Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-05-13
BY SAMUEL J. ROW .
CLEARFIELD. PA. MAY Is. 1858.
THE WAR NEWS.

Grand Cult. on the Mississippi below Vicks-
burg, has been success. The works were
Of the most extensive kind, except Vicksourg,
and is considered the strongest position on
the river. One fort was a point OF rocks
sventy- Ave feet high, and calculated to mount
seven guns. On the left of this is a triangular
work for one gun. These works are connect
ed with another fort by covered way, and
double rifle-pits extending quarter OF q
mile, constructed with much labor, snd show
ing great skill on the part of the constructor.
The third fort commands the river in all di-
rsctions, and was mounted with heavy guns.
which we're burst and broken. After bonn bar
ding these forts our feet withdrew, and on its
approach to renew the attack, on the 3rd, Com.
Porter found the works deserted. The forts
we're literally torn to pieces By the accuracy
OF our fire. A number OF heavy guns, and
large Quantity of ammunition fell into
hands. This is believed to be the Key TO
Vicksburg, commanding, as it does, the mouth
few miles IN the rear of that rebel strong
hold. Our loss was "a killed and Sc wounded.
Three of the Vessels were badly cut up, but
are now ready for service again.
We have information from Little Rock,
Ark, that the return Of Gen. Sterling Price
TO the command of the trans NJ ississippi Rebel
Department is infusing some life into it,
Many of the soldiers who left Hindmsn in
disgust are rallying to the standard of Price,
whose undeniable ability, manifested iu his
Missouri and Arkansas campaign, renders him
the most popular leader with the Rebels Of
that regio He will probably give the Ma
tional troops some trouble. The enemy west
of the Mississippi has been whipped too many
times to become very formidable again but
be Is now gaining important aid from abroad.
Thirty thousand foreign mHskets trsre recently
q: Matamoros for the use Of the Rebel, ,rest of
the Mississippi. Three or four thousand have
already reached Price at Little Rock and the
remainder on their way 10 him, overland
through Texas and the Indian Territory. The
immense contraband traffic between the Rebels
and Matamoros shows the Importance of our
holding the Rio Grande from Ell Paso to It's
mouth, which could be done by small force
The blockade will never be complete without.
Gen. Gran. is making clean work in Mis-
s,ssippi, and viii soon bring the khotty ques-
tion OF Vicksburg to a solution. On the both
ult., he moved upon Port Gibson, town on
,he Bayou Pierre, % miles from its mouth,
where at 2 a. IN. on the lst, he met the enc
my, II 900 strong, and engaged him all day,
entirely routing him, with the loss of many
killed and 500 prisoners, besides the wounded
Our loss is about 100 killed and 500 wounded
The enemy retreated towards Vicksburg, de-
stroying the bridges over the two forks of the
Bayou Pierre. These were rebuilt, and pursuit
continued. Besides the heavy artillery, four
deld-pieces were captured, and some stores,
and the enemy were forced to destroy much
more. The Memphis Bulltin of Saturday says
that Gen. Grant has sent ] 200 prisoners to
Milliken's Bend. A portion OF his force ,wh en-
last beard from, was within 20mile. of jackson
There was report that an important bridge
over Big Black River had been destroyed,
thus cutting of the means of retreat from
Vicksburg.
The last accounts from South Eastern Mis-.
souri, states that when Marmsduke failed to
cross the Whitewater, 20 miles from Cape
Girardeau, he passed over the Bloomfield
Ridge, whore he became entsugled in our pur-
suing lines and suffered immcnae losses.
The main object Of his raid is said by prison
srs taken from him to have been an invasion
of Southern Illinois to get horses and provi-
sious and test the temper of the Copperheads.
The scene changed, to his discontinue, and
his retrest he had so many men wound ed
that almost ever house on the way had one or
more of them.
The 18th Ohio Regiment, Col. Wood re
tutned on the 26th uit. TO Milliken's Bend
from an expedition into Mississippi. They
visited the corn growing region on Deer Greek,
aud destroyed $4,000 bushels OF corn and
thirty cotton gins and grist mills in Rebel EN-
pioy. Three full regiments of negroes are
now organized at Miliiken's Bend and a fourth
- nearly fuIi. There is prospect of raising
few days.
The Jackson Appeal of the Goth ult. SAYS OF
Col. Grierson's q nion raid, that besides tear
mp the railroad, he has destoyed two bridges,
zach $50 feet long, seven culbsrts, burned
tventy-eigh. freight cars, blown up two loco
motives. and burned the railroad depot and
two commissary buildings at Newton. He
also destroyed the telegraph line and captured
two trains.
The ssFrench Lady alias Col. Zarvona,
10 at last exchanged. he was ono of the pris-
sers sent up from Fortress Monroe on Satur-
day morning. Mrs.. Semmes, wife of the cap.
tain Of the Enslish pirate Alsbama. vas an
other OF the party. 1