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Civil War Harper's Weekly, May 28, 1864

Welcome to our online collection of Harper's Weekly newspapers. We have posted over 2,000 pages of this incredible newspapers. Studying these pages will enable you to gain new insights into the war. This is the most extensive collection readily available on the internet.

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General Hancock

General Hancock

Dead Heroes

Dead Heroes

Wilderness

Battle of the Wilderness

General U.S. Grant

Virginia

Virginia

Rapidan

Crossing Rapidan

Sedgwick

General Sedgwick

Paris Fashion

Paris Fashion

Battle Wilderness

Battle of the Wilderness

Sleeping

Sleeping Soldiers

Georgia

Georgia Map

Garibaldi

Garibaldi

 

 

 

MAY 28, 1864.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

339

(Previous Page) tion as to the general officers commissioned since the war, and otherwise, their birth, etc.—The bill regulating the purity of elections in the District of Columbia was called up, and discussion ensued on the amendment of Mr. Powell, to insert the word " white" before the word "male," as a qualification for an elector. No vote was taken. Adjourned to Monday, May 16.—May 16. A joint resolution was introduced requesting the Secretary of the Interior to make the necessary preparations for the taking of the national census in June of next year.—Bills were introduced making grants of land to Dakota and Idaho to aid in the construction of railroads; and for the relief of citizens of Denver, Colorado.--A resolution was adopted instructing the Committee on Commerce to inquire if further legislation is necessary to protect passengers and seamen on board war steamers.—The resolution of Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, condemning the President's proceedings in connection with the commissions bestowed on Generals Blair and Schenck, was referred to the Judiciary Committee.—Bills were passed for the relief of the widows of Generals Edward D. Baker, E. P. Whipple, and Hiram G. Berry.—The request of the House for a conference committee on the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was acceded in.—The House bill granting pre-emptions to confiscated rebel lands was referred to the Public Lands Committee.—The bill for the establishment of a line of steamers between this country and Brazil was laid over. The bill to amend the act of December, 1861, to " promote the efficiency of the navy," regulating the retirement of naval officers, was passed.—A message from the President, communicating intelligence relative to the misunderstanding between Chile and Bolivia was received and ordered to be printed.—The bill to equalize the pay of soldiers was taken up, and some amendments to it were adopted ; but the Senate adjourned with out final action on it.—May 17. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to stipulate for the release from attachment or other process property claimed by the United States was reported with amendments.—The Chair submitted the report of the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California.—Mr. Conness called up the resolution authorizing a grant to the State of California of the lands embracing the Mariposa or Big Tree Grove.--A bill was passed equalizing the pay of soldiers in the United States army.—Mr. Anthony called up the bill to expedite the public printing, and for other purposes. The amendment that it shall be the duty of the Heads of Departments to furnish the Superintendent of Public Printing with copies of their reports on or before the third Monday in November was adopted.

