Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: between January 25, 1865 & February 4, 1865

About the twenty-fifth of January, Major Johnson, with his detachment, leaves Bonniventure, and joins the regiment at Fort Brown. Receiving marching orders, General Corse, with his division, who were now isolated and alone from the corps, leaves Savannah, marching up the Savannah river as far as Sister's Ferry, where we find Gen. Slocum struggling with the floods. We remain here until the fourth of February.

SOURCE: abstracted from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 293

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Wednesday, August 21, 1861

McNairy moved his battalion from Camp Schuyler, about thirty miles north, to Huntsville, the county seat of Scott County. This was the day of the noted “Big August" freshet. It rained so much that our wagon train did not get to Huntsville until next day. We took shelter in the court-house.

Companies A and D were detached on the 25th und sent back to Camp Schuyler.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 37

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, August 27, 1861

 The writer and a few others were sent to a gap in the mountain, about twelve miles north of Huntsville and within three miles of the Kentucky line, to watch for a Federal paymaster whom Madame Rumor had said would pass through that section. We had only been stationed a few hours, however, when Colonel McNairy, having received orders to move to Jamestown the next day, sent for us to return to camp immediately, though, on account of rain and high water, we remained at Huntsville three days longer.

Scott was rather a poor county, and as the people were mostly “Union,” they were not willing to divide rations with “Rebs”; therefore we suffered more for want of rations while at Huntsville than anywhere else during the war, while in camp.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 37

Diary of Judith W. McGuire: October 11, 1861

Every thing apparently quiet, and we, in the absence of bad news, are surrounded by a most peaceful and pleasant atmosphere. Our communication with the outer world cut off by the freshet in the Shenandoah, so that we had no mail yesterday. Mr.____ has gone to Richmond on business. He wrote from Culpeper Court House, at which place he stopped to see J., a most pleasing account of the hospitals, and the care taken of the sick.

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 68

Later From California

The Rains continue -- Water again Rising.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1. – During the past thirty hours it has rained hard almost incessantly.  The storm still continues.  Yesterday noon the water at Sacramento commenced rising in, and a complete inundation of that city is unavoidable.  The area of land now overflowed in the State is 20 miles broad and 250 long, covering upwards of three millions acres, mostly arable land, a considerable portion being fenced and tilled.

It is estimated that forty five hundred cattle and sheep have been drowned since winter commenced.

The unprecedented succession of tremendous storms have washed the mining regions, where the ground was previously upturned and dug over, producing great changes, rendering a probable increase of gold product, from the placer diggings during the ensuing season.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan 23. – Delegates assembled at Great Salt Lake City Jan. 22d and drew up a State Constitution, to be submitted to Congress.  Utah demands admission into the Union.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

The Great Flood In California

Immense Destruction of Property – Damage $10,000,000.

The Pacific slope has been visited by the most disastrous flood that has occurred since its settlement by white men.  From Sacramento northward to the Columbia River, in California, Nevada Territory and Oregon, all the streams have risen to a great height – flooded the valleys, inundated towns, swept away mills, dams, flumes, houses, fences, domestic animals, ruined fields and effected damage, estimated at $10,000,000.  All Sacramento City, save a small part of one street, part of Marysville, part of Santa Rosa, part of Auburn, part of Sonora, part of Nevada, and part of Napa not to speak of less important towns were under water.

The rainy season commenced on the 8th of November and for four weeks, with scarcely any intermission the rain continued to fall very gently in San Francisco but in heavy showers in the interior.  According to the statement of a Grass Valley paper nine inches of rain fell there in thirty six hours on the 7th and 8th instant.

Sacramento City was the chief sufferer. – The city stands at the junction of the Sacramento and American Rivers, on the eastern bank of the former and the southern bank of the latter.  The valley there is wide and flat.  Form the foot of the Sierra Nevada at Folsom, to the base of the coast range near Fairfield, the plain is about 10 miles wide.  The original site of the city was sixteen feet above low water mark and the river rose 17 or 18 feet above nearly every year.

