March 11, 1863, The New York Herald
The President has issued an important proclamation today on the matter of soldiers absent from their regiments without leave. He gives a few days’ grace to all such, up to the 1st of April, at which time all those who report themselves to the nearest headquarters, as designated by a previous order of the Secretary of War, will be restored to their respective regiments without punishment; but those who do not will be arrested as deserters and dealt with as the law directs. He warns evil disposed persons not to give aid to the rebellion by encouraging desertion, thus weakening the strength of the armies and exposing those troops in the field to additional danger. He calls upon all good citizens to assist in preventing disaffected parties from urging the desertion of soldiers and discouraging enlistments.
The recent reconnoissance of Colonel Dodge from Norfolk has proved an eminent success. He marched one hundred and ten miles, visiting Southfield, Chuckatuck and Blackwater bridge. He met the enemy at Windsor, near the latter point, drove in their advance upon the main body, then attacked them on the flanks and forced them to retire to the Blackwater. The fight lasted only forty minutes.
The news from Tennessee is important. A despatch from Nashville, dated Monday, says that the rebel Van Dorn’s forces have retreated south, and are reported to be across Duck river; that there are no rebels between Franklin and Columbia, and that all is quiet in Murfreesboro. A heavy rain had been falling all day and part of the previous night, causing a rise in the river. On the other hand a despatch yesterday from Cincinnati states that information has been specially received from Franklin, Tenn., to the effect that a large force of artillery, infantry and cavalry moved against the enemy posted at Spring Hill on Monday, and that if the rebels make a stand there will be a heavy engagement, as it is the determination that Coburn’s disaster at Thompson’s Station should be retrieved. Another telegram from Murfreesboro says a report reached there on Monday that Van Dorn’s rebel forces had been defeated, and the greater portion of them captured.
It is evident from all these reports that active operations are in progress in the west. General Rosecrans has given notice to all those persons whose natural supporters are in the rebel service, and whole sympathies and connections are such that they cannot give assurance of their loyalty, that they must hold themselves in readiness to go south of his lines within ten days.
The work on the canal at Vicksburg goes on well. The dredging machines are in full operation, and the laborers are going along briskly, notwithstanding that the rebels continue to throw shells at them from the batteries at Vicksburg.
By the arrival of the United States steamship Roanoke from Havana at this port yesterday, we receive information which would lead to the suspicion that the privateer Florida has been destroyed and such was the opinion prevailing at Havana. The American schooner Ocean Herald, which arrived at Havana on the 3d inst., from Portland, reported having seen the wreck of a steamer, painted black, on the Abaco, about twelve miles from the lighthouse. Only her stern and smoke stacks were discernible. On the same day the captain picked up two water casks, painted yellow, with black hoops. Nothing had been heard of the Florida since the Sonoma chased her, in a gale, one hundred and thirty-five miles from Abaco. Although the Florida was of a white color originally, it appears that when the Sonoma chased her she had been painted black.
The United States steamer Vanderbilt sailed from St. Thomas on the 23d ult. on a cruise. The United States gunboat Alabama ran into Martinique about the same time. There were no rebel pirates at either of those ports at that time.
We give some very interesting particulars today of the recent destruction, by the Florida, of the ship Jacob Bell, from China to New York, with a valuable cargo.
A Bermuda paper of the 25th ult. notices the arrival at St. George of the neutral British steamer Cornubia, from Wilmington, N.C., with a cargo of cotton and tobacco. The Cornubia reports having been hotly chased by four of the Union blockading fleet, but escaped by superior fleetness.
We have dates from New Orleans to the 1st of March and from Havana to the 5th by the same steamer. From the former place there is nothing of importance. No Union or rebel movements in the army or navy are reported. The news from Havana is more interesting, as our correspondence contains several new facts concerning the progress of French arms in Mexico and the approaching denouement of the siege of Puebla. From the New Orleans Era we take some particulars, supplied by an American captain, on which it would not be safe altogether to rely, as his information must have been obtained through third parties, subject, as a consequence, to great exaggerations on one side or the other. The news, however, on the whole, will be read with interest.