March 16, 1863, The New York Herald
The intelligence from the Southwest today is full of interest. General Tuttle received a despatch at Cairo yesterday from Fort Donelson, stating that our cavalry […..] twenty-eight miles of the fort. The country people for miles around were coming in with various reports. The rebels are reported to be well armed. Our forces are ready for any emergency.
The capture of a portion of the rebel Colonel Richardson guerillas near Covington, Tenn., is confirmed. It is also stated that Colonel Lee surprised the Camp of General Looney at Wesley, and took himself, a number of his officers and a large portion of his men prisoners.
Great apprehensions exist in Louisville among military circles that a formidable invasion of Kentucky, with a view to the permanent occupancy of that State by the rebels, is imminent.
General Wright has prohibited the sale of arms and ammunition, except in Cincinnati, upon special permit. Any violation will be followed by confiscation of goods and seizure of the stock of the vender.
The destruction of the gunboat Indianola by the rebels after her capture appears to be confirmed. Admiral Porter telegraphs to Mr. Welles that the appearance of his bogus […..] monster” in the vicinity of the Indianola caused the enemy to blow her up, lest she should be captured by the […..]” coal barge. The Vicksburg Whig tells the same story, admitting that, although orders had been sent countermanding the previous one to destroy the Indianola when the character of Porter’s dummy was discovered, they arrived too late, and the vessel was blown to atoms, without even saving a gun.
The river at Vicksburg is very high. The back water has broken the levee, filling the canal and arresting the work upon it. At Memphis the river was within fourteen inches of high water mark and continues rising.
By the arrival of the Arago from Port Royal yesterday we have some interesting news. Gen. Naglee, of Gen. Foster’s corps, arrived on her. Before leaving Port Royal he was the recipient of several most affectionate farewells from the officers of his own and other divisions. His departure appeared to create universal regret, but the unfortunate difficulties between Gens. Hunter and Foster rendered his visit to the North indispensable. No movement of troops in the direction of Charleston or Savannah was made up to the 11th inst.
Governor Cannon, of Delaware, has just issued an important proclamation on the subject of […..] arrests,” ignoring State rights altogether, and placing the federal above them. The proclamation is called forth by the passage of an act in the Assembly to prevent illegal arrests in that State, and the Governor says:– “I enjoin upon the good people of this State that they hold true allegiance to the government of the United States as paramount to the State of Delaware, and that they obey the constitutional authorities thereof before the Legislature of the State of Delaware or any other human authority whatsoever.”