Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-26

Report Of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War.
GEN. BURNSIDE'S DEPOSITION,
Special to Tribune.

10th: Two Yankee gunboats went up the
river yesterday, and another this morning.
The Tribune learns that the Unionists fired
on the train between Tupello and Okolona
Nobody hurt. The train proceeded to Oko.
lono, which was Immediately evacuated, and
every thing removed to Egypt. Sattello was
taken on Monday morning, and Pontiac al
IL o'clock the same day by band of aboli.
tionists, which is said to be the advance of .
body of 9, 900, who are marching through that
section of country. Shannon was attacked al
o'clock on the same day.
augusta, 1.-THE steamer Herald arrived
from Confederate port o-day with valuable
cargo, and the remains of Gen. Tai. Major
Generals Lorring and Neff, recently command
ing in Western Virginia, arrived at Jackson
Mississippi, recently, for duty in that depart
ment. Gen. Lowell was relieved by Lorring.
In the Rappahannock battles, rumor says
Arches Brigade suffered severely. It was
formerly commanded by Gen. Bob Hattor
and Gen. Anderson, of Tennessee. 1t consists
of the LIST, 4th and 7th Tennessee regiments
Gen. Hood, of Texas, was commanding the
Division, and was MORALLY wounded. He
was one of the very best of rebel Generals.
Gen. Beauregard is expecting an attack al
Charleston, by both land and water.
Benton's army was at Grenada on the 18th
inst.
Gen. Price was six miles east of Grenada.
Van Dorn's headquarters were in Grenada
A correspondent Of the Richmond Enquirer
giving an account of the Unionists crossing
the Rappahannock, says: The Unionists
were resisted by Darksdale's Mississippi
Brigade. A shell from one of the Union guns
knocked tall chimney down upon the 9TH
Mississippi, wounding p of them. The reb-
els lost $50 in this affair. Two rebel regi
ments that were sent to cover the retreat of the
Mississippi regiments, broke and fled from
the field.
The Clarksburg Wing, of the 18th, says
that two Union gunboats went up the Yazoo
on the 9th inst. Two torpedoes exploded
without doing any mischief. The boats fired
four shells and withdrew.
The publication of the Grenada Appeal
will soon be resumed at jackson, Miss.
Morgan is reported to be at Hanesville, Fri
day night, and preparations were made fol
him. Gen. D. Stanley followed sharply with
cavalry to Rural Hill, but found no signs Of
the enemy. We have reports that Morgan
has crossed the Cumberland, in strong force,
at Hanesville. There is no confirmation yet
A rebel detachment, with artillery, threw
about fifteen shells yesterday evening where
they supposed our pickets were. Gen
Vancline sent force after them. They ske.
daddled.
Twenty rebels in United States overcoats
undertook to surprise Gen. SANKEY'S escort
Of twelve men, but they were badly handled.
SANKEY'S men fought desperately, severely
wounding the rebel commander, killing two
or three, and then chased the enemy home.
This afternoon SANKEY'S brigade was at
tackled while foraging and the enemy again
repulsed. Three or four of the enemy were
killed, as many wounded, and six captured
The remainder of the skirmishing during this
week was in our favor.
Exaggerated reports of the rebel strength is
70, 0OO-a very large estimate.
Especial to Herald.]
NASHVILLE, Dec. 81.
the reinforcement Of the rebels by Gen. Van
Dorm.
The Richmond Examiner, in summing up
the recent fight, says: "Our right wing
drove the enemy back, killing three to one,
and at night we held the ground occupied by
the enemy's batteries in the morning" 1t
says Longstrect's victory is complete. He
drove the enemy into the streets of Freder-
icksburg, killing five to one.
New YORK, Dec. %.
Official returns say our losses at Fredericks-
burg is as follows: Killed, LIPS; wounded,
9 Jos; missing, 2,07e.
The Times says that Seward yesterday
to resume the portfolio.
Secretary Chase has his resignation under
advisement. His decision will be announced
to-day.
The Herald learns from Baltimore, that the
rebels are supposed to be moving large
bodies of troops west. There are no troops
in Richmond or on the Peninsula. Lee has
Is, 900 at Fredericksburg, including guerrillas,
There are no other troops in Virginia except
Il, 900 at Petersburg. There are 10000 at
10000 at Savannah. The whole
great strength of the rebels is concentrated
towards Nashville and Vicksburg, and at
each place there will be 100000 troops in a
few days.
The Times Washington correspondent an
nounces the return of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War from Falmouth. Gen.
Halleck's manuscript will be examined on
Monday. Gen. Burnside assumes all respon-
sibility and firmly believes that he could have
carried the enemy's works on Sunday, had
It not been opposed by bis Council of War.
The Richmond Dispatch states that Gov.
Letcher has ordered the Union prisoners,
taken recently by Gen. Floyd, into solitary
confinement until Col. Thomas French's lady
IS released by Lincoln.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoroxAc,l
FALMOUTH, Va, Dec. 10. !
70 Henry W. Halleck. Gsneral-in. Chief:
GENERAL: have the honor to offer the fol-
owing reasons for moving the Army of the
Potomac across the Rappahannock sooner
han was anticipated by the President, the
Secretary of War, or yourself, and for cross
ng at point different from the one indicated
o you at the last meeting at the Presidents.
During my preparations for crossing at the
place had at first selected, discovered that
he enemy had thrown a large portion of his |
orce down the river and elsewhere, thus
his defenses in front, and also that |
le did not anticipate the crossing of our whole |
Orce at Fredericksburg, and l hoped by rap
dly throwing the whole command over at that
lace, to separate, by vigorous attack, the
orces of the enemy on the river below from
he forces behind and on the crest, in the rear
t the town, in which case we could fight /
i'm with great advantage in our favor. To
0 this we had to gain hight on the ex-
.eme right Of the crest, which hight COM
handed the new road lately made by the en-
my for the purpose Of more rapid commune
alton along his lines, which point gained, his
osition along the right crest would have been
,arcely tenable, and he could have been driv-
a from it easily, by an attack on his front,
connection with . movement on the rear
the crest. How near we came to accom-