Report of a Reliable Gentleman from Memphis

ST. LOUIS, April 22 – From a gentleman who left Memphis a few days after the battle of Pittsburg, we learn that the rebels, putting both days of the battle together, still claim a victory. Their claims rest on the supposition that there were more killed, wounded and taken prisoners on the Federal side, than on their own.

Our informant says that Prentiss made a speech to his troops in Memphis, in which he endeavored to modify their complaints in relation to their treatment, food, &c. He told them that they would soon be exchanged, and rallied them generally to keep good spirits. Prentiss was in [excellent] temper. He owned up to a defeat on Sunday, but said that the rebels were badly whipped on Monday. The prisoners were being sent to Richmond.

Our informant was in Huntsville when Mitchell reached there with his division. The seizure of the place was a complete surprise, and the occupation of the railroad between Decatur and Stevenson, was regarded as the hardest blow the Rebels had yet received.

The rebels were preparing to make a desperate stand at Corinth, and fresh troops were constantly arriving at Memphis.

When he left, business at Memphis was almost entirely suspended, and the people generally believed that there were on the eve of events which will speedily decide the war.

Rev. D. R. McInally, Editor of the St. Louis Christian Advocate, has been arrested and placed in military prison, and his paper suppressed, for published treasonable matter. This arrest causes no surprise, as in the course of McInally’s paper, for some time past, has been very obnoxious to the Government.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 4

The Merrimack

Gen. Mitchell Surprises Huntsville, Ala.

Washington, April 12.

A dispatch to the Secretary of War from Gen. Wool, dated Ft. Monroe, 12th, says the Merrimac has been stationary near Sewall’s Point all day, but in plain sight.

The following dispatch was received by the Sec’y of War:


Headquarters Third Division,
Huntsville, Ala., April 11.

After a forced march of incredible difficulty, leaving Fayetteville yesterday, my advanced guards entered Huntsville this a.m. The city was completely taken by surprise, no one considering the march practicable. We captured 200 prisoners, 15 locomotives, a large number of cars, telegraph apparatus and office and two Southern mails, and we have at last succeeded in cutting the great artery of railway communications between the Southern States.

(Signed) O. M. MITCHELL, Brigadier Gen.

– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Tuesday, April 15, 1862

From a letter, dated Huntsville, Ala., and written by . . .

. . . WILL. B. PICKERING, who by the way, is Private Secretary of Gen. MITCHELL, we are permitted to extract the following:

“Gen. Mitchell’s forces took possession of this place last Saturday morning, at 6 o’clock, taking the citizens entirely by surprise. This is certainly a lucky capture. We captured 21 first-class locomotives and a few cars, belonging to the Memphis & Charleston R. R. The 8th Brigade, to which the [18th] Ohio belongs, has captured Decatur, twenty five miles below. Six hundred bales of cotton were taken.”

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

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

Huntsville

Huntsville, Alabama, the town just occupied by Gen. Mitchell is the capital of Madison county, Ala. Being 150 miles northeast of Tuscaloosa, and 116 miles southeast of Nashville. Its population in 1860 was about 5,000. Ex-Senator C. C. Clay resides there. In the summer months the cream of the Alabama aristocracy from the Gulf counties frequent the place. It is situated on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and by its occupation, communication between the rebel armies in the southwest States is cut off. The people generally may be classed as “conditional Unionists.” Madison county, in which it is situated, has a population of 26,450, of who 14,375 were slaves. At the last election it gave Douglas 1,300, Breckinridge, 591 & Bell 400 votes.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

IMPORTANT NEWS

Gen. Mitchell at Huntsville, Ala.

THE REBL R. R. LINE BROKEN.

The following despatch was received by the Secretary of War:

Headquarters Third Division,
Huntsville, Ala., April 10

After a forced march and incredible difficulty, leaving Fayettville yesterday, my advanced guards entered Huntsville this morning. The city was completely taken by surprise, no one considering the march practicable. We captured 200 prisoners, 15 locomotives, a large number of cars, telegraph apparatus and office and two Southern mails. We have at last succeeded in cutting the great artery of railway communication between the Southern States.

(Signed) O. M. Mitchell, Brigadier General

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday April 15, 1862 & also in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862, p. 4, top of 1st column