April 30, 1863, The New York Herald
The only news from General Hooker’s army, notwithstanding the reports of an advance movement, is the details of the splendid review of General Sickles’ corps by Mr. Seward, the Prussian and Swedish ministers and a number of other distinguished personages on Monday.
The raid of the rebels into Western Virginia has created an intense excitement all along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, especially at Wheeling. The enemy in strong force had advanced to within seven miles of Grafton, where Colonel Mulligan was in command. The President of the Baltimore and Wilmington Railroad states that only one train of empty cars was stopped by the rebels, and only one bridge – that near Oakland – was destroyed.
The recent defeat of the rebels at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was a very creditable affair for our troops. The forces of General Marmaduke, while retreating, were surprised by the Union troops in pursuit on Sunday night, and one entire regiment was cut off. All who were not either killed or wounded were made prisoners, and their camp equipage, guns, horses and plunder were taken from them. Generals Vandever and McNeil followed the rest of General Marmaduke’s army on the next day, pressing closely on their rear.
One day’s later news from New Orleans, by the Empire City, puts us in possession of the fact that General Banks had taken possession of the Opelousas Railroad, and he had communicated with Admiral Farragut above Port Hudson. He had captured a large number of rebels, also a large amount of stores, cotton and ammunition, from the rebels. About five hundred rebel prisoners were arriving daily at New Orleans when the Empire City sailed.
Some of the enemy’s cavalry showed themselves yesterday on the Manchester pike, near Murfreesboro, and for a time created panic, as an attack on Gen. Rosecrans was anticipated. The alarm proved unnecessary, however.
The Memphis Bulletin states that the Union troops made an attack on Tuscumbia on the night of the 28th, and the rebels were driven out. Our troops now occupy the place. Colonel Chalmers commanded the rebels, and General Dodge the Union troops. Our loss is put down at one hundred. The rebel communication by the Tuscumbia route is cut off by the occupation of that place.
By the arrival of the British steamer Sheldrake, from Havana, we have some information concerning the blockade runners. It appears that three vessels – two of them steamers – had arrived at Havana from Mobile, laden with cotton, on the 19th and 20th instant. The rebel sloop General Worth, also laden with cotton, from St. Mark, Florida, arrived there on the 22d instant. The schooners Three Brothers, Elvira, Laura Dudley and Eager, all rebel crafts, left Havana on the 20th for Matamoros.
Our latest news from Mexico is up to the 9th. The French were then in possession of nearly one-third of the city of Puebla, including the Cathedral and Plaza de Armes. The only fortified positions left the Mexicans were the forts of Guadalupe and Loretto, which are formidable works, and, it is said, command the city. General Forey had advanced a portion of his force to the bridge over Rio Pietro, the road to the city of Mexico, for the purpose of keeping General Comonfort in check. Our Havana correspondence today contains highly interesting details of the affair.