The New York Times
Wednesday, December 10, 1862
Price Three Cents
Vol. X11-NO.3499
IMPORTANT PROM THE SOUTHWEST
Rapid Movements of the National
Forces Under General Grant
A Skirmish Near Oxford on Thursday Morning.
An Engagement Near Coffeeville, Forty Miles Below on Friday Night Our Loss- Killed- Wounded, and 60 Missing The Rebel Loss 300
Cairo, Ill, Monday, Dec 8
Oxford Mississippi news to Thursday last, states that the rearguard of the rebels under the command of Gen. Jackson had a skirmish on that morning with the National Advance force near the town. The main body of the rebel army, forty thousand strong, passed through Oxford Twelve hours before. The number of the rebel sick and wounded is said to be very large.
Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 9
A special dispatch dated the 7th inst., from Oxford, Miss., save that Col. Dickey’s Cavalry had a two hours engagement with the rebels, near Coffeeville, on Friday night. The rebels are said to have had 5,00 Infantry, cavalry and artillery. The National Loss was, five killed, fifty wounded and sixty missing. The rebel loss was 300 killed and Wounded.
LATEST REPORTS FROM LOUISVILLE
Louisville, Ky., Tuesday, Dec 9
Three thousand rebel cavalry, supposed to be under Forrest, intending to make another raid into Kentucky, or a dash on Fort Donelson, were at Clarksville today.
Passengers from Gallatin contradict the story of the engagement there between fry and rebels. They say no recent fight has occurred there.
THE SITUATION IN MISSISSIPPI
From the Cincinnati Gazette, Dec 8
We have full confirmation this morning of the evacuation of Grenada, Miss., by the rebels. A private dispatch from one of our correspondent’s states that Gen. Grant’s army had concentrated at that place. The expedition from Helena commanded by Gen’s. Hovey and C. C. Washburn, had succeeded in cutting the Mississippi Central Railroad south of Grenada, and subsequently advanced upon and took possession of the latter place. The rebels, unable to move the rolling stock, destroyed the cars and locomotives. There are no positive advices as to the position of the rebels, but we are left to infer that they retreated to Columbus, Miss., southeast from Grenada, on the Mobile and Ohio railroad. From this point they still have railroad communication, via Meridian and Jackson, with Vicksburg; or they can get around to East Tennessee and join Bragg. It has been intimated heretofore that the rebel armies, if they should find themselves unable to operate separately, with the prospect of success, would abandon either the Mississippi line or East Tennessee, and unite against Rosecrans and Grant. Their failure to offer resistance to Grant so far would indicate that there has been no junction in Mississippi, as it would also that Pemberton is not strong enough to meet Grant. However, it is impossible to tell, from the course that has been adopted by the enemy, what the rebel plan is. If Pemberton has gone to Columbus, Grant must follow him, for a rebel army cannot be allowed to remain there, with our army even at Grenada. From Columbus they could, if not pressed, easily pounce upon Corinth. Gen grant, in order to protect his communications, must as he moves south, drive the rebels before him. The situation in Mississippi is getting more and more interesting. The gunboat fleet will now soon be heard from. The boats are in motion. And many days will not elapse before the strength of Vicksburg is tried once more.
NEWS OF THE DAY
The rebellion
(7th Kansas Cavalry and the 4th Illinois Cavalry were involved in this action)
The news from the southwest is interesting and important. The advance of the National forces under Gen. Grant, approaching Oxford, on the Mississippi Central Railroad, on Thursday last, had a skirmish with the rear guard of the rebels, near that place. It was ascertained that the main body of the rebel army, forty thousand strong, had passed through Oxford twelve hours before. A later dispatch from Oxford, on Sunday, states that a body of our cavalry had a two hour’s engagement, near Coffeeville, on Friday night, in which our l9oss was fifty-five killed and wounded, and sixty missing, while that of the rebels was three hundred killed and wounded. The rebel force engaged was estimated at five thousand. A glance at the map will show that Coffeeville is nearly forty miles below Oxford, and that, consequently, the advance of Gen. Grant’s cavalry must have been remarkably rapid. Coffeeville is only seventeen miles above Grenada, which point is said to have been occupied by the expedition under Gen. Hovey, several days ago.
