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A. Lincoln
Printed in The Weekly Courier - Army Supplement,Natchez, Mississippi, on 27 January 1863 Affairs on the Mississippi River All our information from Vicksburg, since our last publication, indicates the Federals in full land and naval force above that city. A light battery has also been sent across through Madison Parish, La, by the enemy, to cut off all steamboat communications with the city. This battery is said to have fired three times into the steamer, Vicksburg, on her late trip up. It is the opinion of the Vicksburg Whig that the enemy is desirous of crossing the river at, or below, Warrenton; thus affording themselves an opportunity to tap the Jackson Railroad, and making an upper and lower combined attack on the city. How well they will succeed at this manoeuver, a few days time will determine. Last Thursday, the Federals, in pushing out their cavalry force, came in contact with the Texas Cavalry on Roundaway Bayou. A short skirmish ensued, in which an abolitionist Colonel, (then acting Brigadier General) was killed, and on his person were found important papers. Others were supposed to be killed and wounded. For the latest reports from Vicksburg, we refer to our telegraph column. There is nothing new from Port Hudson. The water in the Mississippi river is rising rapidly. We are informed, by good authority, that dispatches were sent to Richmond, more than a week since, from Illinois and Indiana, relating to the stoppage of this war on amicable terms. According to the Petersburg Express, a rich scene lately occurred on the great Avenue of the Yankee metropolis, between Gens. Halleck and McClellan, the Commander-in-Chief and the Young Napoleon of the Federal armies. The story is that McClellan met Halleck on the street, and accused him of having published a tissue of unblushing falsehoods in his recent report, when the latter pitched into McClellan, who defended himself to decided advantage. It is further stated with reference to the affair, that one of the city papers had a paragraph noticing it, but before half-a-dozen copies were struck off, the police interfered and had the whole matter suppressed. We are credibly informed that two of the Federal steamers engaged in the battle of Galveston, sunk after they got out to sea. Out of the seven steamers engaged, one was captured and three destroyed, leaving three that got off. We are also informed that the flag of truce from Brooklyn last week came to ask if it was true that the survivors on the Harriet Lane were butchered after the battle! It is stated that in the course of Gen. Magruder's communication, he asked the enemy under what flag they proposed to fight. They came into Galveston under a white flag, and left under the same flag. If they intend to continue that flag, he would like to know, etc. We don't vouch for the truth of this, but think it likely, as it is a fact that Galveston was both taken and released by the Federals under a flag of truce! Commodore Renshaw was blown up in the Westfield. It seems the train to her magazine was laid and fired. He left the vessel. The explosion not occurring as soon as he expected, he returned on board with ten men to see what was the matter, and while there the vessel blew up killing all hands. ( Houston Telegraph - Jan. 14 ) The New Orleans Delta, when Butler left, published the following paragraph: We wish to notify the Northern slanderers of Gen. Butler that they may have time to prepare themselves, that there will be a wreck of matter, a crush of worlds when he opens his mouth in New York. The "wreck of matter" was not very plainlydiscernible in New York. The morning Butler arrived, the World published two columns of letters written by Northern men in New Orleans, and some in New York, exposing the thieving operations of the General in the former city. The following are extracts from New Orleans letters: "Of the false, prudent and traitorous operations of this vile son of my native State, volumes might be written. Quartermaster Makey, of Boston, has forwarded to the Chief of the War Department, some months since, sworn evidence as to the peculations of Gen. Butler from the Government of the United States and from loyal citizens, and if the indictments are not quashed by the political juggling of the advisers of the President, there can be no doubt as to the result of honest investigation. The Flag, published at Matamoras says: "A bark has just arrived, consigned by the banker and broker of Gen. Butler (his brother) to a concern here, which is loaded with superior barrel pork (bearing the United States marks), packed for the use of the Federal army, which has been offered to the commissioners of the Confederate States to be paid for in gold or cotton. Treasury greenbacks refused, &c.; and I learn from reliable sources that the pork was sold to the Confederate commissary and paid for in cotton. Of such ventures, Butler, the Federal General, receives half the gains, while the robbery is covered by consumption in New Orleans to prevent starvation , or by reported actual issue to the troops. This traitor General has, through all his administration, been receiving the lions share of net proceeds from powder, saltpetre, muskets, and other war material sold to Confederates surreptiously sent out from New Orleans by the lakes, &c., covered by permits and provisions--dealing in the very life blood of his own soldiers. Of such things the military is composed of the base coward, who betrays atrue to none." It would take a small book to describe the scenes that took place between citizens who had been despoiled by Butler, calling on Gen. Banks for restitution. Mr. Buckner, one of our cotton princes and millionaires was robbed by Gen. Butler of $100,000 in bills receivable, sent him from Natchez. Gen. Butler said he could not find them when called on to return them. $5,000 in cash was taken from the same parties; he said he paid this amount over to the Government. Samuel Smith & Co. had $60,000 in specie taken from their vaults by Butler; $50,000 is in suit in Washington; the rest was returned, less $1,800 stolen. Gen. Butler returned this amount in currency, thereby taking advantage of thirty-five percent on the gold. Acrostics and poetry lampooning him were sent to him in such quantities that Gen. Banks had to protect him by an order, No. 114 (see New Orleans papers.) One verse runs thus: A demon such as thou, Then, Satan, yield the sceptre up-- Thy mission's over now. Mr. Davis, the President of the Bank of New Orleans, was thrown into jail without a trial, and in one short month was released, after having been told he was to be hung, and is a raving maniac. This is the foulest deed Butler has been guilty of. In my next I will give all the news that transpires. One of the letters from the citizens of New York, begs the World to expose the scoundrel fully. The writer says: "Tell the people how he charged Dr. Campbell $1,700 for a pass to enter the Confederate lines, and while he was gone, ejected his wife from her palatial home, that he might occupy it himself, to all of which hundreds of New Orleans men now here will not fear to testify, since their property is no longer under his control. Tell the people about his partnership with his brother, and how he charged $12 a hhd. freight for sugar on his boats from Lafourche to New Orleans, (when $1 used to be the price,) allowing no competition. And tell them too, how he would permit none but New England men to take goods into the interior to sell them. FROM THE BATTLEFIELD. The Atlanta Intelligencer chronicles some important arrivals from the battlefield at Murfreesboro'. On Sunday last 3,000 Yankee prisoners were received. The city was full of Yanks for a time, but they were all sent on to Montgomery; bound, we suppose, for Vicksburg, to be exchanged. The balance of exchanges on our side must now be very heavy. On Monday evening, eight cars loaded with cannon and small arms, captured at the battle of Murfreesboro', reached Atlanta by way of the W.& A.R.R. |
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