Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-06-12
TELEGRAPHIC.

Reconnaissance across the Rap
pahannOck.
Position Of the Rebel forces in
Virginia.
Further particulars Of the fight
at Franklin, Tenn.
Mutiny in Gen. Bragg's army.
WASHINGTON, June 4.
The following has been received by Secre-
tary Welles:
U. S. SHIP DEso7A, GULF OF MExrco,(
May 19.
SIR II have the honor to inform you that
Yesterday noon discovered the smoke of
steamer and stood for it soon after, We
made the steamer at 6 P. N. She stopped,
and two boats pushed eff from her, carrying
her officers and crew. Immediately lowered
and took one of the obats and her principal Of
ficers as security for the lives of my men,
ard then boarded the steamer. As soon as
the boat got alongside of her the flames
burst out, as had anticipated. Afterwards,
having had the assurance that there was no
danger of her blowing up,I went near enough
to the burning ship to lend our hose on
board but all efforts to suppress the flames
were unavailing, and by sunset the fa-
nous ship Cuba sunk beneath the waters of
the Gulf. in lat. % deg. Al min., long. 81
deg. So min. 1t is estimated, on reliable au-
thority. that the cargo was worth, in Havana,
nearly 100000, and, if landed in Alabama,
would have been worth million and
quarter dollars.
i nave ner officers and crew Oil beard, and
shall deliver them to the authorities of Key
West
[Signed7 VIM W. WALKER,
Capt. U. S. Navy.
CAIRO, June 7.
We have news direct from the battlefield at
Vicksburg, to Wednesday morning.
The rebels have burned the upper works of
the Cincinnati.
The fire in Vicksburg on Monday night
was caused by the explosion of shell from
our guns. One whole side of Washington
Square was destroyed.
The planting Of siege guns has been pro-
crossing for several days by the Federals, and
it was the intention to open on the enemy
with them along the entire lines on Wednes
day. .-..-5 --.
FIT. MONROE, June 6.
The following are extracts from the Rich
mond Dispatch of this morning:
Jackson, June Sd All quiet at Vicks-
burg yesterday No firing was heard
Grant is evidently making preparations for
m movement in scme di' ection. -@."'ta
yIacsson, June A courier reports that
Kirby Smith crossed to Port Hudson on Sun
day. The gunboats made furious assault,
sinking one steam and drowning 700 men,
No doubts are felt in regard to the result.
Interesting details of the fight at Vick>burg
on Thursday are coming. Gen. Grant used
cotton bales for movable breastworks in the
attack Pemberton mounted his 200-pound-
ers and direct,d d their fire to the cotton bales,
moving down whole platoons Of the enemy.
Our entire loss during the action of Bakers
Creek does not exceed 5000. The confidence
in Gen. Pemberton since his answer to
Grants demand for a surrender has been
fully restored. No fears are felt regarding
the result at Vcksburg and Port Hudson.
Jackson, 4'h.-Heavv firing in the direc-
ton of Vicksburg has been heard all day
Nothing reliable received since Sunday.
Charleston, 4th.-An official dispatch from
W. S. Walker, fom Pocalaligo, reports that
the enemy fired the town of Button, to-day
Our forces engaged them and prevented their
advance.
er says we are now in Button, which place
is in flames. The enemy has retired. No
one on our side is hurt
II <bo void m tho Tor, ,b;rhoo &bo oporo
carried away about 1000 negroes, and de-
stroyed nearly 81 100000 worth of property.
Mobile, 4.-Refugees report another bril-
liant victory over the Yankees at Port Hud-
son. An editorial says that the news from
the southwest continues to be of the most
cheering character. Nobly has Gen Pember-
ton vindic tied the confidence placed in him
bv President Davis.
From all accounts the defence of Vicksburg
is the most glorious episode within the al
ready proud annals of our military history
The hetacombs of Yankees attest the valor
of our troops, the skill and success with which
they have been handled in every attack, the
heroic garrison has ennobled itself. The
Yankees have given up the attempt to take
the city by storm, and now talk of regular
spige, plan VIII ch Gen. Johnston may pos
sibly interfere with,
The telegraph also brings the report of
brilliant victory gained by Kirby Smith over
Banks at Port Hudson. We have every rea-
son to believe this news will be confirmed
With Gen. Banks army all butannlhilated by
the terrific execution of our artillery and mus
kerry, and the sragetic movement of Banks
suddenly cut short at Port Hudson, the
great campaign of the West, from which so
| much was expected bv the enemy, bids fair to
prove by Ear most disastrous affair, and the
worst of all their failures in this war.
WASHINGTON, June 6.
Whatever may have been the condition of
aff,irs on either side of the Rappahannock
for the last two days, it is known that our
army tonight is on this side of the river
I,reT 5.sa s.eV New YORK, June Z.
A Washington special to the Herald, dated
| 9Th, states that the I'd division of the 9Th
army corps crossed the Rappahannock at
Deep Run, at noon yesterday, on protoon
bridges laid by detachment Of he Engineer
corps. The object was a reconnoi>ance in
| force, to ascertain the mo ives and position of
the enemy. The rebel sharp shooters made
some opposition to pac ng Of ontoon bridges,
but "as quickly overcome, although we lost one
or two men IN the operation. After the di-
vision crossed there was considerable skir-
mishing, and the rife pits occupied by the
rebel rit1emen were finally carried, and a num-
Der of prisoners captured.
The rebels still hold Fredericksburg. Gen.
Longstreet is there and shows strorg front
at the upper fords of the r ppahannock, 1t