Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-20

Culpepper to prevent our passage. They
made several dashing charges on our troops
who repulsed and in turn charged them with
fatal effect, using sabres only in the conflict
Whenever the enemy made a stand they wer,
Immediately charged upon and routed from
their position with great loss. The battle
lasted about five hours and was series o.
charges and hand to hand conflicts, and re-
suited in the falling back of the enemy. The
forces were about 200 on each side.
The enemy at last took refuge behind an
entrenched battery, four miles from the river,
fanked by rifle pits or abattis. Gen. A7erill
having accomplished his object and secured
his prisoners, with the wounded on both
sides and large number Of horses, recrossed
the river without any attack or demonstration
on the part of the rebels, who were so badly
whipped that they could not follow or annoy
him.
Among the prisoners is Maj. Breckenridge
a cousin of the traitor John G. Breckenridge
The prisoners characterized the effort on
our part as one of the ablest and most gal.
lantly fought cavalry raids of the war, and
admit that their own troops were totally de-
,noralized by the gallant sabre charge Of our
cavalry.
About 80 prisoners have been brought in
WASHINGTON, March 10.
The following Genera Order has been issued
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANr GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, March II, 1868.
General Order Ne. s75.
1t is hereby ordered-First, That Col. Jas
B. Fry, A. A. G., U. S. A., be and hereby is
detailed as Provost Marshal General of the
United States, in pursuance of section of the
act approved March 3D., 1868, enrolling and
calling out the national forces, and for other
purposes. He is accordingly authorized and
required to perform the duties of Provost
Marshal General as set forth in the said act,
and such other duties as may properly per-
tain to his Office. All communications relat-
ing to the business of the Provost Marshal
and the provisions of the act of Congress
aforesaid, will be directed to him.
Secend-That appointments which have
heretofore been made of Provost Marshals
are hereby revoked.
By order of the Secretary of War.
L. THOMAS, A. A. G.
New YORK, March 10.
Advices per steamer Union state that the
rebels had erected formidable batteries at Gal
weston, and mounted them with the guns
taken from the Harriet Lane and Westfeld.
The general feet off Galveston Jan. 18th,
consisted of the steam frigate Brooklyn and
four gunboats. On the 18th the Brooklyn
threw few shells into the fort on Pelican
Island, and on the oath did likewise to the
town, setting it on fire in ten places, which,
however, was soon put out. The Harriet Lane
is up the river seven miles being iron-cad.-
1t is not probable that our feet as at present
constituted will undertake anything against
the city.
CAIRO, March 49,
Advices from Young's Point, 18th, state
that the reported capture of Yazoo City was
premature. The report Of the capture of
rebel transports is also disputed.
A successful reconnaissance up the St.
Francis river had returned to Memphis. A
number of prisoners and some cotton were
captured, without loss.
Some Illinois troops went from Memphis
to fernando on Friday last, burned number
of houses, captured some Confederates, and
had fights on Saturday and Sunday, losing
their officers. Particulars not known.
A portion of Gen. Asboth's expedition up
the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, re-
turned to-day. Results not of great conse-
quence. Part of the troops may return by
land to Columbus.
Some Confederates from Vicksburg, about
the 18th inst, came over to the peninsula to
cut the levee, and were captured.
The officers of the Indianola are at Vicks-
burg.
Several dummies, sent down the canal, drew
the fire of the batteries
FoRT MONROE, March 49,
There was fighting on the Blaekwater, yes
terday. No particulars.
The rebels attacked Newbern last Friday,
and were defeated.
Richmond papers of the 18th say that on
the 18th Admiral Farragut attacked Port
Hudson and was repulsed. The Mississippi
was burned. Farragut went down the river
in his flag slip, which was disabled. The
land force did not join in the attack.
The City Of Mexico has been captured by
the French.
NEW YORK, March IS.
A Hilton Head letter dated the night of the
18th states that Lieut.. Rusley and nine men,
three of the latter of the 9th Maine regiment
and the rest OF the Engineer regiment were
captured by squad of rebels who crossed
the river and found our pickets asleep and
without musket loaded.
Three deserters from Mobile report the
rebels there number 1000 men, under Gen.
Buckner. They have three wooden steam
gunboats of ten guns each, cutter and a
ram. Two new rams have just been complet-
ed, and a ten gun frigate is being built at
Salina to be foated down the river on hogs
heads. Two more rams will be completed in
few weeks. The channel in Mobile Bay is
blockaded by sunken vessels, but no torpedoes
have been sunk. Two or three forts are IRON
clad.
A rumor was brought by the steamer Union
that the negro expedition into Florida and
Georgia had been captured. 1t was command
ed by Coils Hutchinson and Montgomery.