A railroad connects Sacramento and Folsom both on the southern bank of the American River and twenty miles apart.  The railroad enters the Capital city about two miles north of the American River on a high embankment.  The water ran against the levee and then down to the railroad embankment, and unable to go further it heaped itself against these two barriers until it rose above the levee and began to pour in.  Soon the soft earth gave way and the vast body of water poured into the city and flooded every part of it except a small portion of Front street.  The levee which had been built to protect the city now was the cause of great injury for instead of keeping the water out it kept it in.  The flood entered at the east, where the land is high and if the levee had not been in the way the water would have run off without touching the business part of the city.  The Sacramento River was much lower, its flood had not time to come down so there was abundant room for the water of the American to spread out when it should reach Sacramento River.  But the levee dammed the water in and it very soon was ten feet higher inside than the levee of the Sacramento river on the outside.  In some places the water was fifteen feet deep, in others ten, in others three.  The greater part of the most fashionable houses had from three to six feet of water in the parlors.  In many of the houses the line of the flood is visible on the plastering in the second story.  Dozens of wooden houses, some of them two stories high were lifted up and carried off.  The destruction of property was terrible.  The water came so rapidly that most people had not more than an hour’s warning of the danger.  Most persons living in two story houses carried their furniture and cooking utensils and provisions upstairs, those who lived in one story houses ran for their lives.  And when the water filled the city there was no boats.  Men, women and children had stayed in houses thinking there was no danger and when the flood rose they could not get away. – Some of these houses were carried off and boats were sent after them to rescue the human freight.  All the firewood most of the fences and sheds, all the poultry, cats, rats, and many of the cows and horses were swept away.

The Union of the 18th says:

The water had so far receded from the western part of the city yesterday afternoon that the inundated portion was limited to the section lying between Third and Seventh and south of M Street.  On all the adjoining streets the late occupants of houses were busily engaged in cleaning out and fixing up those of their houses which can be made inhabitable again.  The scene presented is one of confusion and desolation.  Some of the houses are turned partially around, some are broken and shattered, and all are covered inside and outside up to the high water mark with mud – mud of the worst kind – of a soft slippery greasy character which it required a great deal of labor to get rid of.  The streets were strewn with fences, doors, shutters, lumber, cord wood, broken furniture, dead horses and lifeless cows and hogs.  Fruit trees and shrubbery are greatly injured if not utterly destroyed.  Boats of various sizes are still actively engaged in the water picking up whatever is worth taking possession of.  Many families are evidently preparing to go into their houses in a few days.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 3

State Items

Great swells are reported in all the Iowa rivers.  A number of small bridges, and portions of dams have been carried away, playing mischief with telegraph poles.

A correspondent of the Waterloo Courier says that a number of Tennesseeans have joined the Iowa 12^th regiment at Savannah.

By the recent act passed by the Legislature, the Governor is authorized to appoint one assistant surgeon for each regiment now in service from this State.  The surgeons are also authorized to employ nurses to take care of the wounded.

William Geyer, of Brooklyn, met with a fatal accident in a saw mill at that place on the 1^st inst.  He was caught by the circular saw, mangling his leg frightfully, and cutting through the hip-joint, end entirely destroying about 3 inches of the bone.  He lived about forty-eight hours.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 11, 1862, p. 2

From Cairo

CAIRO, April 24.

Previous to the commencement of the war the daily receipt of letters at Cairo post office did not exceed 2,000. Now the number received averages about 75,000 per day. This enormous increase in business constitutes this office the third in the Union though the Department has not yet recognized its position by a relative increase of the clerical force of the office. In order to dispose of this vast amount of business the post master has requested that all post masters sending letters for soldiers put them in a separate package, endorsed “Soldier’s letters, Cairo D. P. O.” which will ensure a more speedy distribution and delivery. Unless this request is complied with letters are liable to a detention of one day.


Special to the Chicago Tribune.

The rise in the Tennessee river has reached us. Last night the Ohio increased in volume one inch, and it is still rising. Dispatches received from the Cumberland represent that the river is rapidly rising. From Pittsburg we learn that the Ohio rose 14 feet on Tuesday, and from different points along the river the flood is equally potent. The immense country to the rear of us between Cairo and Mound City is inundated so that the large volume of water in the upper river effects us slightly.

