Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-05
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligence
ARMY LETTER.
HEADQUARTERS 18th ARMY CoRps,
Memphis, Tenn, Feb. ~, 1853.

ARMY LETTER.
HEADQUARTERS 18th ARMY CoRPs,
Memphis, Tenn, Feb. ~, 1863.
DEAR HnDRErH I'm the midst of
the greatest excitement in Memphis,
since the great naval fight in June,
1861. seat myself to give you the
particulars of the cause and effect of
this trouble.
On Tuesday morning last, the trans.
port Hurcules," having seven barges
loaded with coal in tow, was compel
led by dense fog to land, which she
did, landing upon the Arkansas shore,
at the terminus of the Little Rock
Railroad, only Onehalf mile above this
city. AS she landed, several citizens
were seen hanging around, yet moth
ing was said until the citizens brought
forth concealed rifles, pistols, &c, and
demanded surrender. Then the boat
men found they were in the hands OF
guerillas. One deck hand started to
run, when he was fired npon, and two
balls took effect in his breast and he
fell dead The guerillas then fired
the boat, and went to parollng the
captured men.
Seeing the flames from the steamer,
the -gunboat Crockett, Capt. Lang.
thornc, went up, and finding how mat
tiers were, he opened fire of she'll up
on the woods adjoining. This inter-
rupted the paroling business, and
the guerilla party, with their prisoners,
went some twenty miles back in the
country, where they paroled the re-
mainder of the prisoners, and sent
them back towards the river-they
following close in the rear. They had
the temerity to come in view of the
gunboats, when they had the misfor-
tune to receive a volley of shell and
grape that sent more than one of them
from the Kingdom of JEFF, to King
dom. Come !" Those not hurt sought
the shelter of the woods. The mortar
boats shelled the woods. While this
was going on the Memphis shore was
lined with q mixed throng of wit
nesses.
Last night the guerillas again
sought the town of Hopefield, directly
opposite Memphis, and were shelled
out in double quick time /; and today
the town of Hopcfeld is nothing but
a heap of ruins. " ..... ...
The captured crew of the Hercules
were all taken on board the steam-tug
Thistle, and brought to this city. The
guerillas took fourteen hundred dol
lars from the Captain of the Hercules,
and afterward were kind enough to
return him ten dollars, to pay immedi-
ate expenses. A regiment of men
have gone over to watch the Arkan-
sas shore, and the guerillas may find
things too hot and heavy for them ere
long.
Yesterday wagon train was cap
tured at Moscow, by Van Dorn's cav
airy, and Lauman's Division is after
them. They will probably have the
train back again. The country is fill
ed with these guerillas. Thirty-fve
were captured on the fernando road
yesterday. They belonged to Blythe's
band. Their object is to prevent the
for Vicksburg leaving
this city and really it seems that, by
their raids and the very bad weather,
we now have, the troops never will
leave. Nothing but rain, rain, rain |!
as it came in the time of Noah Three
times have the troops been all ready
to embark, and the rain prevented.
The transports are all waiting, the
General has his boat all ready, but
the rain must give way to sunshine
before the ground will permit a move
ment of the troops.
The sale of the Chicago Times is
now strictly forbidden. No person
is allowed to take any goods across
the river whatever. Some curious
things have just come to the light,
in regard to the articles consumed by
the farmers of Arkansas. One man
purchased AZ reams of fools-cap and
20 reams of note paper for his oaon use.
Another had 10 TBS. of opium for his
/! .,a. E. /
The Rowena and White Cloud,
steam transports, were lately sent to
Cairo. A large rebel mail was on
the White Cloud, and quantity Of
Quinine upon the Rowena. All boats
coming down the river, are stopped
and searched at "Island TO-" as is the
baggage of passengers. One lady
was suspected of mischief, and females
were sent to search her person. In
her undcr-clothes were found letters
and gold-lace for some rebel officers.
She is now in this city, in the military
prison The way Of the transgres-
sor is hard."8 aHu Ga a