Depends of the West Bank of the Mississippi.
--The Mobile
Register, of the 30th ult., has the following important intelligence:
‘
As
Curtis has displayed no further stomach for the fray since the
battle of Elkhorn, the indefatigable Van-
Dorn has pushed forward to the
Mississippi with all rapidity.
His army is in good condition, much reinforced, and is concentrating at
Jacksonport and
Pocahontas.
General Jeff. Thompson is operating closely in connection with Van-
Dorn's army, and it is thought that some Federals in the neighborhood of New Madrid may be hurt before long.
Thus both sides are concentrating all their power for the great and desperate struggle for the mastership of the
Mississippi river and valley.
This movement of Van-
Dorn was executed with great celerity and secrecy.
He was doubtless enabled to accomplish it by the facilities of water transportation.
Jacksonport is on
White river and
Pocahontas about 50 miles north of it on the
Big Black fork of white river.
It is to be presumed that the gallant
General Van-
Dorn withdrew his forces to the
Arkansas river after the
battle of Elkhorn, dropped down the river and ascended the
White in steamers.
What force is still with
Price and Pike, is not known; but doubtless enough to keep
Curtis uneasy
Pocahontas is about sixty or seventy miles from New Madrid in a direction a little south of west, and
Jacksonport about the same distance west of
Fort Pillow on the
Mississippi.
Both of these places are about two hundred miles coastward of the late battle field of
Elkhorn in an air line.
It is gratifying to know that vigorous operations for the defence of the west bank of the
Mississippi are thus initiated.
’
