From Port Royal

NEW YORK, May 15.

The U. S. gunboat Catawaba arrived here this morning, eighty hours from Port Royal.  She has 5982 bags of unginned cotton on board.  News unimportant.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 16, 1862, p. 1

New York, May 15 [1862].

The Post says advices per the [Catawba] state that Gen. Hunter had issued a proclamation freeing the slaves in his department.  He was organizing a negro brigade, and had detailed some officers to train the contrabands in the use of arms.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 16, 1862, p. 1

A Negro Brigade

NEW YORK, May 15. – The Post says advices per the Catawba stating that Gen. Hunter has issued a proclamation freeing the slaves in his Department.  He was organizing a negro brigade, and had detailed some officers to train the contrabands in the use of arms.

Hon. Charles Jared Ingersoll died in Philadelphia yesterday in the 80^th year of his age.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 3

From Fortress Monroe

NEW YORK, May 15. – A Fortress Monroe letter of the 13^th says the deserters who are constantly coming in, agree in their statements that the evacuation of Richmond is rapidly progressing, and that the effort of retreating rebels is merely to hold back Gen. McClellan so as to obtain time to remove their stores.  They also say that the destruction of the city by fire is threatened and that it will require the utmost efforts on the part of the citizens to prevent its consummation.  That the evacuation is now progressing there is no manner of doubt, and the government archives are being carried South.

The story of the enemy’s lack of provisions is denied by their deserters, who say that there is plenty of subsistence at Corinth.

The U. S. gunboat Catawba arrived this morning in eighty hours from Port Royal.  The Catawba has 6982 bags of unginned cotton on board..  News unimportant.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 3