May 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
IMPORTANT FROM THE WEST –
LATEST NEWS FROM THE ARMIES OF GRANT AND JOHNSTON.
JACKSON, MISS., May 18. The enemy sent a flag of truce this evening to convey to our lines their principal surgeon, who has been left in charge of their wounded.
He states that, in the fight of Saturday GRANT captured 16 guns, but lost 6000 men. Our troops, according to his report, fell back across the Big Black, in the direction of Vicksburg, destroying the bridge after they had passed. The enemy then advanced eight miles north, and this morning found Gen. JOHNSTON’S forces in line of battle.
Our advices, on the contrary, say that we lost no artillery, that the bridge over the Big Black was not burned, and that, in the battle of Saturday, 12,000 of our men fought two of GRANT’S Army Corps, 24,000 men, with success, sustaining their position all day long, and only falling back at night to their entrenchments. Our loss was heavy. The battle was severe, but indecisive.
The enemy is in a position that enables him to cut off our communication with General JOHNSTON. Rumors, good and bad, are prevalent here, but we have nothing trustworthy later than the above.
LATEST FROM THE ENEMY’S LINES.
TULLAHOMA, May 19. All quiet in front. The Louisville and Nashville papers of the 16th have been received, but contain nothing important. The Press states that large numbers are daily leaving Memphis to reinforce GRANT.
On the 15th large numbers of rebel sympathizers were banished from Louisville. The scene was touching. Amid sobbing and weeping, fathers, mothers, and daughters were separated. Men with families were allowed to take a thousand dollars; and those without, two hundred dollars. The rest of their property is to be taken by the Government.
Memphis papers of the 17th report that Adjutant General THOMAS has already formed ten full contraband regiments, and expects to form many more.
BURNSIDE’S letter to the Circuit Court relative to VALLANDIGHAM says: ‘If I were to find a man from the enemy distributing a speech like that of this public man, tending to destroy confidence in this army, I would have him tried and hung. Why should such speeches be allowed from those in our midst? They should be treated likewise. Every power I possess on earth, with the blessing of the Giver above, will be exerted, at all times and places, and on all occasions, when I am in command, to sustain the character of the Government.’ A despatch, dated Cincinnati, May 15th, says that Judge LEAVITT would next day render his decision in the VALLANDIGHAM habeas corpus case. It was understood that BURNSIDE would announce the disposition to be made of VALLANDIGHAM, as soon as Judge LEAVITT’S decision should become known. The New York Herald warns the ‘Loyal Leagues’ against attempting to suppress free speech, lest they should raise another rebellion which they cannot quell.
‘All quiet’ is the report from the Army of the Rappahannock. HOOKER has returned from Washington to his command. The 25th New York Regiment was under arrest, at last accounts, for refusing to do further duty.
A despatch from Washington, dated May 16, reports that a serious disagreement had occurred between HALLECK and HOOKER. The former had countermanded HOOKER’S order for a new movement of the Army of the Rappahannock. There were no indications of an immediate movement.
The U. S. Marshal in the District of Columbia was seizing the real and personal estate of prominent rebels and rebel sympathizers.
The Yankees now admit that their losses at Fredericksburg was not less than 22,000. They say that the rebel loss was at least 18,000.
The bridge at Fairmount, destroyed by the rebels under IMBODEN, has been restored, and communication between Baltimore and the West is re-established.
Cotton in New York on the 16th was quoted at 60 cents, and gold at 51 1/2 premium.