Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-05-09

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{ the enemy and drove them in handsome
lyle. 40 artillery Reconnaissance went to
alendale, this forenoon, and destroyed the
restle bridges and some track on the Mem
his and Charlest' railroad. 1t has been
plendid days work for the left wing.
The weather is clear, and the roads are be-
oming good. EYi "a
[Signed1 THOMAS A. Scor1,
Asst Secretary Of War.
- BALTIMORE, May 5.
The regular newsletter from Old Point is
eceived The Merrimac remained out till
o'clock on the 4th inst, and then disappeared
behind Sewalls Point. Since her last appear
.nce she has had ram, twenty feet in length,
Idded to her bow. -...
The French minister at Washington, NJ.
Mercier, arrived at Yorktown on Sunday af-
ternoon, in special boat from Washington.
The Gassendi was to 60 up for him last
night. ~
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoToMAC,
May Ar Pm.
To Hon. f. NJ. Stanton: Our cavalry and
horse artillery came up with the enemy's
rear guard in their Entertainments about Q
miles this side Of Williamsburg. A brisk
ensued. Just as my aid left, Smiths
division of infantry arrived on the ground,
and is presumed carried his works, though |
have not yet heard. The enemy's rear is
strong, but have force enough up there to
answer all purposes. All along the lines
their works prove to have been most formid-
able, and am now fully satisfied Of the cor
rectness of the course have pursu d. The
success is brilliant, and you may rest assured
that its effects will be of the greatest inpor-
lance. There shall be no delay in following
up the rebels. Tie rebels have been guilty
Of the most murderous and barbarous con-
duct in placing torpedoes within the aban-
doned works near mills and springs and near
flag stats, magazines, telegraph Offices, in
carpet bags, barrels of -four, &c. Fortunately
we have not lost many men in this manner,
Some 4 or were killed and perhaps dozen
wounded. shall make the prisoners remove
them at their own peril. - 49,.
? fSienedl GEo. B. McCLELLAs.
HEADQUARTERS NEAR WILLIAMSBURG,
u .,caaE s W May 4th.
The advance, under Gen. Stoneman, reach.
ed this place CT miles from Williamsburg,
Ut 2 this afternoon. As we approached the
enetny's works a regiment Of cavalry was
seen coming into line of battle, about mile
off. Capt. Gibbons battery opened on the
rebels very effective fire, but did not change
their course. The rebels opened on us from
behind an earthwork. A portion of the Isl
and 9th battery then charged on the advanc
ing foe, and hand-to-hand fight ensued
None OF our men we're captured, but we took
q number OF rebel prisoners. Gibbons bat
terry had IA horses killed. Lieut. DeWol
was MORALLY wounded. One gun was lost
by sticking fast in the mud. Lieut.. Benton
1T cavalry, and ten men were wounded
Lieut.. Mcclellan and IL others, of the 6tt
cavalry, were also slightly wounded. The
rebel cavalry was forced to abandon their pc
sition, but our want Of infantry prevented Vi
from advancing on the works. We then fel
back to await the coming up of the infantry
Haucock's brigade soon arrived, bn. it was
concluded 10 defer operations till tomorrow
The enemy are still retreating beyond Will
iamsburg, but their rear guard is very
strong. r.
LATRR-Aonday, Nay 5th.-Itis raining
heavy. We will occupy Williamsburg earl,
this morning.
NEW YORK, May 5.
The steamer Hammonia has arrived from
Southampton, 23d.
Consols steady at $4,000. Illinois Cen
trail & Erie stocks advanced.
CHICAGO, May 5.
The Times special, from Cairo, says refu
gee from Vicksburg, Miss, passed through
here, to-day, en- route for St. Louis. H
brings news of importance, having left Mem
phis on Sunday. Memphis papers Of tina
morning published dispatch, announcing
the occupation of Baton Rouge by Fedora
forces, and the passage up the river of Fedora
gun-boats. The largest vessels of the flee
were left behind at New Orleans, which city
was nearly deserted. Buffers army hat
landed and were occupying the city. An i'm
mcnse amount of cotton in warehouses wa
discovered and seized. The Union citizen.
had held public rejoicing, at which hun
dreds crowded together and INDUCED in til.
the passage of the gun-boats up the river, bu
little resistance was made, there being n,
rebel troops to contest the way, until the fee
arrived at Baton Rouge, where, as my inform
ant says, was stationed few rebel troops
most of whom were lately enrolled according
to the provisions of the CONSUMPTION act
These, however, fed before the fleet made it!
appearance. The q. S. arseE al and barracks
at this point were recovered, and the old fla,
waves once more over the Government prop
erty of Louisiana.
Southern papers are very meagreW news
respecting the passage of the gun-boat flee
up the river. most of their articles being made
up of verbose exhortations, addressed to thu
people, to defend the Mississippi valley from
the enemy though little could be ascertainet
for the newspapers. Citizens Of Vicksburg
Natchez and other places, along the rive
were fleeing in great numbers to Memphis
which was in fever Of excitement A citi
zen Of Natchez told my informant that 1
strong force of Mississippi troops was garr
soning Fort Davis, which is located on Ellis
Cliffs, nearly 26 miles below Natchez. These
cliffs form high ridge on the east bank o
the Mississippi, commencing 20 miles below
Natchey ana extending for several miles along
the river. 1t was thought in Memphis tina
the Notifications on this ridge would offer {
serious impcdiment to the passage of the Yam
kee feet Great alarm, however, was felt
and many were leaving for the interior.
With regard to the progress already made
by the Federal feet, the publication Of such
news had been forbidden, but it was reported
by persons arriving from below that the gun
boats of the enemy had arrived at Fl. Adams
which they had passed without res stance
and wee near Fl. Davis. At, Vicksburg a
fertilization which has been in progress o.
construction for the last two weeks was nearly
completed. Guns of heavy calibre had beer
sent from Memphis and these mounted in the
fort. The rebel feet from New Orleans had
arrived at Memphis, and was dispatched te
the immediate relief of the feet off Fort Pill.
low. A large number of rebel steamers had
taken refuge up White river. Rolling stock
had been concentrated at Memphis in readi-
ness to take away the citizens in case the
Federal feet should make their appearance.
Cities and towns in the Mississippi valley