News has been received from Vicksburg up to Sunday evening. Fighting has taken place every day. On Saturday a tremendous assault was made by concentrating most of the enemy’s cannon upon one point. Our breast works were broken, and the enemy entered in considerable numbers. They were terribly repulsed, almost all being killed or taken prisoners. We captured their banners on our works. Our loss thus far is between two and three hundred. The enemy admit a loss of from fifteen to twenty thousand.
THE WAR IN LOUISIANA.
PASCAGOULLA, May 26. A special despatch to the Era, from Port Hudson, May 22d, says:
‘Yesterday General AUGUR’S whole division was engaged in a nine hours’ fight with the enemy. The battle field was Port Hudson Plains, four miles in the rear of Port Hudson, on the Bayou Sara Road. The rebels were thoroughly whipped. They had one brigade of infantry engaged, besides two batteries, and a considerable force of cavalry. They had ambuscaded at every outlet from the plains. They were finally repulsed with heavy loss, leaving a large number of killed and wounded on the field. A flag of truce was sent in at midnight from General GARDNER, asking permission to bury the dead. We have taken about one hundred prisoners.
The enemy was driven three miles from his first position, and AUGUR’S division bivouacked for the night on the field of battle. Our loss in killed is twelve, and wounded fifty-six. The 116th New York and the 2d Louisiana suffered the most. Full particulars will reach you by the earliest opportunity.
(Signed) ‘HORATIUS’
Passengers this morning report that the order for removal of disloyal persons has been suspended for awhile, it is thought on account of the removal of troops. Col. DAVIS has made a raid along the line of the Jackson Railroad to Camp Moore. They returned to Tangipahoa.