House.—May 11 The Senate amendments to the Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation Bill were resumed. That providing for the appointment by the President of twenty five consular pupils was agreed to; and that authorizing the raising of the grade of our representative in Belgium to that of a full minister was non-concurred in.—The joint resolution to drop from the army rolls all unemployed general officers was taken up, and after some discussion, aria the offering and rejection of a few amendments, was adopted.—The Senate's amendments to the Postal Money Order System bill were concurred in. -- May 12. The Speaker presented the resolution of the New York Chamber of Commerce, commendatory of Mr. Collins's scheme for a line of telegraph between Europe and the United States, via Siberia and Behring's Straits.—The bill to give soldiers and sailors homesteads on the confiscated estates of rebels was taken up and passed.—The House then resumed the consideration of the bill declaring the Camden and Atlantic and the Raritan and Delaware Bay railroads national postal and military routes. After an extended discussion a substitute for the bill was passed. This substitute provides, in effect, that every railway company in the United States whose road is operated by steam is authorized to carry over said road all freight, mails, passengers, Government supplies, and troops from one State to another, and receive compensation therefor.--- May 13. Mr. Washburne read a dispatch, dated at the head-quarters of General Grant, detailing the brilliant successes of the Army of the Potomac. Then the Speaker read General Ingalls's telegram to Senator Nesmith. These documents were greeted with great cheering. A bill was passed to punish counterfeiting of the national coins. A resolution was reported from the Committee on Elections declaring that Mr. Yeaman is entitled to the seat for the Second Kentucky District, and that Mr. M'Henry, the contestant, is not. A bill was reported by Mr. Pendleton, from the Ways and Means Committee, for the relief of the Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company of New York, which gave rise to a long and somewhat personal debate. The object of the bill is to instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Treasury notes bearing the same numbers as were borne by certain other notes, the property of the aforesaid company, which were lost at sea. The bill was finally passed, and the House adjourned till Monday.—May 16. Captain Reynolds's report on the exploration of the Yellowstone River was ordered to be printed. The credentials of Mr. A. A. C. Rogers, member elect from the Second District of Arkansas, were presented and referred to the Committee on Elections.—Resolutions calling for the proceedings on the trials of Robert Taylor, of Tennessee, and Commodore Wilkes were agreed to. Also a resolution requesting the Secretary of War to inform the House by what authority Brigadier-General J. M. Hubbell, Military Commandant of the City of Natchez, issued an order which forbid contrabands remaining in the City of Natchez, unless employed by some responsible white parson, and forbidding any contraband from hiring or occupying any house in that city, under which regulation hundreds of the wives and children of soldiers in the field had been turned out of their homes.—A bill granting fifty million acres of land in aid of the construction of a railroad and telegraph by the northern route to the Pacific was passed. Also a bill to continue the printing of the debates in Congress.----May 17, The House acted on the report of the Conference Committee on the amendments to the Navy Appropriation bill.—Mr. Dawes called up the resolutions of the Committee on Elections, declaring that Messrs. Segur and Chandler are not entitled to seats in this Congress from the First and Second Districts of Virginia. The two cases being similar, the House considered them together, and by a vote of 93 against 23 adopted the resolution that neither of the contestants were entitled to seats.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

On Wednesday, March 9, Ulysses S. Grant received his commission as Lieutenant-General of the Army. Hither-to he had been known as the great General of the West—the hero of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga - the hero of wingless victory. The South declared him conqueror in virtue of his blunders—at the North his blunders were glorified; the South said all his strategy consisted in outnumbering the enemy—the North rejoiced that sufficient strategy had been developed in any of its generals to make even numbers available: and in a fortunate moment Congress and the President made him Lieutenant-General. Then the Confederacy professed itself jubilant over the prospect of Grant's having to meet Lee—the Unionists, on the other hand, contemplated with considerable satisfaction the prospect of Lee's having to meet Grant. Nor did the Lieutenant-General shrink from that conflict, but from the moment of receiving his commission transferred his personal presence to the Army of the Potomac, leaving Sherman as his vicegerent to carry out the Western campaign. During the season unfavorable for active operations he promptly reinforced and judiciously reorganized Meade's army, and formed his plans for the most momentous campaign in American history.

Warren, Sedgwick, and Hancock were made the corps commanders of Meade's army, with subordinate officers not only carefully selected but wisely distributed, as that the entire Army of the Potomac became as harmonious as it was efficient : to Burnside was given a separate army Corps ; and Butler at Fortress Monroe was reinforced by the Tenth Corps from Charleston under Gillmore, and the Eighteenth from the West tinder "Baldy" Smith.

On Wednesday, May 4, just eight weeks from the day Grant received his commission, his two grand columns were ready to move—the one well in hand on the north bank of the Rapidan, seventy miles north of Richmond, and the other at Fortress Monroe, one day's sail from Richmond on the James.

CROSSING THE RAPIDAN.