There are said to be 8,000 rebel troops in the rear of Chickasaw Bluffs and at Randolph.

Gen. Bragg has transferred the command of Fort Pillow to Gen. Price.

From Pittsburg I have the intelligence of a skirmish with the enemy, in which Gen. Granger, with 500 cavalry, a portion of the recent reinforcements sent up the Tennessee participated. About two miles from our pickets they came in contact with the rebel pickets, and drove them in and encountered a strong force of rebel Cavalry, which they engaged. After fighting briskly for an hour both sides retired with inconsiderable loss. This happed on Wednesday.

There has been no attempt to move the main body of the army. The embargo laid upon our movements by the rain and mud still continues. When the advance will take place is a matter of conjecture.

Gen. Grant and his conduct during the terrible days of peril, is still the subject of criticism, and I am told that charges are being daily prepared against him for incompetency and recklessness. Gen. Halleck pays no attention to the charges, but leaves the investigation of the whole affair to Congress.

A gentleman from Northern Tennessee, whose Unionism is unquestioned, says that the whole community below him is full of wounded soldiers and fugitives from the battle of Pittsburg.

The returned rebels say that after the arrival of Buell’s troops on Sunday, and the attack on Monday, Beauregard made a spirited appeal to his men, acknowledging the arrival of the Federal reinforcements, but said the armies of Price and Van Dorn were on the way and would arrive before nightfall. Subsequently he brought from the rear a portion of his own force, representing them as the expected arrivals. After the final route the enemy became very much demoralized, and ran the fifteen miles intervening between the battle-field and Corinth in three hours. The panic and flight of our soldiers at Bull Run was nothing compared with it. On arriving at Corinth they found the town deserted, and left immediately for Tennessee without [illegible: let] or hindrance.

There is a bitter feeling between the Mississippi and Tennessee remaining regiments, in consequence of the former dubbing the Tennesseeans cowards, and not recognizing their social equality. He says the latter will not fight in the coming battle

The Federals have nearly surrounded them, and they consider their case nearly settled as soon as the capture of Fort Pillow and Memphis shall be accomplished.

The Mississippi flood is seriously endangering the products and property below, and Gen. Strong, with an energy highly commendable and which might be properly imitated in other quarters has sent several steamers to secure it.

A try-weekly packet is now running between Cairo and Tiptonville, carrying the mails and passengers. This experiment, in reviving commercial intercourse with the rebel States, is likely to prove successful.

The entire track of the Cairo and Fulton RR., between Birds Point and Charleston is washed away and destroyed. Superintendent Arthur, of the I. C. RR., and President Osborne, passed over the track in a hand cart from Cacha river, this morning. They say the track is covered with water to a depth of two feet. There is no immediate prospect of the resumption of railroad communication with the rest of the world.

The steamer Bee, from Fort Pillow at 4 o’clock yesterday, reports no change in the condition of affairs. The mortars fired regularly every half hour. The gunboats are quite. The rebel batteries do not reply.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 2

From Fort Wright

Special to the Democrat.

GUNBOAT FLOTILLA, April 23.

All quiet here if we except two mortar boats remaining in position, which occasionally throw shells over at the fort. The rebels have not replied to-day. None of their gunboats can be seen. The weather is fair. The flood has overrun all the plantations and houses along the river, and great distress prevails among the inhabitants along the banks, some of whom would give all they possess to have their families removed from their houses, which the water threatens to carry down the river.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 1

From Cairo

(Special to the Chicago Journal.)

CHICAGO, April 25.

The steamers Choctaw, and Belle Memphis arrived last evening at 9 o’clock, which left Pittsburg Landing early on Thursday morning. They were fired into 35 miles below Pittsburg by a band of guerillas from behind their dwellings on the left bank of the Tennessee. The Choctaw received 7 shots and her mate killed. The [Belle] Memphis received 12 shots, mortally wounding a negro boy who was blacking boots. In the mate’s room near the pilot, one ball entered the keyhole of the pilot house door lock. The guerillas fired at the house to draw our men out on deck.

