The New York herald., 1863-05-14

SoRes. DANCES. BuRLxsouEs &C.
Now York. Thursday, May II, 1893.
TE1E SITUATION.
We have some important news from the South.
west. General Grant had q severe action on We'd
nesday last. at Clinton. ten miles from Jackson,
the railroad, with q rebel force under General
Bowen. The fight lasted all day, and the rebels
were defeated. Reports are said to have reached
General Grant that large renforcements of rebels
are coming up from Mobile and Charleston to pro-
teot Vicksburg and jackson, and that he (Grant)
has accordingly fallen back to the river to await
further support.
The stories circulated by the rebel authorities at
jackson, Miss, that our forces were beaten after
severe battle of four hours duration, on the 4th
inst. on the Big Black river. prove to be entirely
without foundation. A telegraphic despatch from
General Grant. dated the 9th. two days later than
the reported fight, was received in Washington
yesterday. and IT makes no mention whatever Of
any battle at Anderson's ferry on the 4th inst.
A skirmish between party of sixty mounted
rebels and detachment of Union troops occurred
on Tuesday between Franklin and woodburn, KY,
ON the railroad, in which the former were routed
and driven back, forces still pursuing them at
last accounts on that night.
The rebels in front Of Murfreesboro. Tenn, con-
tinue to exhibit symptoms of activity which keep
the army Of Gen. Rosecrans on the q,4i piue., The
cavalry Of the enemy is constantly changing its
position. The rebel Generals Morgan and Wheeler
are said to be at Liberty and Alexandria, with
force Of 5000 cavalry. and are supposed to be
meditatng an attack on Nashville.
Rumors prevailed in the city yesterday to the
effect that General Longstrset fought battle with
General Keyes, at West Point, Va, in which the
latter had been beaten. It was said that ex-Gov-
srnor Morgan was the recipient Of telegram to
that effect, bnt we believe that there is no truth
whatever in the statement.
A large number Of Union prisoners, now In Rich
mond. and recently captured in Fredericksburg,
are about TO be sent down to Newport's News,
transports having been sent up to City Point on
Tuesday to receive them. The rebel Commission
er Ould visited Newport's News on Monday, and
made arrangements with Colonel Ludlow, United
States Commissioner, for an exchange. Accord.
ingly nine hundred rebel prisoners, also taken at
fredericksburg, were sent up to City Point.
With regard to the case of the Hon. Clement L.
vall,ndigham, recently on. trial by court martial
at Cincinnati, on charge of using Unreasonable"
language at public meeting, AZ which two mill
tary officers, disguised as civilians reported his
speech and testified against him, report was
circulated and published in Washington paper
that the decision Of the Court condemned him to
two years. imprisonment and hard labor at
the Dry Tortugas Off the coast Of Florida.
Now, as the proceedings Of q court martial are
necessarily secret, until promulgated by the Com
mandng General who orders the trial, and as all
the members of the court are solemnly sworn not
to reveal any portion of what transpires, and mas
much as General Burnside has neither approved
nor dsapproved Of the finding Of the Court up to
this time. it is difficult to imagine how the vote of
the majority or the minority Of the Court, as
stated, could be made known. II Is fair therefore,
to conclude that the story is premature, to say the
least Of il.
We have some interesting news from General
Fosters command at Newbern, N. c., TO the 7th
inst. The nine months soldiers are about to
return home, but many Of them have accepted q
furough Of thirty days, and willing to reenlis,
after that time, provided they again permitted
to serve with General Foster. The General Highly
compliments them on their bravery while under
his command.
The rebels, IL Is said refuse TO receive the
dsloyal citizens sent outside our nes unless they
can give guarantee Of their ability to maintain
themselves.
Our Havana correspondence TO the 9th instant
brings some further interesting details relative to
the position Of the French at Puebla.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
We publish in another column to-day coll for
ga mass State Convention for Peace and Re.
union" signed by two representatives of the de.
mocratic party from each OF the thrty.two seua.
torial districts of the State Of New York--the
meeting TO be held in this city, on the Sd Of June.
The object Of the convention is "a vigorous pro.
secution OF peace" and therefore IL is proposed
ito take measures in favor Of speedy settle
ment Of our unnatural sectional war-to restore
II possible. the unity, harmony and prosperity o
our beloved common country, and such other
measures for the welfare Of the democratic party
as may be deemed necessary"
Our correspondent in British Honduras, dating
at Belize on the 23d Of April, states that the trade
OF The colony was at complete stand in conse.
auanca OF the agitation nansed hu tho xnr In L..