Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-06-05
uV1
REPORTS FROM MISSISSIPPI.
Gen. Grant confident of capturing
Vicksburg.
~ s,., .sfa5ti-t. : n : s3cst t,i4 .
4,5O0 Rebel prisoners arrived at
\ Memphis. at
Rebel force in Virginia estimated
at $4,000.
Gallant dash of the 8th Illinois
Cavalry. .r2
From MexicO---Bombardment Of
PuebIa. 'iss

New YORK, May 20.
A Washington dispatch says: From the
most trustworthy sources we are informed
that the whole rebel force in Virginia does
not number $4,000 men, and this statement
allows them 10000 reinforcements received
since the battle of Chancellorville.
A Washin ton letter to the Commercial
says although it has been contradicted, it is
true that the President did receive a dispatch
a day or two ago from Gen. Grant, in which
he stated that he had intercepted dispatch
from the rebel Secretary of War, not jeff.
DaYis, as published to Gen. Pemberton, stating
that is could hold out at Vicksburg fifteen
days longer he could send him 100, 900 men.
Gen. Grant adds that this was impossible, for
two reasons; first, that Col. Grierson had so
destroyed the railroads in Mississippi that
that number of men could not be forwarded
in that time; second, that Gen. Pemberton
could not hold out fifteen days Gen. Grant
was sanguine. .1
! WARRENroN, May 20.
i A special to the Post says: Military men
here do not credit the report that the rebels
are concentrating an unusually large force in
Virginia, but believe rather that every SOL
dier who can be spared from Virginia, North
Carolina and South Carolina has been sent
to Mississippi to relieve Gems. Johnston and
Pemberton, or If too late to save Vicksburg
to seize some other point on the Mississippi
river, or 60 to strengthen PORT Hudson, to
make its capture matter of great difficulty.
Gov. Curtin is, however. of a different opin-
ion, and is comforting with Gen. Schenck for
the defense of the Pennsylvania border.
Npu, Vo,p Nav 90
The 9th Illinois cavalry, in recent scout
down the Peninsula, between the Potomac
and Rappahannock, captured 125 prisoners,
four smuggling routes.
WASHINGTON, May 20.
Murfreesboro advices to the 26th, state
that the movement commenced by portion
of Bragg's army under Breckenridge has be-
come general, and Polk and Hardee have
withdrawn their forces in the direction of
Vicksburg, though Bragg keeps his quarters
at Shelbyville, as if to watch Rosecrans
A letter dated the Goth states that Col.
Burns division of Bragg's army is actually
sent to Mississippi, and Bragg's army is now
falling back to the line of the Tennessee.
A Murfreesboro dispatch of the 2Sth says
that Grant, at the latest advices, was still in
position before Vicksburg.
The rebel accounts of six unsuccessful as
saults are cxsggerations. They seem to have
magnifed every reconnaissance into an as
sault. 1t seems certain, however, that once
since Saturday Grant did make pretty gen.
eral assault and failed to carry the works.
Johnston has not yet attacked Grant, but
is gathering his forces not far away.
1t was not supposed the city could hold
out longer than the 2Sth under the tremend-
Gus fire of Grants artillery
Another Murfreesboro dispatch says that
an order was sent to the camp last night to
hold themselves in readiness to march at
moments notice with rations.
Reports of formidable demonstrations on
our right are not confirmed, but there is
probably rebel force enough in that quarter
to keep our troops ON the watch.
WASHINGTON, May 29.
A dispatch from Somerset, KY, of the 2Sth,
says: ...........
About 200 rebel cavalry made another dash
to the north of the river this morning, and
captured few more of Walfords cavalry
The men escaped subsequently but lost their
horses. Five thousand reinforcements are
reported to have arrived at Cumberland Gap.
1t is also rumored that Morgan has gone there.
Our soldiers are waiting for the storm to
break.
An official dispatch to the War Department
was received to-day from Gen. Ellet, COM
manding ram fleet, dated Helena, Ark, May
25th, which says:
As my command was descending the river
from Memphis, May Esd, the Commissioner
and Quartermaster boat was fired into from
the Mississippi side, by band of the enemy,
with two pieces of artillery, about six miles
above Austria. 1 returned yesterday and
landed my force. The enemy had, a few
hours before my arrival, captured small
trading steamer and burned her, taking her
crew captives and appropriating her freight.
could obtain no intelligence from the in
habitants, by which to guide my movements.
My cavalry, under Major Hubbard, 200
strong, came up with the enemy, 1000
strong, all mounted and eight miles out
The fight lasted near two hours. The Major
was compelled to take shelter in favorable
position, when he succeeded lin repulsing the
enemy and drove them off before the infantry
could come to his relief Our loss was two
killed and 19 wounded, most of them only
slightly. The enemy left 5 dead upon the
field, and one Lieutenant mortally wounded,
and % stand of arms. We captured three
prisoners. I burned the town of Austria,
having first searched every buildin. AS the
fire progressed the discharge of loaded fire
arms was like voleys of musketry, as the
fire reached their hiding places, and two
heavy explosions of powder also occurred.
The Navy Department has ordered the
Vanderbilt to cruise in the latitude where the
recent depredations of the Alabama were
committed, and to visit the port where the
Alabama rendeyouzed. Upon reaching the
West Indies Admiral Wilkes, instead of al
lowing her to carry out the orders of the De-
partment, seized her as his flag ship. At
latest dates she was acting under his direc-
ton. eas g ~ s..l &
Four thousand five hundred prisoners cap
tured by Grant have arrived at Memphis p
A dispatch from Grant, dated near Vicks-
burg, May 25th, have been received at the
War Department to-day. They represent the
} seige of Vicksburg as progressing satisfac-
torily, and that Grant is abundantly able to
maintain his investment Of the town and re-
: pei attack upon his rear,
PHILADELPHIA, May 20.
Jay Cooke reports the sale of $1,64O,45O
J of 5:20s to-day. a @ ''
'.N SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.
Dates have been received from the City of
Mexico ola Acapulco to the 9th. Up to the
, 9th the French continued bombarding Puebla,
making little progress The authorities OF
! the City of Mexico believe that tbe French
I will soon be compelled to abandon the siege
, of Puebla.
Commonfort had commenced important
movements, designed to get in the rear of the