Tuesday, September 3, 2013

From Halleck’s Army

CAIRO, May 8.

No engagement had occurred at Corinth up to yesterday noon.  The army was still gradually advancing, and our forces were at an average distance of three miles from the enemy’s advance.  The enemy were acting strictly on the defensive, and for three days had sent out no reconnoitering parties.  The advanced lines of the rebel army have thus far slowly retired from the advancing movements of the different divisions.  Indications point strongly to the belief that Corinth has really been evacuated.

The roads are in bad condition owning to a late fall of rain.

It was reported that three brigades from Buell’s army had seized that part of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad which lies midway between Corinth and Grand Junction, thus cutting off communication between the two points.  It is also reported that a detachment of Pope’s army has seized upon the railroad south of Corinth.  It is highly probably that these two achievements have been performed.

Every steamer that arrives brings reports of the evacuation of Corinth.

The steamer Desoto reached here to-day from Fort Pillow, but brought no later news than that already telegraphed.

A rebel spy had been captured while endeavoring to cross the Mississippi at night in a skiff.  He had copies of the Chicago Times of the 4th inst., St. Louis Republican of the 5th inst., and N. Y. Times of the 1st.  He was arrested and placed in close confinement.

The steamer Sam Gaty passed her to-day en route for Pittsburg, with a number of physicians, nurses, and a large quantity of hospital supplies on board.  She has on board nearly four hundred sick soldiers, who are to be taken to St. Louis.

The railroad track between here and Mound City is being repaired so that the trains will run regularly.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

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