Tuesday, 6th—We received a large mail today, coming through from Memphis, and it is quite jolly in camp. Besides this, our teams returned from Memphis with loads of provisions, and we hope soon to have something more to eat. A report was circulated in camp today that peace had been declared, but no one takes the report very seriously.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The War on The Mississippi – Sudden and Daring Attack by Rebel Guerillas, Led by Capt. Talbot, on the Sugar Steamer Empire Parish, At the Landing 44 Miles Below Baton Rouge (Published January 31, 1863 in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper from a sketch by Mr. F. H. Schell)
From the New York Times of January 3, 1863: “News has just reached us, that while the Empire Parish steamer was loading sugar yesterday (Monday) at noon, at Meringo Plantation, on the right bank of the river, four miles below Baton Rouge, a party of 120 guerrillas, under command of Capt. TALBOT, came down and demanded the surrender of the boat. Capt. BOUCHENAU refused, upon which they commenced firing, killing the Assistant Engineer, C. MCGILL, and wounding four, among others, W.J. REID, of New-Orleans, the agent of the boat. The guerrillas then went down to the plantation of Mr. N. LANDRY and rolled down the bank into the river some 80 hogsheads of sugar. They also captured three negroes, nine mules and three carts, and then departed; the Empire Parish at the same time backing out and saving herself down the river.”
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 6TH.—To-day we are all down again. Bragg has retreated from Murfreesborough. It is said he saved his prisoners, captured cannon, etc., but it is not said what became of his own wounded. The Northern papers say they captured 500 prisoners in the battle, which they claim as a victory. I do not know how to reconcile Bragg’s first dispatches, and particularly the one saying he had the whole field, and would follow the enemy, with this last one announcing his withdrawal and retirement from the field.
Eight thousand men were taken from Bragg a few days before the battle. It was not done at the suggestion of Gen. Johnston; for I have seen an extract of a letter from Gen. J. to a Senator (Wigfall), deprecating the detachment of troops from Bragg, and expressing grave apprehensions of the probable consequences.
A letter was received from R. R. Collier, Petersburg, to-day, in favor of civil liberty, and against the despotism of martial law.
Senator Clark, of Missouri, informed me to-day that my nephew, R. H. Musser, has been made a colonel (under Hindman or Holmes), and has a fine regiment in the trans-Mississippi Department.
Lewis E. Harvie, president of the railroad, sends a communication to the Secretary (I hope it will reach him) inclosing a request from Gen. Winder to permit liquors to be transported on his road to Clover Hill. Mr. Harvie objects to it, and asks instructions from the Secretary. He says Clover Hill is the point from which the smuggling is done, and that to place it there, is equivalent to bringing it into the city.
January 6.—The British iron steamer Antona, laden with Enfield rifles, a battery of brass fieldpieces, powder, medicines, boots, tea, etc., from Liverpool vid Havana, was captured off Mobile, by the United States steamer Pocahontas, while attempting to run the blockade.—(Doc. 97.)
—General Rosecrans, from his headquarters at Murfreesboro, Tenn., issued a general order, announcing to the commissioned officers of the rebel army, taken prisoners by the forces under his command, “That, owing to the barbarous measures announced by President Davis, in his recent Proclamation, denying parole to our officers, he will be obliged to treat them in like manner.”
—The expedition under the command of General Samuel P. Carter, reached Manchester, Ky., on its return from East-Tennessee.—A meeting was held at Beaufort, N. C, at which resolutions were adopted, denouncing the course of Governor Stanly, in his administration in that State.
Buntyn Station, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Rained in the night. Rec’d some more mail. Horses inspected by Lieutenants Clark, Hood and Simpson. Weather fine. Health not quite as good. Troubled with dumb ague.
