The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-12-06


had thrown up Ii e of breast-works to the right
and rear of the town, and our forces actively
employed in planting cannon in the most favorable
positions. That there is doubt felt OF an ility to
hold the position is ndca ed by the dest ucton of
large gu nifty Of tobacco to prevent its ia ling
into the hands Of our tr ops Our army is sid to
be in 60 d order and condition for fight.
The whereabouts oft at active rebel lie der
" Stonewall jackson, was not definitely known.
On the oath there was some apprehension at WASH
ingt because of rumOrs that he was in the vic n
ity of the capital. 1t is however, generally be-
lieved that he is retirin. towards Gordonsvile, in
tardy obedience to repeated orders from Jelf. "a
vis to assist in the defence Of Richmond. The
Potomac was rising and it was not at all likely that
Jack on would rep at his visit to Maryland, that
Sta c having lost its charms for rebel Generals.
- --nform ton had been received from the Lower
Mississippi that the rebels are busiy at work for
tifying Port Hudson, about hundred and fifty
miles above New Orleans under direction of the
same engineer who designed the works at Vicks-
burgh, and that ten or twelve guns are air ady in
position. Between this point and Vicksburgh an
important rebel task is now being carried on
steamers being run on Red river, bringing down
immense supp les Of cattle from Texas and larg
quantities Of salt from new salt works on the Red
river about fifty m les above its mouth, which are
said to produce ten tn usand bushels daily %
Brig. Gen. Francis E. Patterson, of Gen.
Sickles' division, accident lily shot himself dead,
on the morning of the I'D ut. 1t was his habit to
place a revolver under his pillow, on retiring for
the night, in his tent. This was done on Friday
night las: About daylight, on Saturday morning
he awoke, and, for some purpose, displa ed the
revolver from under the pillow On which h. sleIt
with his ght hand and while changing it to the
left, probably With the intention Of hanging the
weapon up near his couch, it exploded. The bar
rel at the moment pOintei towards the person
of the rechn ng man, and the who q ofthe contents
were received in lis left breast, passing through
the heart and causing instant death
The New York Times says editorially
eft is understood that number of the Expe-
dtions which were organizing for operating on
the Southern coast an | against points Of second
ary importance, have been abandoned, and that
the forces in the field will now BE- directed to the
main purpose of capturing Richmond and defeat
ing the principal rebel army. The number OF
men at this moment in the military service OF the
overnment is greater than ever before: but it is
cleir enough that if We abstract from our Eastern
army troops sufficient TO capture and hold Texas
to seize and occupy Charleston, savannah and Mo.
bile, and to operate in North Carolina. Louisiana
and Florida, we shall really be able TO bring not
sr, a. rebel force in irsinia which gives to the
Confedracy cohereacy and vitality. The IN in
thing to done, in military point of view, and
the chief thing yhi h the country desires, is the
defeat of Gen Lee. lis army broken, and the
Confederacy will perish.
The chicago Journal understands that the fol
lowing is the position of he army in Southwest
Tennessee and Mort Mississippi: Gen. Grant is
with the centre, between Lagrange an the Cold
Water; Gen. G. 5. Hamilton, near Holly Springs;
Gen. Sherman at avis B idge, southeast Of Mem
phis. Gen. Hurlburt is at Memphi in temporary
command of the post. The enemy has been con-
centrating very considerable force at .Iackso :,
Miss. under .mb.rton. Cur army has been and
is being strengthened to wha1 extent and by whom
it is hardly proper to state. Ihs Journal does not
anticipate battle north of Jackson Miss although
the rebels may makes and at lallohatch.e bridge
IL m les south of Holly Springs.
The Mississippi expedition is to b. more for