Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-01-02

Buren, is received
Our army was ten miles this side Of Var
Buren, yesterday morning, they bivouacket
on the mountain top at night, and expected
to reach Prairie Grove against to-day.
Gen. Scho6eld Joined them n few miles be
You'd the foot of the mountain.
The steamers Violet, Key West, Rose
:, Douglas, Frederick, Erie, New Orleans and
Van Buren,, with their cargoes of grain and
provisions for the rebel army were burned
also large amount of army stores. The
rebels burned their arsenal and ferry boat al
Fort Smith to prevent them from falling into
our hands, also large quantity of forage and
provisions on the opposite bank Of the river
A general conAagration was in progress when
our forces left.
Many deserters come into our lines, who
report that two regiments of Missourians
stacked their arms few days ago, crossed
the river and went home. Another regi-
ment of Missourians left short time after
taking their arms with them. Two regi-
ments of Texans also stacked their arms and
started home. A regiment Of cavalry was
sent in pursuit, but instead of arresting
joined the runaways. SSH .ta
Everything goes to show that the rebel
army Of the Trans-Mssissippi is completely
disorganized.
The Arkansas is ut boatable stage, and
the country bordering on the river from a
point twenty-five miles below Van Buren, to
Little Rock is well provided with forage and
food to subsist on.
Our troops are in splendid spirits, having
accomplished most daring and successful
raid without the loss of single life.
WASHINGTON, Dec 81.
| This afternoons St.r says there is no
truth in the current story that Stu
arts cavalry have crossed the Potomac
into Maryland, telegraphed here last evening
The rumor grew out of the fact that night be-
fore last ten or twelve rebel guerrillas crossed
from Balls Bluff over to Harrison's Island,
probably designing brief thieving expedi-
ton into Maryland, but seeing that their mo-
| tons were observed from the north shore
they prudently returned into Loudon county,
before daylight. This is the whole truth con-
corning the body of 5000 Confederate cav
airy crossing the river into Maryland, over
which the secessionsts here were rubbing
their hands last night.
WAsHINGToN Dec. 81.
In the Porter Court Martial, Gen. Burnside
wac SA0iuitiCu VII AuCSudy duu tcSlllcu nav
ing received unofficial kilograms from Porter,
after that officer had joined the army of Vir-
GINA, relative to the positionof the forces
under Gen. Pope's command. He was salts
fed that what was said therein of General
Pope's character was strictly correct Being
asked whether the indisposition announced
by many of Gen. McClellan's officers to serve
under General Pope was not chiefly caused
by the withdrawal Of the Army of the Poto-
mac from the Peninsula. He replied that
almost every officer with whom he had con-
versed had fully sanctioned the wisdom of the
move. He had no desire to make personal
reflections on the capacity of Gen. Pope.
Being further questioned in regard to Gen.
Porter, he stated that he knew that Porter
had Immediately obeyed the order requiring
him to join his forces with Gen. Pope, but
whether he had used efforts beyond the die
tates Of duty to do so he was not aware.
He spoke also of an incident that occurred
on the banks of the Chickahomany, in which
Porter displayed foresight. While on the
point of crossing that stream the wagon
trains very much impeded the movement of
the troops. Gen. Porter had ordered the
wagons to pass on beyond, and in doing so
was compelled to change the position of his
corps. Gen. Mcclellan was at first dis
pleased with this maneuvering, but after the
army had crossed, fully assented to its judi
ciousness.
Gen. Butter6eld, Of Gen. Porter's corps,
stated tibet he was present when the order
from Gen. Pope arrived directing Gen. Porter
to march at l O'Clock A. NJ. on the 2Sth of
August. Porter, he said, having sent out
his Aids to explore the roads, was convinced
by their reports of the impossibility of start
ing before daybreak, and decided accordingly.
He gave an account of the march from Ellis
Ford to Bristow, during the latter part of
August, and of the fatigue of the soldiers
thereon. He believed that Gen. Porter had
done his whole duty.
Gen. Buford, Chief of Cavalry to the I'd
corps of Pope's army, was called in and brief
ly questioned with reference to the report he
made to Gen. Mcdowell on the 10th of August,
of the presence of large force under Gen.
Longstreet, near Gainesville
He stated that he thought they had came
through the Thoroughfare Gap, and that they
vile. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
A communication was received on Tuesday
from Gen. Sigel, to the Mcdowell Court of
Inquiry, stating that he was not prepared to
make any corrections in his testimony.
This, together with letters from Gen. Nc
Clellan, designed to throw light on the declar
atoms which he has previously made before
the Court, were read by the Recorder and
ordered to be appended to the days proceed
ings.
Maj. Willard, Aid to Gen. Mcdowell, was
the only witness, he was examined concern
ing an interview between Gen. Mcdowell and
Gen. Sigel, on the 9th of August, near
Buckland Mills, at which he was present.
He said he thought he had heard Gen. Nc
Dowell request Gen. Sigel to go to Manassas,
and to march also to Thoroughfare Gap, offer
ing him for that purpose, the command of
one of his Divisions Adjourned till Monday
in order to enable the Recorder to bring up
the Records.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
It is ascertained that the Presidents
Emancipation Proclamation will not be ready
for publication until tomorrow.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoTonAc,7
December 81.
A reconnaissance in force went out yester-
day morning, which will probably be heard
from in few days.
1t is believed that considerable portion of
Gen. Lees army has moved from its late
position on our front and gone up the Kappa
hammock. Its destination is not known.
WThe traitorous knights of the Order
of the Golden Circle at the North have re-
ceived instructions from jeff Davis to help
him by dividing the North, by creating civil
discord, and they are now obeying his man.