April 28, 1863, The New York Herald
Everything was quiet in General Hooker’s army yesterday; but there were rumors afloat that a movement was about to be made, and that a collision with the enemy was not very improbable. Mr. Seward, together with the Prussian and Swedish Ministers, accompanied by a number of ladies, attended a review of the army yesterday, and proceeded from thence to Fortress Monroe.
The news from Tennessee today is important and interesting. The Texan Rangers of General Van Dorn’s Legion, were attacked yesterday morning at daybreak, eight miles out from Franklin, Tenn., by General Gordon Granger’s cavalry, 700 strong, under Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky cavalry. The enemy were surrounded and defeated. Nearly two hundred prisoners were taken. Among them was Colonel Brooks, commandant of the rebel camp, and several officers. The camp and equipages of the enemy were destroyed, and about three hundred horses and mules were captured.
A startling rumor prevailed in Nashville and Murfreesboro yesterday, that the rebel Gen. Bragg had been shot dead by Gen. J.C. Breckinridge, in a recontre at Tullahoma. It was known that a hostile feeling had existed between them for some time. Difficulties had been existing for a long while, and this termination of the quarrel, should the report prove true, need not create any surprise.
The latest news from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, states that the loss of the rebels in the recent attack was about sixty killed and two hundred wounded. It was reported that General Marmaduke was in great danger of being cut off. A despatch, dated at the Cape yesterday, from Colonel Pomeroy, says: – ‘The enemy are moving off fast, and General McNeil was starting in pursuit. There is no doubt but General Vandeveer will strike him today.’
Another despatch from Gen. McNeil, some two hours later, states that Gen. Vandever attacked the repulsed enemy on the night of the 26th, taking a large number of prisoners, horses and arms. Gen. McNeil says:– “I am in pursuit of the flying enemy, who are retreating towards Bloomfield.”
The official despatches of Generals Grant and Thomas, detailing the events of the successful run of our gunboats and transports by the batteries at Vicksburg, were received by the President yesterday. The facts we have before published. In his despatch, General Grant says, that he considers this movement, in view of its importance, the terrible fire to which the boats were exposed, and the slight loss of property and men, a magnificent success.
General Peck continues to skirmish with the rebels on the Nansemond, but up to yesterday there were no hostile demonstrations of any moment taking place at Suffolk.
Our special correspondence from General Banks’ command furnishes a most interesting account of the recent expedition into the Teche region and its satisfactory results, the leading facts of which have already appeared in our columns.
Telegraphic despatches from San Francisco on the 26th state that it is understood that the government has purchased a fleet of six steamers to cruise in the Pacific – namely; the Washington, California, Panama, Oregon, Ben. Halliday and Hermann.
Late advices from Bermuda inform us that the Anglo-rebel trade in contrabands of war and supplies for the Southern people is very brisk from the island harbors to the rebel ports, and vice versa. Our correspondent in Hamilton requests us to call the attention of the authorities to the fact that there are no American vessels-of-war at Bermuda to stop this contraband trade, and that vessels are constantly running the blockade, and a line of steamers, owned in Liverpool, run regularly to Wilmington, N.C.