The roads at Shiloh are reported improving. Skirmishing between pickets continues. Our army goes forward in a solid column.

The water has risen nearly two inches since yesterday noon, and still rising rapidly. Inundation seems imminent. Lower Mississippi fearfully overflowed, causing the greatest loss of property ever known there by flood.

It is determined soon to evacuate Mound City Hospital. The inmates are to be removed to other points, were ample accommodations are being provided.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 26, 1862, p. 1

Traveling Correspondence

ON BOARD TRANSPORT NEBRASKA,
CAIRO, April 18, 1862

EDITOR GAZETTE:– Having arrived here at noon to-day from St. Louis, I immediately began to make arrangements to move down the river to the “Pope’s” territory, and had begun to think it somewhat doubtful about securing a passage that way, owing to the scarcity of boats about here and the uncertainty of getting a pass form the commanding General here; when all at once my doubts were dispelled by the giant steamer Nebraska, of Memphis, heaving to from up the river and on her way down to New Madrid; wherever it might be. In less than one hour after I landed here, I was on board her with my passage secured and ready for exploit. The water is entirely too high here to make it interesting to write anything adescriptive [sic] about Cairo or its surroundings, but suffice it to say that in the way of mud and that of the most disagreeable quality and the different style of odors, that about here, certainly places this city far ahead of its illustrious predecessor on the banks of the muddy Nile.

The river here is from ten to fifteen feet above the level of the city, and in some places along the levee it looks as if a foot and a half more rise would flood the city, and the water seaps through now so fast that the pump engine has to run day and night to keep it off the sidewalks. As for the barracks over at Fort Holt and Bird’s Point, the tops of them are just visible. – One of the old Mayors of St. Louis, who has lived there for the last thirteen years told your correspondent that this is the first time he ever saw the Mississippi so high in April.

Ever since I left St. Louis I have had painful evidence of the late terrible conflict at Pittsburg. On our way down last night our boat tied up during a storm beside the John J. Roe, on which were some two or three hundred of the poor mangled fellows. I soon found some of the 6th Iowa [boys], and was not a little surprised to find among them my old friend, Lieut. Jo. Halladay, of Burlington, badly wounded in the thigh, and several other Burlington boys. Here at Cairo, about every fifth solder we meet is limping on a crutch or carrying his arm in a sling.

This evening, at the St. Charles Hotel, I had a very interesting talk with Dr. Edwards of Dubuque, surgeon of the Iowa 3d. He had just come down from the battle ground, having left there last evening. He relates a great many incidents about the great battle. He was glowing in his praises of the valor and heroic bravery of the officers of the Iowa regiments and their men, that were in his division. He speaks especially height of Lt. Col. Add. Sanders, who, he says, was always in the hottest part of the fight. While the Dr. was performing an operation, he heard some one coming in the room gaily singing “Old Bob Ridley,” and on looking around he saw Capt. Littler with his shattered arm, who remarked to the Dr. with inimitable sang froid, that he wanted his arm taken off instantly. The Dr. dressed it, and says if he could have had a chance to attend it he could have saved it.

10 P. M. – There has been an entire change in the programme since writing the foregoing, caused by the appearance of Gen. Pope and staff on board the Crescent City, which has just steamed up at our side. He is on his way up the Tennessee to join Gen. Halleck. His whole command are on their way up the river, and already four or five transports loaded with troops are lying around us. I have just been aboard the Crescent City and had a first view of the man who is so good at playing the bag game with all it variations. Our boat, loaded with commissary stores, will start in one hour, with the fleet, for Gen. Halleck’s army, and my destination, instead of being Memphis via No. 10, New Madrid and Fort Pillow, will be Memphis via Gen. Halleck’s army and Corinth, and it is not probable that we will reach there before you receive to or more communications from your correspondent,

GAMBIER.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 25, 1862, p. 2

The Freshet

BOSTON, April 22.

Advices from the interior report that the freshet has reached its height, and the waters are now receding. Railroad travel is assuming regularity.


HARTFORD, Ct., April 22.

