July 1, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
FROM VICKSBURG AND THE WEST.
JACKSON, June 29. — Advices from Vicksburg report no change in the condition of affairs there. On the night of the 21st, the enemy sprung a mine to blow up the angle of one of our works. It was a complete failure however, and they only succeeded in killing a number of their own men.
The Vicksburg Citizen of the 16th, 18th and 23d, has been received. It says that for 28 days an incessant shower of shells had rained upon the city. At least […..] thousand had fallen, but no casualties had occurred. The streets are daily filled with people, including women and children, who go about regardless of danger.
One of the enemy’s gunboats is fast aground just below the city. A number of transports laden with troops had come down during the past few days. The enemy had been firing incendiary shell for three days, but without doing any damage. Major HOODLY, of Arkansas, commanding the water battery, and Major MARTIN of the 26th La. were killed last Sunday. Col. MCLAUREN of the 27th Louisiana was seriously wounded.
PARSON’S Battery at Cypress Creek, 20 miles below Napoleon, Arkansas, fired into five transports loaded with troops, on Tuesday, crippling them badly. The troops were landed and attempted to storm the battery, but were driven back with a loss of 300.
The prisoners taken at Brookhaven have arrived here today. They had orders to strike through the country, destroy the railroads and embark at Pensacola for New Orleans.
BROOKHAVEN, June 29. — A rumor reached here last evening that other raids for the same purpose had left Rodney. The Yankees say they will destroy the Mobile and Ohio Railroad if it takes 30,000 men to do so.
LATEST NEWS FROM RICHMOND —
REPORTS FROM THE BORDER.
RICHMOND, June 29. — There was heavy cavalry skirmishing on the line between Ashby’s and Snicker’s Gap on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday last. A number of Yankees were killed, and a large number taken prisoners. A letter from an officer says that many substantial advantages have been gained, and that the whole army feels confident. A glorious result may be expected in a few days. He also says that the news from Pennsylvania is equally cheering.
A reconnoissance today shows that there are no Yankees in James River this side of the mouth of the Chickahominy.
Heavy rains have fallen here. The train from Staunton arrived this evening on the Fredericksburg road from the Junction, but brought no news of interest.
RICHMOND, June 30. — A report was brought here last night that SPEERS, with his 1200 cavalry, left the White House yesterday on another raid, taking the route through King William county.
The Winchester correspondent of the Whig writing on the 27th, reports that EWELL certainly holds Harrisburg. An officer, professing to be just from there, says that the people are very submissive. The report of the capture of Harrisburg needs confirmation; but the latest Philadelphia papers say that EWELL was within 24 miles of Harrisburg on the night of the 24th.
Gold has declined here one dollar from the highest rate recently demanded, in consequence of the increased amount offered for sale. The continued heavy rains of the last few days must have rendered the roads in the country bordering on the Chickahominy almost impassable.
Vice President STEPHENS is here.
The Ladies’ Gunboat Virginia was successfully snatched from the Navy Yard, opposite Rochett, yesterday afternoon. The flag of truce boat which was expected at City Point on Thursday has not yet been heard from.
The Latest. — We have no news by the Central or York trains today, except that the Yankees are still in force at the White House. It is reported that several hundred of the enemy were captured this morning in New Kent County. Four men from the Eastern Shore of Virginia reached the city this afternoon. They report that all the Yankee troops, excepting a few cavalry, have been withdrawn from Accomac and Northampton counties.
THE MOVEMENTS IN TENNESSEE.