Our army at Culpepper broke camp on Tuesday, May 3, and made preparations to advance with six days' rations in light marching order. In the afternoon Gregg's and Wilson's cavalry opened the way to Germania and Ely's

Fords—the former twelve and the latter eighteen miles from Culpepper—and at midnight Hancock's corps left camp on the road to Ely's Ford, and Warren, closely followed by Sedgwick, on the road to Germanna. Wednesday morning, preceded by the cavalry, who drive in the enemy's pickets and then proceed to reconnoitre the roads toward Fredericksburg and southward, Hancock and Warren commence the crossing of the Rapidan, the points of their arrival on the south bank being six miles apart. At nightfall the whole army, with the exception of Burnside's corps, is across; Hancock having his head-quarters at Chancellorsville, his line extending back to the river; and Warren at Wilderness Tavern, with Sedgwick's corps in his rear stretching back to Germanna Ford. The position thus taken by the Federal army flanked the enemy on the east ; Grant's reason for turning this flank rather than the other being, that on this side he would be able at the various stages of his progress to keep open his communications by water.

THE BATTLES IN THE WILDERNESS.

There is good evidence that Grant's movement across the Rapidan surprised General Lee. Unless the rebel army can, with an almost marvelous rapidity of motion, get into a position on the front and southward of Meade's army, the latter will inevitably reach its rear, and compel Lee to fight a battle with his communications cut off—a battle in which, if he is beaten, the disaster is irretrievable and decisive of the campaign. Lee succeeded in gaining this position, and in so doing compelled General Grant to fight him at a disadvantage. For the position held by Grant on Thursday morning was most unfavorable for an engagement. The ground was rolling and covered with dense thickets of dwarf pines and chaparral, as that artillery would have to be dispensed with on either side. A great portion of the Federal army had not yet come up so as to be immediately available; Burnside was away, and the trains of supplies were only partly across the river. Lee had no impediment except the nature of the ground, which was common to both armies, and the absence of Longstreet's corps. He was familiar with the field; which gave him the all important advantage of being able to move by the shortest and easiest routes, and thus by rapidity of movement be able always to anticipate attack, keeping Grant on the defensive. Lee made the most of this advantage.

The order of the day for Thursday was to have been for Hancock to march down southwesterly from Chancellorsville to Shady Grove, to connect on Warren's left, who was also to advance to Parker's Store, five miles toward Mine Run: Sedgwick was to move up and take Warren's abandoned position. This would have given Grant a line running almost directly north and south from Germanna Ford to within a short distance of Spottsylvania Court House, the occupation of which would have followed, giving Grant a favorable position commanding the direct route to Richmond. But this plan was only partially carried out, on account of the presence of the enemy on the right centre, reported after the march had commenced Warren had reached a position near Parker's Store, when the menaced attack on his right led to an order recalling Hancock to fill the gap between him and Warren's left.

Already the cavalry advance with two infantry regiments have been driven back, and at noon Griffin's division is engaged on the plank road, and shortly afterward Neill's and Upton's brigades of Sedgwick's corps further to the right. On the plank road Warren comes up, and takes the command in person; Bartlett's and Ayre's brigades are ordered to advance up the road to the right and left, supported by Sweetzer. But the enemy is in great force, and Griffin's division is borne back, when it is relieved by Wadsworth and Robinson. Sedgwick also is so hard pressed that he sends a dispatch to Burnside, who has just crossed, for reinforcements, which Grant with holds. But, after severe fighting for over two hours, the Confederates are driven back, and Sedgwick, sending Getty's division to guard the left centre, presses hard against the enemy on the right, while Warren holds fast his former position. The enemy have retired from the right only to reappear at 3 o'clock in a concentrated attack on the left. Hancock has only brought up Mott's brigade to Getty's left in time to save his corps from disaster; and Mott and Getty hold the enemy until Hancock's remaining force is brought up, under Barlow, Birney, and Gibbon.

The engagement lasts two hours: Hays is killed, and Webb is wounded; but reinforcements come up from Warren; Sedgwick presses on the right ; and an advance is made along the whole line, before which the Confederates are driven back.

During the day earth-works have been thrown up, and these are strengthened during the night. Friday morning the position was that of the previous night. Each army seemed eager to anticipate the other's attack. The Federal army was to advance at 5 A.M. At 4.45 Sedgwick's right was attacked, Seymour's provisional division (from Florida) and Wright's meeting and repulsing the Confederate columns. In the mean while Hancock, in pursuance of the programme laid out for the day, gained ground on the enemy's left, pushing it back two miles, and capturing a line of rifle pits, with five colors. Warren also gained ground; but this advance of the Second and Fifth corps was soon checked by a long line of swamp in front commanded by rifle-pits on the other side. Two assaults were made against this position toward the centre. General Wadsworth, leading in one of these, was killed, falling into the hands of the enemy. Finally Hancock, for want of ammunition, is obliged to retire about noon.

