From the South.
The mail last evening brought papers from the South and Southwest as late as due. We compile from them the following summary of news:
The
Vicksburg Whig, of May 29th, says:
‘
We learn that the
Federal put out pickets at Grand Guff on Monday night, and that in the morning one of them was discovered a corpse, having been shot during the night by some of our sharpshooters.
Those of our citizens who had built caves for their families to go into when the bombardment commenced, were very willing to seek safer quarters yesterday morning.
The holes which the enemy's missiles made in the ground satisfied them that their holes were not impregnable.
The enemy's gunboats continued bombarding the city until two o'clock yesterday morning, when they withdrew and fell back to their old position Several houses in the city were struck and damaged by the balls.
Those injured as far as we could learn were as follows: The residence and kitchen of John A,
Klein, the new
brick residence of
Duff Green, Marine Hospital,
A. B. Reading's foundry,
J. A. Kisin's saw-mill, the Methodist Church and jail.
Our people were busily engaged yesterday morning is hunting up shot and shell, and many were found in different parts of the city.
Some of the shells were opened and found to be empty, while others were filled with fine eagle powder.
They are rather dangerous things to handle, and persons should be very careful how they use them.
Lieut. Geo Wyman, of the Johnson cavalry, who arrived from Big Black yesterday, informs us that on Monday last, as the
Federal gunboats, with their transports, passed Gulf Bluff, the transports were fired upon by a field battery and considerably injured this incensed the
Federal so much that they shelled the town, and in the evening turned loose about fifteen hundred men to pillage the place, which they thoroughly accomplished.
They broke open every store and dwelling in the place, carrying off what goods they wanted, and wantonly destroying everything they could not carry off.
In the dwellings they broke up all the furniture, china and glassware — destroyed the clothing, and injured the houses as much as they could.
They killed all the stook in the place and carried off all they wanted, leaving the balance where it was shot down.
Of the poultry, they made a clean sweep — not a chicken left to crow next morning.
They told the people at
Grand Gulf that they were going to serve
Rodney and
Natchez in the same way. Firing was heard at
Rodney after they left
Grand Gulf; so we suppose it has also been destroyed.
They told the people at
Grand Gulf that they did not care about taking
Vicksburg until after
Fort Pillow fell, when they intended to destroy it.
’
We add the following from the
Whig, of the 30th:
‘
Our city looks dull, we believe duller than during the worst yellow fever years.
The stores are nearly all closed and those that are open are very nearly sold out, or the goods have been removed.
Those that are closed have removed their goods into the interior — You cannot buy anything either to eat, drink, or wear in the place — it has all been removed.
The hotels are closed, and persons coming here, or passing through, had better bring their rations in a haversack and a blanket to sleep on, as it is very difficult to obtain either here.
This has all been done in preparation for the anticipated fight with the Yankee gunboats.
We are now prepared to give them battle, and have determined to do our best to defend the place to the last.
The people have made up their minds that the city will be destroyed, and their full determination is to make it cost the
Federal as dearly as they can.
The
Vicksburg Citizen alludes in the most confident terms to the defences of that city, and claims to be well prepared for the enemy's attack by land and water.
’
The Lynchburg
Republican asserts that the enemy has evacuated
Lewisburg and retreated to
Meadow Bluff, twelve miles distant, where they are now concentrating their forces in anticipation of an attack from
Gen. Loring.
The movements of this officer since the repulse at
Lewisburg, have been of the most energetic character, and have created considerable alarm in the
Yankee army in the
West.
The
Memphis Apptal has intelligence from
Fort Pillow to May 28th, at which time the enemy were shelling furiously.
Most of their shots fell inside the works, without, however, doing any damage.
The fire was not returned, as the
Federal gunboats did not make their appearance.
From New Orleans.
A copy of the New Orleans
Delta, of May 27th, has been received.
It is now under complete Yankee control.
As a specimen of the stuff that fills its columns, we copy the following:
‘
We understand that
S. F. Glen,
Esq., of the
Washington bar, is preparing a documentary work on the subject of the surrender of New Orleans.
of course it will be exact and impartial, "verifying the truth of history," as he accompanied the staff of
Gen. Butler.
Captain Buchanan, first officer of the gunboat
New London, was in town on Saturday.
He is a sailor and a soldier, and it did us good to see his handsome face in our sanctum.
The late
Mayor Monroe does not enjoy the seclusion of
Fort Jackson.
He dreams audibly, suffers from the nightmare, and the mosquitoes pester him. He has been a great sinner, and it is just that the flies should be permitted to do unto him as he has done unto others.
Col. Dudley's regiment paraded yesterday afternoon.
They made a fine appearance, and the streets through which they passed were thronged by ladies and gentlemen.
The great coward,
Lovell, who ran away upon the approach of the national army to New Orleans, is now in
Alexandria, La. He is surrounded by a mob. He has issued an order directing the destruction of cotton.
We print it elsewhere.
’
The enemy a movements in Stone river.
The Charleston
Mercury, of Tuesday last, says:
‘
Yesterday morning the enemy's gunboats began a vigorous and indiscriminate shelling of the neighborhood of
Secessionville.
The firing continued with greater or less rapidly during the forenoon but did not result in any particular damage on our side.
During the afternoon the firing ceased, but the number of the enemy's gunboats was increased, eight having anchored in
Stone river, while thirteen others were reported to be outside the bar. To-day will probably develop the meaning of proximity of this unusually large flotilla to
James Island.
Last night the town was full of rumors, of various degrees of possibility; but as we could trace none of them to authentic sources, we confine ourselves to the facts we have ascertained and given above.
’