A correspondent of the Atlanta Intelligencer, writing from Wartrace, June 25th, gives the following account of Wednesday battle. He says:
We are all on the tip-toe of expectation, anticipating a general battle today. The enemy yesterday endeavored to surprise us by making an advance in heavy force, notwithstanding a rain storm prevailed all day, by two columns of cavalry and infantry; one upon Hoover’s Gap, and the other upon Liberty Gap. Hoover’s Gap is twelve miles northeast from Wartrace, on the Manchester and Murfreesboro’ pike. The enemy’s cavalry, consisting of General Wilder’s Lightning Brigade, supported by a heavy column of infantry, drove in our pickets, capturing two of our signal stations beyond Hoover’s Gap, and at 2 p.m., was met by General Bates’ brigade when a severe engagement took place, which continued until dark. Seven regiments of the enemy were driven back with considerable slaughter — our artillery doing good execution. Our loss was also severe — a Georgia regiment, of Bates’ brigade, losing forty men killed and wounded. Capt. Claybrook, of 20th Tennessee, was mortally wounded. At Liberty Gap, which is six miles northwest of Bellbuckle, the latter place being about five miles north of Wartrace, our pickets were also driven in by the enemy, when their advance was checked by the gallant brigade of Brig. Gen. St. John Liddell, of Maj. Gen. Cleburn’s division, which soon became hotly engaged, Capt. Scott’s battery of artillery keeping up a destructive fire. The enemy attempted to flank us on the right, with a view of gaining our rear, which forced Gen. Liddell to fall back, two miles. Our loss was three killed, including Capt. Frisk, of the 5th Arkansas, and sixteen wounded, Capt. Osborn, of the 13th and 15th Arkansas. Capt. Helm, of the same regiment was reported missing. It is believed that Rosencranz is determined to bring on a general engagement, anticipating a reverse at Vicksburg, in order to prevent his being forced to fall back to Nashville.
A special despatch to the Appeal, dated Chattanooga, the 26th, says: Four hundred wounded arrived this evening from the front. Passengers report that in the fight on Thursday the enemy were driven back fine, and Liberty Gap and Guyse Gap retaken. They were also driven back from Bell Buckle station into Hoover’s Gap, but the enemy held the position. When the train left a general engagement was expected to take place today.
The Chattanooga Rebel of the 28th says: Our loss, so far, as we have been able to learn, was about one hundred killed and four or five hundred wounded. It is also reported that Major Claybrooke was not killed as was at first reported, though but little hopes of his recovery were entertained by his surgeon. Later information by private despatch, has been received; that our troops have also retaken Hoover’s Gap.
Knoxville papers of the 26th have been received. They contain some intelligence of the enemy’s movements after the unsuccessful attempt on Knoxville:
After being repulsed at this place, the Yankee raiders went up the line of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, tearing up the road and cutting the telegraph wires. As we then had no cavalry, except about 100, we could make no effective pursuit. But these hundred started after them to harass their rear, and damage them as much as possible.
The enemy burned a small bridge across Flat Creek, about two miles from town, and crossing the river two miles below Strawberry Plains, succeeded in dislodging our forces at that point after a short fight, in which no one was hurt on either side, and burned the bridge across the Holston at that place. This was a long and high bridge, and will take two or three months to rebuild it. At Strawberry Plains they burnt the store house of Mr. Frank Butler. They also set fire to and burned two or three dwellings.
From Strawberry Plains the Yankees went up to New Market and Mossy Creek, burning the depots at both places, and the bridge at the latter place. From this point they left the railroad, and started North to cross the river and make their escape through Powder Spring Gap by a road seven miles west of Rutledge. Near this point they were met by Colonel Scott, with three or four hundred cavalry. The Yankees were disencumbering themselves of their haversacks, guns, and tobacco, and were making their escape over Clinch Mountain as rapidly as their horses could carry them. It is also reported that General Pegram, with three or four hundred cavalry had crossed the river the same time the enemy did, at a point two miles from them, and had also caught up with them.
The Register of the 26th says: ‘A courier arrived in this city yesterday morning, bringing information that the Yankee raiders were safe across the mountains. They were so closely pursued by Colonel Scott that they burned their artillery carriages, and left the cannon and nearly all their baggage, but lost but few prisoners. They crossed on the evening of the 22d, at Childer’s Gap.