The gap which yesterday intervened between Hancock and Warren is still open, General Burnside who was to have filled it being still held in reserve, probably to guard the trains in the event of a Confederate success on the right. Lee, after the attack on Grant's right has been repulsed, concentrates his entire force against this point, and Hancock is in danger of being surrounded. Colonel Frank's brigade (of Barlow's division) holding the extreme left is borne back, and the whole line retires to its entrenchments. The greater portion of Burnside's corps is brought up to a position between Warren and Hancock, and the latter is drawn up nearer to Warren.

In the middle of the afternoon Longstreet arrives on the field, and, joining Hill,, attacks the left and centre at their junctions, the brunt of the assault being borne by Craw-ford's, Carr's, and Stevenson's divisions. The attack was made in four lines. Stevenson gives way, then Crawford and Carr. At this juncture Hancock sends Colonel Carroll (commanding Third Brigade, Second Division) to attack the enemy in flank. This manoeuvre is successful in forcing the enemy back ; and it is supposed that the battle is over for the day. But just at dusk, while Sedgwick's men are engaged in the intrenchments, Lee's army having gathered itself up for a desperate blow attacks the left. Seymour and a number of his division are captured; Stealer also is captured, and so great is the apprehension for the safety of the Federal supply trains that artillery is posted to bear upon the Confederate advance in that direction. But the exhaustion of Lee's army by so much marching and fighting, together with the lateness of the hour, prevents him from reaping the fruits of this marked success, both armies sleeping on their arms—a scene which our artist has depicted on pages 344 and 345.

LEE'S CHANGE OF POSITION.

On Saturday there was no engagement, but skirmishes along the line clearly discovered that the position of Lee's army was materially changed. This might have been expected, as it was evidently Lee's policy—the only safe one for him to adopt—to head off Grant on the Fredericksburg road to Richmond. This led the Confederate General to take up a new line on the Po. On Saturday he was making preparations. In the afternoon a cavalry battle was fought near Todd's Tavern, in which Custer, Gregg, Merritt, and Davis were engaged, with no decisive result. These cavalry forces had been keeping the way open for the advance of the Federals toward Spottsylvania Court House, which had been our original goal, and which it was now the important object of either army to hold in force. The day was necessarily exhausted in preparations on both sides. In the evening the Twenty-Second Cavalry occupied Fredericksburg, which was held as a station for the accumulation of stores and for hospital purposes.

At ten o'clock Saturday night Longstreet left the old field, and Hancock just an hour after ; and the two armies were on a race, by roads nearly parallel, to the Court House. The Confederate army having the start and the interior route, came out ahead. Early the next day the

Federal advance was within two and one half miles of the Court House when Robinson's Division, with Bartlett's Brigade on the right, attacked Longstreet, under the mistaken notion that they were moving against cavalry. This force was terribly broken up. The First Michigan, out of one hundred men, brought off only twenty-four after a fifteen minutes' fight. Crawford's and (the late) Wadsworth's divisions come up, and the fighting was maintained, Rittenhouse's battery supporting the Federal attack, until noon, when an open space was gained. General Robinson was wounded.

Sunday evening the Confederates were again attacked by Crawford's and Getty's divisions; one line of breastworks was carried, and a hundred prisoners taken. Although there was no general battle, the Federal loss was about fifteen hundred.

Monday the rations of the soldiers being exhausted, they were replenished from the trains, and the troops were allowed to rest during the day. A change was made in the Federal line—Hancock being transferred to the right, and Sedgwick to the left. Early in the afternoon an attack was made, though unsuccessful, on Wilcox's Division (Ninth Corps), as Burnside's forces were engaged in skirmishing on the extreme left. Late in the day Grant ordered an advance, and Hancock threw Barlow, Birney, Gibbon, and Carrel over a branch of the Po, and moved against the enemy's left.

