March 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury.
FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
The Fredericksburg correspondent of the Richmond Examiner writer from Fredericksburg, March 17:
The military situation here is unchanged, save in the increased animation apparent in the enemy’s camp, and their adoption of certain precautionary measures which indicate a purpose to prevent all communication between the pickets. Last night the performance was varied by the banging of drums and blowing of bugles, and shooting of sky rockets. These demonstrations were so numerous and marked as to excite considerable attention, and much speculation as to their meaning. Your correspondent was along the lines throughout the night, but discovered no unusual indications in the immediate front. It is his confirmed opinion that a large part of Hooker’s army is on the march for some point higher up the Rappahannock. Quite a body of his cavalry took that direction yesterday morning, and the light of the enemy’s camp fires evidently tends Northwestward. This opinion is given in the face of the fact that also on yesterday a brigade of their infantry marched down the river, and that there is not the least sign of relaxation of their hold on the opposite heights. It seems to be the settled opinion that when the curtain does rise for another act in the bloody drama of this war, Fredericksburg will be the scene of a second conflict.
FROM VICKSBURG.
The Vicksburg Whig of March 14 says:
The Federals are evidently on the move. Yesterday morning the number of transports across the river was only six. In the forenoon a large train could be seen moving up, and upon examining the camp in White’s Field, it was discovered that many of the tents had disappeared. The dredge boats, however, were still at work, but do not seem to have advanced a yard in two days. – The principal talk among the […..] has been the sudden […..] of base’ of the Yankees. There were three different solutions of the change – first, that the enemy were going to reinforce the Yazoo Pass expedition; the second, that they were seeking a more elevated camping ground, not being permitted to occupy our hills; and the third, that troops were embarking on transports preparatory to an assault on our city. It is quite evident that a heavy force is being sent down the Yazoo, and it is likely the troops now leaving the peninsula will be sent in that direction. Some of the gunboats went up the Yazoo yesterday towards Snyder’s Bluff. A couple of guns were heard in that direction about one o’clock, and it was thougth the boats were throwing an occasional shell as they moved up. They are, we suppose, on a reconnoissance, hoping to hear something of the expedition coming through the Pass. It was rumored in the afternoon that some intelligence had been received from Greenwood – that the Carondelet has been repulsed above that place, and an attempt of the troops to flank our batteries had been defeated.
FROM NORTH CAROLINA – THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS NEWBERN.
We get the following from the Wilmington Journal:
General Hill’s expedition towards Newbern failed of accomplishing one of its main objects – that of drawing the enemy out. At Deep Gully, nine miles from Newbern, Gen. Hill encountered a force of the enemy consisting of two regiments of infantry and a battery of field artillery. Here a brisk fight was kept up for a short time, when the enemy retreated in the direction of Newbern. About this time Gen. Pettigrew, being on the north side of the Neuse river, opened on an earthwork on the south side of the river, but, in consequence of an accident to one of his guns, which resulted in the loss of three of his men killed, and 15 wounded, and also the arrival of heavy reinforcements to the enemy, he had to return. Several transports arrived at Newbern on Saturday evening. Gen. Robertson is reported to have succeeded in getting possession of the railroad below Newbern, and in destroying a portion of the track and burning a bridge by which a train was destroyed. No men were lost in Gen. Hill’s immediate command. We know, but do not think it proper to say, where Gen. Hill’s forces are at the present time.
THE CONTRABAND REGIMENTS IN FLORIDA.
The Savannah News has the following intelligence from Jacksonville, Fla:
The Yankee black and white troops at that place keep very close to their quarters since their recent drubbing by General Finegan’s boys. They very seldom show themselves in the outskirts of the town, and their pickets have been drawn close in. There are about fifteen hundred negro troops with white officers at the place. These were sent down from Port Royal, and report that others were soon to follow them. It has been ascertained by persons who resided in Jacksonville that in the recent fight the Yankees left fifteen negros and one white officer dead on the field, but succeeded in carrying off their wounded. Very few of the citizens remain in the place, which is represented to have become a perfect negro den. Provisions are very scarce. The Yankee officers are extremely immoral and dissipated. At all hour of the day some of them may be seen reeling drunk in the streets. It is not probable that they will be allowed to remain in possession of Jacksonville very long – certainly they will not be permitted to penetrate the interior.