Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15

whereas, for these high purposes, a military
force is Indispensable to its support, TO which
all persons ought willingly to contribute; and
whereas. no service can be more praiseworthy
and honorable than that which is rendered
for the maintenance of the Constitution and
I the Union and the consequent preservation
Of free government; and whereas, for the
reasons thus recited it was enacted by the
said statute that all able-bodied male citizens
Of the United States and persons of foreign
birth, who have declared on oath their inten
ton to become citizens under and in pur.
suance Of the laws thereof, between the ages
Of 20 and 45 years, with certain exceptions
not necessary to be herein mentioned, are de-
elared to constitute the national, forces, and
shall be liable to perform military duty
in the service of the United States,
when called outby the President for that pur-
pose; and, whereas, it is claimed on the behalf
of persons of foreign birth within the. ages
specified in said act, who have heretofore de-
clared on oath, their intentions to become citi-
zens, under and in pursuance of the laws of the
United States, and who have not exercised
the right of suffrage or any other political
franchise under the laws of the United States
| or any of the States Of the United States, are
! not absolutely included by their aforesaid de-
clarations Of Intentions from renouncing their
purpose to become citizens, and that on the
contrary, such persons, under treaties or the
law of nations, retain right to renounce that
purpose, and to forego the privilege Of rciti-
zenship, and residence within the United
States, or under the obligations imposed by
the aforesaid act of Congress; now therefore,
to avoid all misrepresentation concerning the
liability of persons concerned to perform the
service required by said enactment, and to
give it full effect,I do hereby order and pro-
claim that no plea of alienage will be receiv-
ed or allowed to exempt from the Obligations
imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress any
person of foreign birth who shall have decided
on oath his intentions to become citizen of
the United States under the laws thereof and
who shall be found within the United States
at any time during the continuance of the
present insurrection and rebellion, at or af-
ter the expiration of the period of 65 days
from the date of this proclamation, nor shall
any such plea of alienage be allowed in favor
OF any such persons who have as aforesaid
declared their intention to become citizens of
of the United States, and shall have exercised
at any time the right of suffrage or. any other
political franchise within the United States
under the laws of any Of the several States.
[Sgned] ABRAHAMLINC COLIN, President
WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. % 4
Special to the Chicago Times. ~. b.
-a.s..is g .5 ..a7r. MEMPHIS, May Z.
The steamer Luminary left ,Young's Point
on Tuesday night, and arrived here this morn
ing. On Friday portion of our forces up
Big Black river had fight at Port Gibson,
which they occupied. The Federal loss is re-
ported at 200 killed and wounded.
Port Gibson is six miles in the rear of
Grand Gulf, which the rebels hastily evacua-
ted after the fight at Port Gibson, and the
gunboat engagement in front of the former
place.. The captain Of the Luminary says
that the Federals certainly occupied Grand
Gulf. This gives Grant possession Of the
Big Black river, and access to the rear of
Vicksburg. If he succeeds in stopping the
Jackson railroad, the Vicksburg line of COM
munication will be cut off.
A few days ago the steamers Moderator |
and Horizon, which had been engaged carry
ing troops across near Grand Gulf, collided |
and the Horizon sunk. One section of the |
Chicago Battery was on board, and was lost |
On Sunday night tug with barge of hay
on each side, started to run the Vicksburg
batteries to join the fleet below. When near
ly by the city, she was struck by hot shot |
from the rebel batteries, which fred the hay !
The tug and barges were consumed. My in
formant states that only one person is known
to have escaped. Only Is or 20 persons were
aboard. .-
The river is still falling, below ~
The gunboat Choctaw will be ready for
service ina few days. Her injuries were not
so bad as reported. -. ----4 ,e i
An expedition from here to Raleigh, few |
days ago, obtained large number Of horses
and cattle 1858 7 i..@ H p:
Thirty six prisoners. mostly captured near
Holly Springs, reached the city yesterday.
Rebel reports calm the capture of several
hundred prisoners at Tuscumbia, recently. |
C1Sc1NNAr1, May g..
The Court martial in the Vallandigham
case submitted their decision to Burnside yes
terday. It will be given publicity in General
Orders.
The Gazette has special dispatch from
Memphis, 7th, saying that Grant has captured
Grand Gulf, Port Gibson and Willard Valley.
Grants main army ,on Wednesday, was thirty
miles up Black river, marching upon the rear
of Vicksburg. @
WASH1NGTON, May y.
The following has been received at head
quarters: III "as .f. ~
GRAND GULF, via MEMPHIS, May Z.
To Maj Gen. Halleck: 49,. ,...-.r....'. ...-
We landed at Baulingsburg, April 3Oth, |
and moved Immediately on Pt Gibson We |
met the enemy, 900 strong, few miles
south of Pt. Gibson, at 2 A. NJ on the 1st
inst, and engaged him all day, entirely rout- |
ing him, with the loss of many killed and |
about 500 prisoners, besides the wounded
Our loss is about 100 killed and 500 wounded. |
The enemy retreated towards Vicksburg,
destroying the bridges over the forks of the |
Bayou Pierre. These were rebuilt, and the |
pursuit has continued until the present time |
Besides the heavy artillery at this place,
four field pieces were captured, and some
stores, and the enemy was driven to destroy |
many more. 9 l-'
The country is the most broken and diff
cult to operate in 1 ever saw. Our victory |
has been most complete, and the enemy Is
thoroughly demoralized.
Very respectfully,
U. S. GRANT, .~
-,,oeoae.5- Maj. Gen. Commanding.
+zo,so, - g. GRAND GULF, Miss, May 6.
To Major General HalIeck:
1 learn that Col. Grierson with his cavalry |
has been heard of, first about ten days ago in |
Northern Mississippi. He moved thence and |
struck the railroad 30 miles from Jackson, at |
q Mace called Newton Station He thap NOV