BATTLES ON THE PO.

The line of the Federal army on Tuesday extended over six miles in the form of a crescent, the horns pointed toward the enemy. The latter holding Spottsylvania Court House, had his left wing resting on the Ny River, north of the Po (a tributary of the Ny), opposite Burnside, and his right opposite Hancock on Glady Run. His centre was advanced and on commanding ground. Wright's (formerly Sedgwick's) corps faced the Court House, at Burnside's right, both corps being supported by Arnold's, Rodgers's, and Sleeper's batteries, while Meade's, Martin's, and others, covered the right. The position resembled that held by the two armies at Gettysburg, only this time the advantage of position was decidedly in favor of the Confederates.

Early in the day a furious cannonade was opened on the enemy's position preparatory to a general attack, which had been ordered to be made along the line, but especially at the centre. For this purpose Birney, Gibbon, and Mott were withdrawn from the advanced position on the right, which was new held by Barlow alone. Wadsworth's and Robinson's divisions led the attack on the centre through the woods, the enemy shelling the latter from his intrenchments. Pressing up close to the breast works an attempt was made to carry the rifle pits, but in vain. Gibbon and Carroll, participating in this attack, suffered seriously, the latter losing 800 men. General Rice was killed here.

The enemy, taking advantage of Barlow's isolated position, attacked him in great force and drove him back; but assistance came from the east side of the river and he was brought over.

In the evening Grant attacked again, preceding the assault as before by a heavy cannonade. Upton's brigade of Wright's corps led in this attack, accompanied by Russell's, moving forward without firing, under a murderous fire themselves, sealing the enemy's works and capturing several hundred of the enemy and three guns. Too far in the advance, Upton was forced to fall back. The assault thus begun continued until night closed on results as indecisive as those already gained. Robinson's division lost over 2500 men.

Wednesday morning opened quietly; and the Lieutenant-General sent his first dispatch. He says:

"We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result to this time is much in our favor. Our losses have been heavy as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over 5000 prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but few except stragglers. I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer."

Toward noon our line was advanced, and there was considerable skirmishing. It is reported that Lee asked a truce for forty-eight hours to bury his dead and take care of his wounded. Grant refused, and said that he himself would take all possible care of the dead and wounded of both sides within his lines.

During Wednesday night Hancock moved around to a position between Wright and Burnside, and the dawn of Thursday found his men face to face with Major-General E. Johnston's division. One charge and the works were gained and the entire division captured. Johnston confirmed the report that Longstreet was severely wounded.

Toward noon the whole line was engaged, Burnside and Hancock on the left, Wright and Warren on the right. General Grant penned the following dispatch at the close of the day :

The eighth day of battle closes, leaving between three and four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work, including two General officers, and over thirty pieces of artillery. The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the last ditch. We have lost no organization, not even a company, while we have destroyed and captured one division (Johnston's), one brigade (Dobbs's), and one regiment entire of the enemy."

General Meade at the same time issued the following address to his soldiers:

" SOLDIERS !—The moment has arrived when your Commanding-General feels authorized to address you in terms of congratulation.

"For eight days and nights, almost without intermission, in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fighting a desperate foe, in positions naturally strong, and rendered doubly so by intrenchments.

"You have compelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Rapidan, to retire and attempt to stop your onward progress, and now he has abandoned the last intrenched position so tenaciously held, suffering in all a loss of eighteen guns, twenty-two colors, and eight thousand prisoners, including two General officers.

" Your heroic deeds, and noble endurance of fatigue and privation, will ever be memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus shown us, and ask earnestly for its continuance.

"Soldiers ! Your work is not yet over. The enemy must be pursued, and, if possible, overcome. The courage and fortitude you have displayed renders your Commanding General confident that your future efforts will result in success.

"While we mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, let us remember that the enemy must have suffered equal if not greater losses.

"We shall soon receive reinforcements which he can not expect.

" Let us determine then to continue vigorously the work so well begun, and under God's blessing in a short time the object of our labors will be accomplished.

