The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1862-05-10

ADyANoE or THE REBEL FLEE

ADVANOE or TIE REBEL FLEET
CAiso. Nav "a refugee from vicksbursb,
.nseieejppi, spsssed lshroAgh 'hersrts oe On
route for So Louis. He brings news Of impor.
tance. haying left Memphis - aBmteysy
Memphis papers Of that morning published .
dispatch aunouncisg the esoupation Of Baton
Rouee by-the Federal forces, ;'and The pasags
m tho river Of the Federal gonboAtA The At
eest vessels Of the feet. were left behind Ct n.
Orleans. which city i nsariy desested
Bu.lers army had landed and were oceupyms
the city. q
An inmenss amount:;sf eoston in watehouses
was discovered and seiseds 4
The Union citizens had held public rejoic.
inr. It which hundreds crowded together and
INDUCED in the most enthusiastio demonstra'
tions Of joy.
On the, passage of the gunboats up the river,
but little resistance Was made to them, there
being no earthworks 70 contest the way, until
the deet arrived at Baton Rouge. Here, - my
informant says, we're stationed Q few rebel sol
diers. most OF whom were lately enrolled ac0or.
ding TO the provisions of the Cohscription act.
These, however, fed before the feet made ita
appearance.
The United States Arsenal and Barracks were
recovered at this point, and the old dag wavea
over the Union property in Louisiana.
The Southern papers are very meagre o.
news respecting the passage Of the gunboat
feet up the river. Most Of their articles being
made up of verbose cxhortstions Addressed "a
the people to defend the mississippi valley from
the enemy, though little could be ascertained
from the newspapers.
The citizens Of vicksburgh, Nstchez, and
other places along the river, were fleeing In
great numbers to Memphis, which place is in .
fever Of excitement
A citizen of Natches told my informant that
strong force Of Mississippi troops was garri
soning Fort Davis. which is located on Ellis
Cliffs, nearly twenty-five miles below Nstchez
These cliffs form high ridge on the Eas
bank of the Mississippi, commencing 20 milei
below Nstchez, and extending for several miles
along the river. Il vas thought at Memphis
that the Notifications along this ridge would of
for serious impediment to the passage of tht
Yankee feet. Great alarm was felt and many
we're leaving for the interior.
With regard to the progress already made by
the Federal fleet, the publication Of such
news has been restrained, but it was reported
by persons arriving from below, that the gun
boats of the enemy had arrived at Fort Adats
which they had passed without resistance, ant
we're near Fort Davis.
At Vicksburgh, a fortification which has beer
in progress of erection for the last two weeks
was very nearly completed. Guns Of heav.
calibre have been sent from Memphis and are Il
be mounted on these works.
The rebel feet from New Orleans had arrive'
at Memphis, and was despatched to the immedi
ate relief of the 6eetOff Fort Pillow.
A large number Of rebel steamers had takel
refuge up White river.
All rolling stock had been concentrated a
Memphis in readiness to take away the citizen
in case the Federal feet shall make their appear
j auce. ~ @ H @ @9
The cities and towns of the Mississippi vale
are plunged into the greatest terror by the ur
expected capture of New Orleans. Great In
dignation is felt towards Gen. Lowell, whor
they accuse of cowardice and imbecility.