Southern News

NEW YORK, May 13.

The advance of the iron-clad gunboat Galena, up the James river, created the utmost consternation in Petersburg.  The fact that she had silenced the rebel batteries at Dog’s Point, and was approaching Petersburg, caused a complete panic there.

The Petersburg Express, of the 9th, says there is a rumor that the Yankees were landing forces at Burwell’s Bay, or Smithfield, and their intention will be doubtless to march across the country, a distance of some 18 or 20 miles, and take possession of Suffolk.  This rumor lacks confirmation.

The Lynchburg Virginian, May 8th, says Jackson was still at Staunton at last accounts.  A report was brought here by an officer of the 18th Miss. Regiment that a detachment constituting the advance corps of Buell’s army at Swift Run Gap had been driven in by the enemy, and that a battle was impending.  We received intelligence yesterday to the effect that our troops were falling back from Greenbrier to Bonsack’s Depot, in Roanoke Co.

The Allentown Confederacy, May 4th, says:  The indications point strongly to a battle coming off at Corinth at an early day, which for magnitude, will eclipse any that has transpired in America.  Our judgment is, that the Yankees have nearly 150,000 men.  Beauregard is well nigh flanked, on all sides.  He has an immense army, but not so large as the enemy’s.  It were idle to conceal the fact that we have some fears for the result.  There is such a thing as being utterly overwhelmed by numbers, against which we can provide no remedy.

CINCINNATI, May 13.

The Commercial has the following Southern news:

The Memphis Avalanche of the 6th says, “Telegraphic news from Richmond is painfully significant.  McClellan seems to have been preparing the same fate for Richmond that Butler and Porter got up for New Orleans.”  The Avalanche of same date says, of affairs in New Orleans, “Mayor Monroe and all the alderman have been arrested and on refusing to take the oath were sent to prison.

“Great distress prevails in the city.  Food of all kinds is extremely scarce; flour not to be had at any price.  There is more of the federal force yet to be landed and the river is full of federal gunboats, mortars and transports.”

“The Congressional stampede from Richmond had a very depressing effect, and it is believed it foreshadowed the early evacuation of Virginia.

“The Policy of evacuating is nearly played out.  We have but precious little more territory that we can spare.”

The Memphis Argus says the confederate loss at Shiloh, was seven thousand killed and wounded.

The same paper in an article on gunboats says: “Thus far it must be confessed our attempts with gunboats on the river have been a disgusting fizzle.  People know it! so does the government.”

The correspondent of the Memphis Avalanche says, thirty-three per cent of Bishop Polk’s army was killed and wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.

The same paper of the 7th, says: “We have advices from New Orleans up to Saturday, at 11 A. M.”

Gen. Butler has taken the St. Charles hotel for his headquarters.

The Evans House on Poydras street has been converted into a hospital.

The Jackson railroad depot was taken possession of on Saturday morning.

Federal pickets have been extended out as far as the crossing of the Jefferson and Jackson railroads.

Four gunboats and one transport started for Baton Rouge Saturday morning.

Seven federal regiments had been landed at New Orleans.

All the newspapers in New Orleans are still published there, though a federal censor is placed over every office to examine all matter and exclude whatever may prove inimical to the federal cause.

The proclamation of General Butler was handed in at all the offices and refused. – When the guard came to the True Delta office and were refuse, they took possession and sent for northern printers, who set it up and worked it off in the edition.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 14, 1862, p. 1