"GEORGE G. MEADE,

"Major-General Commanding." On Friday Hancock's advance discovered another change in Lee's position, due probably to the advantage gained on the previous day by General Grant on his right. On Thursday Carroll, one of the bravest officers of Hancock's corps, was Severely wounded.

SHERIDAN'S CAVALRY RAID.

On Monday, May 9, General Sheridan marched around the enemy's right flank, and reached the North Anna River in the evening. He there destroyed the Confederate deficit of supplies at Beaver Dam, three large trains of cars, and a hundred besides, two fine locomotives, 200,000 pounds of bacon and other stores, amounting in all to a million and a half of rations, also the telegraph wire and railroad for ten miles with several culverts ; he recaptured 378 of our men, including several officers.

Tuesday he crossed the South Anna, and on Wednesday captured Ashland station, a locomotive with a train of cars, some Government buildings with stores, and six miles of railroad, including three culverts, two trestle bridges, and the telegraph wire. After this he set out for Richmond, and finding a Confederate cavalry force at Yellow Tavern, he made an attack, capturing two pieces of artillery, and driving the enemy. The Confederate force was commanded by General J. E. B. Stuart, who was killed in the engagement. In the mean while a party charged down the Brock road and took the first line of works around Richmond. After some skirmishing Friday found him at Bottom's Bridge, leaving lost somewhat ever 300 men. The Virginia Central Railroad bridges

over the Chickahominy were destroyed. At 3 o'clock on Saturday Sheridan reached Turkey Island and joined General Butler.

BUTLER'S COLUMNS.

General Butler, having made a feint of landing at West Point which completely deceived the enemy, proceeded on the 5th of May with his fleet of gun boats and transports, and the Tenth and Eighteenth Army corps, up the James River, landing at Wilson's Wharf a regiment of Wild's negro troops, and two brigades of the same color at Fort Powhatan; thence up to City Point, where Hinks's division was landed; and at Bermuda Hundred, just below the mouth of the Appomattox, the entire army was disembarked. The gun boats and Monitors went before the fleet, and crossed the bar at Harrison's Landing.

On the 7th five brigades, under General Brooks, struck for the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, which, after a severe encounter with the enemy, they succeeded in cutting; a bridge on the road was destroyed seven miles north of Petersburg.

In the mean while General Kautz with 3000 cavalry burned the railroad bridge at Stony Point, cutting Beauregard's army in two. Kautz has also cut the Danville Railroad. On the 9th a portion of Beauregard's army was met and driven front their intrenchments.

After intrenching himself Butler closed about the defenses of Fort Darling at Drury's Bluff and carried a portion of the earth works. The latest dispatches bring information of successful assaults made by Gillmore and Smith.

The Commodore Jones, one of the smaller gun boats, was destroyed on the 6th by a torpedo. This incident is illustrated by our artist on page 348. Two other small gun boats were destroyed by explosion.

GENERAL SIGEL'S MOVEMENTS.

The movements of Sigel's column has been shrouded in some mystery. It was supposed that his mission contemplated a move on Lynchburg, but he was heard from at Woodstock in the Shenandoah, too far north for any direct co-operative movement. At the latest advice he had fought a battle on Sunday, the 15th, with Imboden at New Market, in which his own loss was 600 and that of the rebels 1000. Sigel lost five pieces of artillery and retreated across the Shenandoah and fell back on Strasburg, thirty miles further north and a little above the latitude of Manassas.

SHERMAN'S ADVANCE.

Sherman, simultaneously with Grant's advance Richmondward, moved on Dalton in three columns; Thomas in front, Schofield from Cleveland on the northeast, while M'Pherson threw himself on the line of communication southwest at Resaca, fifteen miles south of Dalton. On Saturday, the 7th, Thomas occupied Tunnel Hill, ten miles northwest of Dalton, and took up a strong position at Buzzard's Roost. By the flank movement on Resaca Johnston was forced to evacuate Dalton. On Sunday, the 15th, a battle was fought at Resaca, in which Sherman states his losses to have been 3000.