The river is rapidly falling, after having reached a height lacking only 14 inches of the great flood of 1854. Trains are now running regularly through to Springfield.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862, p. 1

From St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, April 22.

Henry L. Kout, on of the parties indicted by the grand jury of the U. S. Circuit Court in this city, for conspiracy and treason, has been released from custody by order of the President.

The difficulty at the culvert of the O. & M. RR., in East St. Louis, has terminated. No effort was made to interfere with the military guard left there. It is believed the opening of the culvert will inflict less injury that was at first supposed.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862, p. 1

From Cairo

Times’ Special.

CAIRO, April 21

The Ohio and Mississippi rivers at this point are still gradually rising. Should a heavy wind arise the levee would be broken, and the town be flooded, in which event the citizens and government could scarcely escape a great loss of life and property. Fears were generally prevalent last evening that the levee could not long withstand the flood, and there was a general stampede to Mound City and other places of refuge. Yet the night passed and without the recurrence of the calamity of 1857.

The waters were slowly ebbing over some portions of the levee Sunday evening, when Gen. Strong, who is ever efficient amid a multiplied diversity of army cares, ordered out a force of men, who raised the levee and prevented the disaster so imminent.

The hospital steamer City of Memphis reached here this morning from New Madrid. She had on board 515 sick soldiers from the army of Gen. Pope. Among them were a number who have been discharged from the service on account of incurable maladies and physical inability. The hospital steamer has left for Evansville, Ind., where the patients are to be removed to more comfortable quarters in the hospital at that place.

Capt. Polk, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Pittsburgh, is among the sick, being wounded in both legs. He is the nephew of President Polk, and served in the battle as captain of a rebel battery from Memphis.

A large number of soldiers have passed this place on transports from St. Louis during the last two days, and are now on their way to reinforce Gen. Halleck.

The unprecedented rise of water in the Ohio, besides interfering with railroad operations at this place, has also carried away the telegraph poles, cutting us off from telegraphic communication with the North and East.

On Saturday last the Adam’s Express from this place was used to the exclusion of all other business, and in transmitting money packages from soldiers to their families. – Over $170,000 were sent away.

The postoffice [sic] at this place has been undergoing a thorough examination, under the supervision of Asst. P. M. Armstrong, of Chicago. When he came here he found upwards of 70,000 letters awaiting transmission. These have been hurried forward and no accumulation of letters is now permitted. An additional clerical force has been supplied, and the office si now fully equal to the enormous business required of it. All the letters from the army in Tennessee pass through here. An idea of the great number of letters mailed at the Caro office may be obtained from the fact, that one mail from our army brought from 75,000 to 100,000 letters.

There are no items from New Madrid or guerilla, Jeff. Thompson.

Major Steward, of Gen. McClernand’s staff, heretofore reported killed, proves only to have been wounded and is now at Savannah, where he is doing well.

News from the flotilla off Ft. Pillow unimportant. Affairs there remain in statu quo as previously telegraphed. The mortar boats throw occasional shots, and the rebels respond at irregular intervals. It seems to be no part of the programme to fully invest the stronghold until the battle at Corinth has transpired.

It is reported that the rebels are fortifying Ft. Randolph in the strongest manner, and that a large force of negroes is engaged in throwing up entrenchments. This is hardly probably, from the fact the Randolph was originally the strongest fortified place between Columbus and Memphis.

The Steamer Mussleman arrived to-day from Pittsburg landing, having left that place Saturday evening. She brings no news of special importance, but a passenger reports that the Tennessee has again commenced rising [rapidly], and that the roads in the vicinity of Pittsburg are in wretched condition, by reason of the late fall of rain.

Forage can only be distributed by being hung on the backs of mules, and the army wagons are stuck fast in the mud.

In view of the present condition of the roads around Pittsburg, it is fair to infer that the great battle which has been momentarily expected the last week, will not transpire in at least a week to come.

Our army at Pittsburg is in excellent fighting condition. The regiments that were so frightfully decimated at the lat contest are being reorganized, and, thanks to the activity of Gen. Halleck, every division, brigade, regiment and company is prepared to meet the enemy with an unbroken front.

