Monday, October 12, 2009

The Latest News

The accounts of the battle near Corinth are still contradictory. Some statements indicate a severe battle on Tuesday, but the most reliable accounts refer to the battles on Sunday and Monday. That of Sunday was a complete triumph. The battle on Monday, though severe, was less decisive. Both armies seem to have been worsted, and a truce for three days to bury their dead was agreed upon. The following statement from Hon. Mr. Tibbs of the House of Representatives, who reached Richmond on Saturday last, appears to be the latest, which we take from the Richmond Dispatch. The Dispatch says:

“His reports of the glorious victory at Shiloh are the most gratifying that we have read or heard – He States confidently that the number of prisoners taken is not less than 7,600, and the enemy’s loss in the battles of Sunday and Monday, in killed and wounded, by their own admission, reaches 15,000. Mr. T. also states that nearly the whole of the ammunition and stores captured by our army on Sunday, and which Gen. Beauregard had to leave behind him when he retired to Corinth, had been saved by the gallant and indefatigable Morgan, whose very name is a terror to the enemy in the Southwest.

Other rumors state that the whole loss of the enemy in the two days fight was near 23,000. The confederate loss about 4 or 5,000. Perhaps it is safest to wait official reports.

The reported evacuation or surrender of Island No. 10, is not confirmed by the last accounts. One of the enemy’s gun boats which passed the Island is said to be at New Madrid. It was not taken as last as the night of the 7th.

The surrender of Fort Pulaski is certain. Five Confederate companies were in the Fort, commanded by Col. Olmstead. He sent a verbal message to Savannah, saying that the garrison had done all that men could do. About 1,000 large shells were thrown into the Fort by the enemy. The enemy must take Fort Jackson and other strong batteries before reaching Savannah. It is supposed that our forces will destroy Savannah before giving it up to the enemy.

A large force of Federal cavalry is said to have taken possession of Huntsville, Ala., on the 11th.

At Atlanta, Ga., it is said that an engine and three cars had been stolen from the Western and Atlantic Road, and they were afterwards found in the possession of eight bridge burners, where were sent by the federals from Shelbyville to burn the bridges and cut the telegraph wires. They were captured.

The Merrimac went out on Saturday again and challenged the enemy, but the Monitor did not move from her safe position. Some suppose that she lies close, hoping that the Merrimac will attempt to pass Fortress Monroe, when she will run in and burn Norfolk and the Navy Yard.

The Petersburg Express learns from passengers that Gen. Magruder attacked the Federals on Saturday morning last, at the point where they were throwing up entrenchments near our lines, and the engagement lasted several hours. He succeeded in driving the enemy from his position. It is said that three of our regiments sustained considerable loss in killed and wounded, and the Yankees are thought to have suffered severely. The statement is not entitled to full credit, as no such intelligence is confirmed by the Richmond papers.

It is said that two of the brigs captured by our fleet on Friday in Hampton Roads was loaded with hay and the third with sugar and molasses.

– Published in The North Carolina Weekly Standard, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 16, 1862, p. 3

No comments: