IMPORTANT FROM THE TENNESSEE: A Rumor of Another Great Battle in Progress; THE RUMOR CONSIDERED DOUBTFUL (4/26/1862)

A special to the Times, dated Cairo to-day, says that passengers by the Bells of Memphis say that at Savanna they heard heavy firing in the direction of Pittsburgh. The cannonading was brisk, and gradually grew louder, being heard for miles this side of Savanna. The belief was that a general engagement had taken place, and this was strengthened by the fact that on Wednesday significant preparations were made by Gen. Halleck for an attack.

Our gunboats on the Tennessee River had effected a passage over the Muscle Shoals, and penetrated as far as Huntsville, Ala., where they captured a quantity of rebel commissary stores.

The rumor that fighting had commenced at Pittsburgh is disbelieved at headquarters. Gen. Strong received dispatches from Gen. Halleck yesterday. No mention of any affair was made.

The steamers Belle of Memphis and Choctaw, from Pittsburgh Landing Wednesday morning, arrived last night. They were fired into 38 miles below Pittsburgh by a band of guerrillas, from behind some dwellings on the left bank of the Tennessee. The Choctaw received seven shots. Her mate was killed. The Belle of Memphis received twelve shots, mortally wounding one negro boy.

The roads at Pittsburgh are improving. Skirmishing between the pickets continues.

The river here is still rising. The lower Mississippi is fearfully overflowed, causing the greatest loss of property ever known.

1. The Major-General commanding this Department thanks Major-Gen. GRANT and Major-Gen. BUELL, and the officers and men of their respective commands, for the bravery and endurance with which they sustained the general attacks of the enemy on the 6th,

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4057677/posts

Important from the Tennessee: A Rumor of Another Great Battle in Progress – 2
Operations Down the Mississippi: Only Occasional Shots from the Mortars against Fort Wright – 2
News from Fortress Monroe: Arrival of a Party of National Wounded from the Elizabeth City Battle Field – 2-3
Department of the Shenandoah: Jackson Located Near Stannardsville – 3
Operation Below New-Orleans: Bombardment of Fort Jackson by the National Flotilla – 3
Department of the Rappahannock: Good Order Among the National Troops – 3-4
Our Army Before Yorktown: The Plans of Gen. McClellan – 4-5
News from Washington: Valuable Additions to the Relics of the Washington Family – 5
Editorial: The Great Battle-Fields and the Advantages They Give Us – 6
Editorial: The Superiority of British Military Discipline – 6-7
Active Operations Begun Against the Defences of New-Orleans – 7
The Soldiers’ Sanitary Commission – 7
Serious Railroad Accident: A Passenger Car of the Through Train to Washington Smashed Up – 7

Union actions to take New Orleans, Louisiana, are in progress, no casualties reported:

Louisiana 1861 - '62 Engagements

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
Oct 12	Head of the Passes, Louisiana	Union Navy Blockading Squadron , (Pope 5-ships) & Confederate "Mosquito Fleet" (Hollins 10 boats & fire rafts)	none 4 ships damaged	CSA (Union surprised routed)
April 16-28	Forts Jackson & St. Philip, LA	Union W. Gulf Squadron (Farragut), Confederate Dept #1 (Duncan)	Union 229-total, Confederate 782-total	USA
April 25 - May 1	New Orleans, LA	Union W. Gulf Blockading Squadron (Farragut, "Beast" Butler ~5,000), Confederate Dept #1 (Lovell)	None	USA

This brings total engagements so far to 102, 60 in Union states & territories, of which the Union won 47, Confederates 42, 15 inconclusive:

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of April 26, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
South Carolina	1	1	1	3
Virginia	5	11	7	23
North Carolina	4	1	0	5
Florida	1	0	0	1
Louisiana	2	1	0	3
Tennessee	3	1	0	4
Arkansas	1	0	1	2
Georgia	1	0	0	1
Total Engagements in CSA	18	15	9	42

Engagements in Union states/territories:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
Maryland	1	0	1	2
West Virginia	9	2	2	13
Missouri	11	9	1	21
New Mexico	4	8	0	12
Kentucky	4	3	2	9
Oklahoma	0	3	0	3
Total Engagements in Union	29	25	6	60
Total Engagements to date	47	40	15	102

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