March 10, 1863, The New York Herald
The rebels, under Captain Mosely, made an attack on Fairfax Court House yesterday morning, about two o’clock, capturing General H. Stoughton, who was in command there, together with all the men detached from his brigade, 110 horses, and the patrols of the Provost Marshal. He entered the place during a violent rainstorm, and took the headquarters of the General completely by surprise. An orderly who escaped and returned to Fairfax states that the enemy were retreating, with our cavalry in close pursuit, and that they were running so hastily for their lives that they abandoned thirty of the prisoners they had previously captured.
Our news today from Tennessee is important. An attack was made by a division of our cavalry, under General Minty, upon the rebel cavalry of General Russell, at Unionville, ten miles from Murfreesboro, on the 7th inst., in which the enemy lost fifty killed, 180 wounded, and all their camp equipage and a number of horses and mules captured.
In the late fight at Thompson’s Station, near Franklin, in which the infantry under Col. Coburn were captured, it is said that our troops fought splendidly while their ammunition lasted; but they only numbered 3,000, while Van Dorn had from 10,000 to 12,000 men in the action. The rebels admit a loss of 180 killed and 400 wounded. Our loss was over 1,000 killed, wounded and captured. Col. Coburn is now in the hands of the enemy.
Our news from Vicksburg, via Cincinnati, represents affairs at the former place in a hopeful aspect. One gunboat had nearly reached Yazoo City through the Pass. The canal at Lake Providence was nearly ready. It was thought that the rebel transports would come out of White river and offer battle.
With respect to the attack by our troops on those of the rebel General Van Dorn a Tuscumbia, Ala., on the 22d ult., a despatch from Jackson, Tenn., states that the expedition was entirely successful, capturing two hundred prisoners, two hundred horses, one piece of artillery and a large train. Our forces also took possession of the town of Tuscumbia, with stores, arms, &c. Our loss was several men. Reports of other fights with the same force have been received, but are not yet confirmed. They are given as favorable to us. The troops sent on this expedition were from Corinth, and subject to the orders of Gen. Dodge.
With regard to the rumors of the destruction of the captured gunboat Indianola, which the Richmond papers declared had been blown up by the rebels, we have the official report of the rebel General Stephenson to General Cooper, which states that she has not been destroyed, but that they were then (March 5) raising her; that one eleven inch gun had burst, but that the others were uninjured.
The Richmond Enquirer while anticipating an early advance of General Banks’ forces on Port Hudson, says that his army numbers 30,000 men, but that the General himself is opposed to the attack being made, but that he is controlled by the War Department.
Major General Gustavus W. Smith and General Robert Toombs have resigned their commands in the rebel army, the former because of some difficulty with Jeff. Davis; the latter for some cause not stated. General Longstreet succeeds General Smith.
By an arrival from Nassau, N.P., yesterday, we learn that the privateer Retribution was at anchor there for several days previous to the 28h ult., and that her officers were stopping at the Royal Victoria Hotel openly discussing the exploits of the pirate. Three iron steamers belonging to the Anglo-rebel piratical fleet arrived there on the 27th, a valuable addition to those already afloat in our waters.
A collision between the citizens of Utah and the government authorities appears imminent from last accounts. The Governor, Harding, and the Associate Justices, it appears, have called upon Colonel Conner, the military commandant, to arrest Brigham Young and Brothers Kimball and Wells. The Mormons are in arms to resist the arrest by military force. Appeals have been made to General Wright to restrain Colonel Conner in his design upon the Mormon chiefs.