Stuart’s Raid – Rebel Dispatches from Murfreesboro, Charleston and Vicksburg

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. – The material result of Stuart’s cavalry raid was one Government wagon half filled with oats, but it marked the withdrawal from the lines behind Fredericksburgh of a large reinforcement for Bragg’s or at Charleston. A balloon observation 900 feet high revealed to our commanders last week that the number of rebel infantry camped across the Rappahannock was largely diminished.

Richmond papers of Friday contain the following dispatch, which is official to the Rebel War Department:

MURFREESBORO, Jan. 1 – We assailed the enemy at 7 o’clock this morning, and after 10 hours hard fighting have driven him from every position, except his extreme left where he has successfully resisted us. With the exception of this point we occupy the field. We captured 400 prisoners including two Brigadier Generals, 31 pieces of artillery and some teams. Our loss is heavy, but that of the enemy much greater.

(Signed)

BRAXTON BRAGG,
General Commanding.

VICKSBURG, Dec. 30. – A cruiser has just arrived who states that the enemy attempted to storm our lines again this morning, but after a sever combat were repulsed with heavy loss. No further particulars at present. The loss of the enemy is said to be about 300 killed and wounded. Our loss is 30 killed and wounded.

The belief that no troops have been withdrawn from our front and sent to reinforce Bragg is very general among our commanding officers.

The weather is warm and clear.

BOMBAY has already been enriched to the extent of nearly £400,000 by the advance in the price of cotton, one Parsee alone having cleared £800,000 alone by his speculation in that article, while other firms have done nearly the same.

CHARLESTON, Dec. 31. – The British steam sloop Perrel from Fortress Monroe has arrived off the bar. She is visited by Mr. Bunch the British Consul, today, and will com up to the city. The steamer Emma Suttle, captured by a Yankee cruiser and put in charge of a prize crew, has been recaptured by the original officers and crew who were confined on board, and taken back to Nassau with a prize crew as prisoners.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Monday, January 5, 1863