Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-04
Cairo. Jan. 81

picket DUTY. she iefs sunday mo nlng,
having on board Capt. Geo. @ White, Il
Quartermaster of the ram fleet, who is the
bearer of dispatches.
One division of Gen McCIernand's for
ces are on the Louisiana shore, 3 miles
from Vicksbure, and in full view of the
city.
On the Odd, while Colonel Warren Stu
art, Chief of Netherlands staff was out
on a reconnaissance with IL cavalry force,
and attempting to destroy some ferry boats
in the hands OF the rebels, they were fired /
upon by some concealed rebels. and Col. |
Stuart and three of his men were instant |
" killed The Coils body fell into the |
hand, of the rebels who horribly mutila-
ted it.
Itwas ascertained that about 800 reb
els were on the Louisiana shore, and on
the Oath heavy infantry force, with one
! battery Of artillery, left the camp to go
out and attack them or drive them away
! On the I'D n rebel steamer came up
irorn below to Vickshurg but whether or
not she carried troops, could not be de-
termned Our batteries fired several
shots at her, but probably without effect,
as the distance was great, and our guns
Of small calibre The firing was returned
by three rebel batteries on the MISSISSIPPI
however.
Water has commenced to run into the
canal. but what effect it was producing
was not known The Horner reports the
river rising from this point all the way TO
Vicksburg 1t is reported another chan
mel is to be dug to :ntersect the Old one
with its mouth higher up so as to receive
the river current more directly.
Most of the squadron is up to the mouth
of the 1azoo.
Several of the Mosquito boats are near
Vicksburg
The transports that carried McClcrn-
nand's troops down have re tured to Mem
phis
Memphis, Jan 81, via Cairo, Jan. % SO.
Gen, Grant and staff left for below this
morning, on the steamer Magnolia. 9th
erwise matters remain as heretofore.
The forces undsr Gen. McCIernand are
now in the vicinity of Nicksburg. Part
Of the land forces have landed five miles
: below the mouth ofthe fazoo river on the
Louisiana side. and are now engaged IN
! opening the canal cut last summer. The
/, ri-er is full enough to pour good volume
7 of water through the cut off as soon as
= an opening is ieade. \ few days viii de-
t tetermine its value.
| have seen IL captain of the goth Him
I ois who left Vicksburg on the % inst.
: Gen, McClernand's forces have landed
5 on the Louisiana side, 3 miles below the
0 mouth of the Yazoo river, and in fall
= view of the city
n Two brigades were engaged when the
, Captain left, in opening the famous cut
! off, of which so much was heard last
e summer.
e McClernand's opinion is, that it would
e take 10000 men to storm their fortified
S tons at Vicksburg Our guns and NOR
g tar boats could she'll the city from where
A they lie on the north side Of the river
t bend but even lift were entirely destroy
0 ed, the Notifications which extend for
2 miles back, would be as formda bic as
e ever.
Cairo January %
The Memphis Bulletin OF Thursday even
u ing contains the following Southern news
! which, it says, may be surely relied on.
: , 'rrtn3 date Of this news is Up to the 10Th
inst:
J Gen. Joseph E. Johnson has command
: of the whole Western Department He
: is massing an immense force at sicks-
, burg. In an engagement it IS believed
he can concentrate one hundred and fifty
Q thousand men for its defense. The reb-
: els are determined to stale everything in
d their effort to hold Nicksburg and Port
:, Hudson, and keep open communication
J with Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas
The Notifications at Port Hudson are
e completed. and the rebels feel great con
:. fidcnce that they will be able to hold
= these two strong points.
II is reported and believed that the reb-
ell army in Tennessee has been largely
reinforced, and that they are trying to
: make themselves believe that in the next
D engagement they will gobble up Rose
E Grams. If they cannot whip him, their
policy is to cut of his supplies and keep
r him busy in keeping open his lines OF
t communication.
All this is Just what the rebels would
Ike to do, but desiring and being able to
e execute are different things. 1t is the in
: tention Of the Government to take most OF
y the large houses in Memphis for hospitals,
: enough to make room for 5000 men. The
e duty Of arranging these hospitals is tenn
e porarily devolved upon Surgeon IL K,
Writ of the L. S, Army, late medical Di-
t rector in Grants army, Surgeon Lamb
5 relieves Writ on Grants staff
At latest accounts Gen. McClernand s
! force and squadron had reached Dung S
Point, twenty miles above Nicksburg.
Forces still continue to go forward.
Capt VIM B. Keller, company A 35th
Iowa, is appointed Assistant Marshal OF
! Cairo.
: News from the South to the 10Th inst
| says:
:, Ger, Johnson is in command of the en-
tire Western Department, and that he Is
massing au immense force near Nlcks-
burg. The report has it that he expects
= in an emergency to muster 10000 men.
IL lint
seems evident that every possible effort
was made TO hold the place.
1t is said that the fortifcations have
iiscn completed at Fort Hudson.
} The MesS::nhis BoIletin has report from
: rol;,b1e source. that Bragg has been