, 1862-05-29
SOUTHERN NEWS.
THE FEDERAL FIOTILLA At
NhTCHEZ,
Gen. Butler Recruiting in New
Orleans.
DISTRESS m NEW ORLEANS,


The Natchez Courier Of the 18th gives the
following correspondence between the Federal |
commander and the authorities Of Natehez:.
:: The Mnyor and Selectmen of the city Of |
Eatchez assembled in special meeting at eight |
O'Clock forenoon. Prcsent-John Hunter, Esq, |
Mayor; Messre. Baldwin, Curry, Dix, Wal |
worth, and Walker.
The Mayor stated that he had called the |
meeting for the purpose OF taking into con- |
sideratlon the following communication, viz: |
q. s. srEA1ER IRoQuo1s, At AHcHoR} |
SIR: In advance Of the squadron now COM
ing up the Mississippi, am instructed by the !
Flsg Officer to demand the surrender Of the |
city Of Natehez to the naval forces OF the
United States.
The same terms viii be accorded as those |
granted to New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
The rights and property Of all peace&b1e citl-
zens shall be respected; but al property in
this city belonging to the so~called Confeder-
ate States must be delivered up-and the flag
Of the United States must wave unmolested
and respected over your town.
Very respectfully your obdieut servant,
JAs. S. PALMER, Commanding.
To His Honor the Mayor Of Natchez.
To which communication the Mayor was d.
racted to make the following 1eply,tviz
,:~ MA4oa'e osT1cB,
NArCHEz, Misa, May 13, 1859.
91R: Your communication Of the 18th Inst.
has been received by me and laid before the
Board Of Selectmen Of this city, aud am d.
'rected to return the following reply;
Coming as conqueror, you need not the
Interpretation OF the city authorities to possess
this place. An unfortifed city, an entirely
defenseless people, have no alternative but to
FIELD to al Irresistible force, or useless to i'm
peril innocent blood. For1nalities arc absurd
In the face Of such realities.
So far as the city authorities can prevent
there will be no opposition to your posses-
sion Of the city. they cannot, however, guar
antee that your Aag shall wave unmoleeted in
thority as they possess shall be exercised for
! the preservation Of good order in the city.
| AS to property belonging to the Confeder-
ate States, they are not aware Of any such
| within the limits Of the city.
Very respectfully yeur oPHaient n seryant, TINT.
To Jas. 8. Palmer, Commander U. s. s. ro-
ouois, at anchor of Natchez, Miss.
The Federal feet In front Of Natcbez, on the
18th, consisted Of the frigates Brooklyn, lro-
quois, and Vermont, and fonr gunboats, with
| Vicksbu1g last Monday. It is believed that
t she was struck By the Inst shot: Her heels
| saved her.
| The hatcher Courier Of the 15th says that
| the Feders1s had not up to that TIME taken
possession Of the city, but that the. United
States squadron was reinforced BY three more
| vessels
| Wefnd the following, one day later, In tho
Vicksburg Whig Of the 10th inst:
-Four Of the Federal gunboats weighed an
| c1or at Natchez at six o'clock last evening.
| and started up the river. Four others were
still st Natchez, looking after affairs there
tie city atll refusing to surrender. We hear
feet clothed with authority to act under the
circumstances, and that Faragut or Butler has
t been Rcnt after.
The Memphis avalanche Of the 18th inst
Eays:
the startling announcement that the FederalE
are recruiting there, Butler appealing to the
poor and feeding them, while he strives te
nurse the irrisatlons of want into hatred O.
the rich Hunger against patriotism art
mighty long odds, especially with that class
now SO apt 10 assert that they have nothing a
| stake, while the rich have and did not tight
In the meantime Butler Is freely feeding then
from the stores captured with the city. ii
may pick up quite brigade there. :;
From Paris We have no news whatever, no
has h anght reached us from Humboldt o
An attack is expected On Fort Morgan mo
mentarily. Great anxiety prevails through
Co1. J. Knox Walker was in Memphis O.
Saturday. the 17th. He has had severe 81
; tack of fever, and still bore the marks OF
: on his person. He was, however, rapidly r
covering aud would doubtless be able to joi
| his command at an early day.
) We clip the following item from the Men
phls dvalanehe Of the 17th:-
We advise, our people to purchase An ad.
. quate supply Of sugar and molasses. The al
. gar region is noW in possession Of the eneIn,
! to be had at any price. Let our citizens pu
Q | chase whatever will do them for some moptt
/, to come. Salt is ovvr $40 sack -four $25 {
- S2S, and soon sugar may reach fabulot
y price. Let all who can lay in supply of bot
sugar ard molasses- both in this city Al
country. We advise iDtelligent1y.
= MEMPHIS TO TUE STRANGERS ETE.-Tt
: Memphis correspondent Of the Charlesto
Courier, nnder date of the 18th Of Apri
:. writes " The weather il pluvially purgat
- rial; the city wrapped in carpet Of mud, ar
- the men you MEET look as hyenish as if the
!, wires had given them an undeserved beatin
- The distress Of women and children is gros
:. ing TO IN agonizIDg degree in he.cify. Fl
: high prices Of food, Of light, of fuel and
:. clothing are causing much actual suf1eriu
r. We heard Of ealcs of coffee at 81, SO per poun
~ !. and rico ut s0c per pound; beef sold in. Il
= south market at 35c per pound. People mu
= eat, Dapglera in the 6ubterraneans of Ron
~ arc coming to life again.
-, Tho Vicksburg Wing learns that the enti
cotton crop in Arkansas will be burned. T
~ bauka of all the navigable streams have
~ reAGy been cleared Of the staple by hame
~ = The people are cheerfullJ aiding the Gavet
~ ment In destroying it.