Our scouts penetrate directly to the enemy’s lines and bring back intelligence. – Beauregard, who is chief in command, is actively engaged in throwing up entrenchments along his whole line, planting batteries and preparing for a systematic defence. Their intelligence may be deemed reliable, inasmuch as the statements of scouts are corroborated by those of deserters.

It is thought that the rebels will act merely on the defensive, and that the aggressive attack will be made by Halleck and that too at an early day as possible. It is known Beauregard has been greatly reinforced, and that forced levies of troops are continually swelling his ranks.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 2

High Water in Connecticut

SPRINGFIELD, April 21.

The freshet in the Connecticut river at this point is the greatest ever known. At 9 o’clock this evening the water had fallen 15 inches, and is still receding slowly. At Northampton the water is two feet higher that ever before. At Hadley there is no land to be seen, and the inhabitants go from house to house in boats.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 2

Heavy Freshets in Canada

MONTREAL, April 21.

There are heavy freshets prevailing throughout Canada. Many villages are flooded, and there has been great destruction of property. The locks and dams near Ottawa are in danger. The western trains have been intercepted for the last three days. The road is washed out near Cornwall, but is expected to be right to-day.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 2

Riot in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, April 21.

A riot occurred at East St. Louis Saturday night, in which three men were injured. In consequence of the high water in the river, the inhabitants stopped up the culvert on the Ohio & M. RR., to prevent the town being submerged. The road master, learning the track would be washed away, proceeded with track hands to remove the obstructions. They were met by a crowd who ordered them off. The matter was referred to the Provost Marshal, who sent over a guard of sixty men to quell the disturbance, and protect the railroad men. They found 75 or 100 men assembled to prevent the removal of the obstructions. The crowd was ordered to go away, but refused. The guards advanced, when several shot[s] were fired at them, but no one was injured. The guard then charged bayonets into the crowd, and three men were injured, one seriously.

Yesterday, Col. Parsons and Mr. Bacon, President of the road, went over to examine into the matter. They decided to allow the obstructions to remain, as their removal involved the destruction of a vast amount of property.

It is doubtful whether the road embankments will prevent the town from being submerged, as the road is nearly overflowed in several places.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 2

PITTSBURG, April 22 [1862]

The river is 23 feet by the pier marks and rising, and raining all day.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 1

Special to the Chicago Tribune

CAIRO, April 19.

When Gen. Mitchell reached Decatur, in his late bridge-burning expedition, he took possession of the telegraph office and cut the wires, leaving Decatur and Corinth only in telegraphic communication. Beauregard sent a message to President Davis, urgently demanding reinforcements for Corinth, and saying that otherwise he could not hold the position. Of course General Mitchell promised to send the reinforcements.

The river is still on the rampage, having risen five inches during the night. It is now within a foot of the levee. Intelligence from the Tennessee and Wabash rivers says that a greater volume of water may be expected. Mound City is entirely submerged, the water running into the lower stories of the hospital and private dwellings. The Illinois Central Railroad has discontinued its trips to Cairo, the track being washed away. Passengers for Chicago were compelled to take steamer for Mound City, whence they were carried in scows to the high ground in the rear.

There is nothing of great importance from Pittsburg. The two armies were nearing each other slowly, and each waiting breathlessly for the period when the long roll should announce the renewal of battle. Late arrivals from below bring intelligence of the continued bombardment of Ft. Pillow, participated in by both the gunboats and mortar fleet. The enemy reply vigorously, but doing as yet no damage. Their guns are evidently well manned and excellently well served. There is no expectation of the reduction of Fort Pillow at present. The high stage of water will prevent any cooperation on the part of the land forces for some days.

Every house in Columbus is surrounded by water. The telegraph line between Cairo and Pittsburg is down, carried away by high water.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p.1

Great Freshet at the East

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 18.

At 9 o’clock this evening the Connecticut river was 19 feet above low water mark, and rapidly rising. This is within 4 feet, 4 inches of the great flood of May 1st, 1854. Such a rise of the river without rain is unparalled [sic].

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 21, 1862, p. 1