Washington telegraph., 1863-06-03
butipy (,rant's defeat % bis not max

attributiug Grants defeat to bis not max
ing time.
Monroe, May ga thousand rumors
are in circulation in regard to affairs 10
Vicksburg, in the absence Of positive and
undoubted information. A Confederate
taken prisoner at Vicksburg, having
made his escape from Milliken's Bend,
arrived here this evening. He reports
about 200 of our men there as prisoners
taken at Big Black bridge, having been
brought around via the Yazoo, and in an
almost starving condition, owing to Gen.
Loring's having captured Yankee train
of 400 wagons with provisions.
1 1t is rumored that the Yankees have
made five different assaults on our breast
works at Vicksburg, and have been re-
pulsed every time with heavy loss. We
have also sunk two gunboats and crippled
others. Heavy firing still going on.
Yankees at Richmond, Madison Parish,
acknowledge heavy loss so far at Vicks-
burg.
Many other rumors with apparently no
foundation.
GEN MARMADUKE's EXPEDITION
We have been furnished with an authen>
tic and reliable account of Gen. Marina
dukes raid into Missouri. Our space
compels US to condense it.
The division was concentrated at Ele-
ven Points river. The country being des-
ii ute of forage in the direction of Rolla,
having been devastated By the enemy to
prevent raids, it was determined 70 march
to the east of Ironton, capture regiment
of federals at Patterson, aud strike Nc
Neil. who was at Bloomfield. On account
of the scarcity Of forage the command
vas divided; one division, under Shelby,
to march via Van Buren,, Mo-, and reac b
Patterson on the goth, and the other un-
der Carter, to march via Doniphan to
reach Patterson on the same day. Col.
Shelby threw out scouts far to the left to
create the impression of force marching
north westerly.
Gen. Marmaduke accompanied Colonel
Carriers division, aud when within thirty
miles of Patterson. detached Lieut.. Col
Giddings with force, to move By d.
rect but unfrequented route, to surprise
the garrison. Twelve miles from Patter-
son, Col. Giddings surprised and captured
the whole federal picket-a lietenant and
24 men-moving then for 50 ne cause, too
slowly, and permitting his artillery to
open when two miles off, the federal force
under Col. Stuart, 600 Strong, took the
alarm aud fled to Pilot Knob, burning
everything they could, but leaving large
supply Of subsistence and quartermaster' 5
stores. Col. Gliding pursued the re-
treating foe seven miles, killing, wound
ing and capturing number.
Shelby's aud Carter's divisions reached
Patterson on the 2Oth, Shelby having
killed and captured or l0 Of federal
picket he encountered The two divis-
ions again separated, on the 21st, Carter
marching against Mcneil at Bloomfield,
and Shelby to Frederickstown, to cut of
McNeiPs retreat to Iron;on At Freder-
ickstown, Shelby captured dispatches
showing that McNeils forces would b.
there on the 22d.
Gen. Mcneil, after burning a large
amount of stores, left Bloomfield on the
DIST, and learning If Shelbys culu m, re-
treated hastily to Cape GirarGeau. Col.
Carter pursued him, hoping to intercept
him, but was prevented by high water
and bad roads On the way, Carter with
a small detachment, charged federal
guard of go men aud captured &c.
While at Frederickstown, Gen. Mar
ma1uke seut a detachment OF 90 men,
under Capts Line back, Muse and Lieut..
Bledsoe, TO burn a bridge GU the Iron
Mountain railroad, who, on arriving
there, found guard Of go or 800 Yam :
KEGS. These they charged, and killing,
woundlng aud capturing a good many,
ard succeeded in leaving the bridge in
flames Calamity done.
At Cape GirardeGu, the two columns
united and drove the enemy's pickets and
advanced forces into the works, but fiud-
ing them too well posted, having four
large forts, mounted with heavy guns,
field artillery and about 5000 troops, Gen
Marmaduke withdrew aud encamped
around Jackson. On the night Of the
10Th, large force Of cavalry and artillery
under Gen, Vandever, coming to the aid
Of Mcneil, attacked Newtou's regiment
on the jackson and Frederickstown road
and killed and captured six Of his men
On the 9th, Mcneil having been rein.
forced by water, Marmaduke found him.
self between two forces, Vandever on the
west and Mcneil on the east; either out
numbering, and both prepared to attack
him. He then commenced his retreat to
the South, with $500 effective fighting
men, pursued by 5000 cavalry aud in
fantry with fifteen pieces of artillery. He
anticipated no difficulty except in crossing
the St. Fran els river, which was swollen,
rapid, aud no ferry boats upon it. He
marched slowly and sent forward all his
broken down and dismounted men to con-
struct RATS on the st. Francis. Vande-
yer and Mcneil pursued, but did not seem
anxious for fight. Light rear guard
fighting was of daily occurrence, and two
or three times battle was offered aud de.
clined, when our forces occupied advauta.
geous position.
Marmaduke reached Chalk Bluffs the
lst Of May, dismounted the most of his
men, and posted them in line Of Battle
miles from the crossing, until he had
crossed his wagons, horses and artillery
That night he quietly withdrew, and By