Sherman captured Resaca on Monday, the 16th, with 10 guns and 1200 prisoners, and expected that evening to reach Kingston, whither Johnston had retreated. Kilpatrick had been wounded.

THE SOUTHWEST.

Admiral Porter, at late advices, was at Alexandria. A large force was engaged in damming up the river so as to give sufficient depth to allow the gun boats to pass over. General Grover was in command there. No communication was opened with the army at Grand Ecore. McClernand was at New Orleans to reinforce Banks, and Smith was to return to Vicksburg. From the Iatter place an expedition was being fitted out to move on Yazoo City, where were the rebel Generals Lee, Ross, and Adams. This expedition, under the command of General McArthur, has succeeded in capturing Yazoo City. Sturgis had not overtaken Forrest.

In Arkansas Steele was confident of maintaining his position on the Arkansas River, although Kirby Smith was menacing Pine Bluff. If the rebels should he able to cross the Arkansas, Steele's communications on the White River will be imperiled.

THE ATLANTIC COAST.

The rebel forces in North Carolina are being with drawn into Virginia. General Palmer commands at Newbern. Our fleet leave again opened upon the rebel forte and batteries on James and Sullivan's Island, Charleston.

About 9.30 A.M. on Monday last, May 9, the Harriet A. Weed, army transport, armed with two guns, was blown up and sunk by collision with two torpedoes in the St. John's River, off Cedar Creek, not far from the military post at Yellow Bluff, about ten miles from Jacksonville.

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

The Secretary of War has issued an important order with regard to prisoners, stating that as it has been officially reported that Mr. Ould, Rebel Commissioner of Exchange, has declared, without consulting with the authorities of the United States, that all rebel prisoners delivered at City Point up to the 20th of April were exchanged, it is ordered that all Union prisoners of war and all civilians on parole prior to May 7, 1864, be declared exchanged. The order further states that the rebels still remain indebted to the Union Government 33,596 prisoners, for whom no equivalent has been received.

FOREIGN NEWS.

THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN WAR.

THE Schleswig-Holstein war still continues notwithstanding the Conference. There are indications that the Danes will evacuate Alsen. The Prussians have again advanced into Jutland, and on April 23 were just south of Aarhus. They have also occupied Fredericia. Austria is sending a powerful naval force to the Baltic. The Danish authorities have pledged themselves not to disturb German vessels carrying the United States mails.

On May 5 three or four Austrian ships of war had arrived in the Downs, and others were on their way. The English Channel fleet is also in the Downs. It was reported that a French fleet would soon join the others, but the Moniteur of Paris declared that if this were done it would be only for the purpose of supporting the demand for an armistice.

The London Conference meet again, May 4, but accomplished nothing. The demand made by the neutral Powers for an armistice leas been referred by the representatives of the belligerent Powers to their Governments for instructions. Another meeting was to take place on the 9th of May. Prussia and Austria offered to accept the armistice, and to evacuate Jutland, if the Danes will raise the blockade, return the captured ships, and evacuate the Island of Alsen. The Prussian and Austrian troops have now taken possession of all Jutland except that part north of Liim Forth.

THE AMERICAN QUESTION.

The English Government declines to accede to the pressure for a Conference on American affairs. In regard to the Tuscaloosa, the Attorney-General has declared in the House of Commons that the Government must regard her as an uncondemned prize. The resolution moved by Mr. Peacock, "that the instructions contained in the Duke of Newcastle's dispatch of the 4th of November, 1863, to the Government of the Cape of Good Hope, are at variance with the principles of international law," was rejected by 219 against 185 votes—a Ministerial majority of 34. Earl Russell, in a speech in the House of Lords, contended that it was owing to the vigilance of the Government that the Lairds had not plunged England into a war with the United States. Earl Russell expressed the earnest hope that the war would result in the final destruction of slavery.

An address of the Pope to the Archduke Maximilian is published. He recommends to him, in particular, to defend the rights of the Church.

Mr. Seward had given to the French Cabinet explanations concerning the resolution of the House of Representatives at Washington on Mexico. The explanitions of Mr. Seward were regarded in Eerie as entirely satisfactory.


 

 

  

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