Dr. Maxwell's Letter

We publish in another column a letter from Dr. Maxwell, of this city, now attending on the sick at Camp Pittsburg.  The instructions he sent for further supplies have not been received, but as the committee have a quantity on hand they will be forwarded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 19, 1862, p. 1

From Pittsburg Landing

PITTSBURG, Tenn., May 3. – 9 P. M.

Six deserters arrived yesterday, and 10 to-day.  All confirm the capture of New Orleans.  A few days ago, one Tennessee, and one Mississippi regiment of 12 month men, stacjed their arms, their time having expired, and refused to serve any longer though required by the Conscript-law.  Beauregard put 2 regiments to guard them.

20 deserted yesterday and numbers are leaving daily.

All rumors of a battle here or in vicinity unfounded in fact.  Weather clear, roads will be [passable] in a day or two, so the army can advance.

Hospital boats and stores are arriving [daily].  Gen. Finnell of Ky. and a host of surgeons and nurses arrived to-day.

PITTSBURG LANDING, via Louisville,

May 3.

The following dispatch, dated near Farmington, has been received at headquarters:  A reconnoissance sent towards Farmington found the enemy 4,500 strong, with four pieces of artillery and some cavalry, occupying a strong position near the town.  Our forces advanced at once to the assault, and after a short skirmish carried the position in handsome style.  The enemy left their dead on the field; also tents and baggage.  The cavalry are pursuing them.  The whole affair was very handsome – our regiments charging the battery and their line of infantry at double quick.  The enemy fled in wild confusion.  A regiment of cavalry sent through to Boonville took possession of the town, tore up the railroad track, and destroyed two bridges.  We have a good many prisoners; can’t tell how many yet.  Our loss was two killed and twelve wounded,

Signed,

JOHN POPE,

Maj. Gen.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

From Cairo

CAIRO, May 2.

The river is stationary, and eight inches higher than was ever before known.

The news from Pittsburg is of the highest importance, but its transmission over the wires is prohibited.

The bombardment of Fort Pillow is continued by mortars, at short intervals.  It was generally believed that a simultaneous attack would be made by the fleet before the close of the week.

Deserters say that the entire rebel gunboat fleet, under command of Hollins, had arrived at Fort Pillow, and would make an attack on Com. Foote as soon as preparations were complete.

A Memphis paper of the 24th April says a meeting held the night previous had concluded to burn the city in case of the approach of the Federal fleet.

The fall of New Orleans is referred to, but no particulars are given.

An editorial urgently calls on the people to reinforce Price at Fort Pillow, as the only hope of salvation of the city.

Gov. Yates left here to-ni9ght for Pittsburg, with the steamer Champion, fitted up to accommodate 400 wounded Illinois soldiers.  He also takes up a large quantity of sanitary stores for distribution among the Illinois hospitals.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 5, 1862, p. 2

The report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission . . .

. . . has just been issued in a neat pamphlet.  Of the whole Iowa force in the field 2,000 are on the sick list, with an average of 80 sick to each regiment, and this is deemed below the actual average.  The report pertinently says:

The U. S. Commission keeps “a reserve stock” at Washington ‘for special emergencies such as a general engagement or an epidemic.’  The Western division of the army is exposed to the one of these, if not the other.  When a battle on the Potomac was first expected – and there might be at any moment five or ten thousand soldiers requiring instant shelter and treatment, and in case of victory, as many wounded rebels besides, for whom the Government would be bound to provide with tenderness and humanity – ‘there was not at Washington a reserve of hospital stores or unoccupied beds for three hundred additional patients.’  We are in a similar case at St. Louis now, and St. Louis sustains the same relation to our Western army that Washington does to the Eastern.  We ought to collect a reserve of hospital stores at St. Louis.  Where shall they be had?  The long delay to strike has been favorable to sanitary precautions and preparations but deplorably unfavorable to the health of the soldier himself, and it has given us no such gain on actual sickness and suffering as fits us to meet great and sudden increase.  ‘In some modern battles one-third the whole number has been wounded.’  It would take us a long time at the present rate of supply to accumulate hospital stores for even three thousand sick and wounded Iowa soldiers.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2