Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 31 January 1863, Page 3
From the Southern Cross, January 16. By the arrival of the clipper barque Glimpse, last night, we have San Francisco papers to the 3rd December inclusive. The Alto California of that date contains tho text of President Lincoln's message to Congress, delivered at Washington, on the 1st December. The President discusses the state of the foreign relations of the Federal Government, stating that "if less gratifying than it has usually been at other periods, it is certainly more satisfactory than a nation so unhappily distracted as we are might reasonably apprehend." He acknowledges that the conduct of Great Britain, in extending the treaty for the suppression of tho Slave trade, was " marked with a jealous respect for the authorities of the United States, and the rights of their moral and loyal citizens." The blockade is then reviewed, and the conduct of the Federal naval officers is palliated, as well as may be. The question of negro emigration is discussed ; as are also financial affairs and a variety of internal matters, such as telegraphs, postal and mining affairs. Speaking of "Emancipation and dissolution " the President says " One section of our country believes slavery is right, and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong and ought not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute." He then proceeds to argue that separation is not possible on account of tho physical conformation of the country. Fighting cannot last always, he admits, and when fighting has ceased, the cameo question us to terms of intercourse, which now divide the States will arise. " Can aliens make treaties better than friends can make laws ? " he asks ; " and can treaties be more faithfully enforced among aliens than laws can among friends?"
In Arkansas a great battle has been fought at Maysville, the New York Herald characterising it as a complete victory, ending in the total rout of the forces under General Hindman, and the capture of all the Confederate artillery. The following is the text of the despatch announcing the victory :— To Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief, Washington. St. Louis, Mo., October 25, 1862. Our arms are entirely successful again in Northwest Arkansas. General Schofield, finding that the enemy had camped at Pea Ridge, sent General Blunt, with the First division, westward, and moved towards Huntsville with the rest of his forces. General Blunt, by making a hard night's march, reached and attacked the rebel force at Maysville, near the north-west corner of Arkansas, at seven o'clock on the morning of the 22nd instant. Tho enemy were estimated at from five to seven thousand strong. The engagement lasted about an hour, and resulted in the total rout of the enemy, with the loss of all his artillery, a battery of six pounders — a large number ot horses, and a portion of their transportation and garrison equipments. Our cavalry and light howitzers were still in pursuit of their scattered forces when the messenger left. Our loss was small. General Schofield pursued General Hindman beyond Huntsville, coming close upon him, when his forces precipitately fled beyond the Boston Mountain. All the organized forces of the rebels have thus been driven back to the valley of the Arkansas river, and the army of the frontier has gallantly and successfully accomplished its mission.
S. R. Curtis,
Major-General Commanding.
On the 29th October, General Curtis announces to the General-in-chief that "the army of the frontier is again successful." Brigadier General Heron attacked a rebel camp, on the 28th, four miles east of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Confederate force of 3,000 men was commanded by Colonel Cravens, tho Federals being 1,000. "After a sharp engagement of an hour the enemy was completely routed, leaving all his camp equipments and a few wagons. The loss of the enemy was eight dead on the field. Our loss was five wounded; one mortally. General Heron pursued the rebel force for several miles into the Boston mountains.
From Illinois we learn that on the 27th October General Price was in force with 50,000 Confederates four miles from Bolivar. General Hindman, who was defeated at Maysville, is under arrest. Thirty five foraging wagons and their guard were captured by the Confederates. An attack on Helena was threatened. The Cairo news is also to the effect that the Confederates have possession of the Tennessee shore, opposite island No. 10. General Pillow, with 20,000 Confederates, is ready to form a junction with Price's division. The Confederates have taken possession of the Memphis and Charleston railway, and threaten that town.
Otago Witness, 9 January 1863, Page 7
What invitation would be dangerous and disloyal to a soldier! One asking him to dinner and dessert.
Daily Southern Cross, 17 January 1863, Page 3
The battle of Maysville, in Arkansas, was won by the Federal forces, which in the western border States seem to be much better led than the Confederate troops. The Confederate General Hindman, who commanded at Maysville, is under arrest, and will be tried for a variety of offences, some being crimes of great magnitude, — among which are wholesale confiscation of property to his own use, indiscriminate slaughter, and issuing orders that all the wells in his line of retreat should be poisoned to destroy his pursuers. We trust that the Confederates will make an example of this man, and show that there is an existing authority, in at least one section of the States, which can punish "distinguished" criminals.
Daily Southern Cross, 14 March 1863, Page 4
There has been an affair at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in which the Confederates are said to have been defeated. The Federal loss is stated at 950, and the Confederates to 2,700 killed aud wounded, and 3,-300 deserters. No details are given. An equally vague report is given regarding an affair at Corinth, between Generals Dodge and Forrest.
Daily Southern Cross, 31 March 1863, Page 4
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. "A PROCLAMATION." Washington, Jan. 1.
Whereat, on the 22nd day of September, in the year of our Lord 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, amongst other things, the following, to wit : — "That on the 1st day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforth and for ever free ; .. The number of slaves freed by President Lincoln's proclamation is 3,119,397.
Daily Southern Cross, 31 March 1863, Page 4
The following despatch had been received at the War Department : Headquarters, St. Louis, Dec. 29, 1862 Major-General H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief, Washington.— The army of the frontier, under Generals Brunt and Herron, moved over the Boston Mountains on Saturday, and advanced without halting to Van Buren. They drove the enemy across the Arkansas River, killed and wounded a few, and took three steamboats, some camp equipments, and 100 prisoners. The march of forty-five miles, with arms and service, over the mountains and through the deep mud of the valley, was a most gallant and arduous affair. R. S. Curtis, Major.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 20 May 1865, Page 3
Shelly's division has been defeated by the Federal's at Dardanelles, Arkansas.
Daily Southern Cross, 6 November 1863, Page 5
The reported evacuation of Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, by Kirby Smith, in view of the swift approach of Davidsons expedition.
The capture (officially communicated) of Fort Smith near the western boundary line of Arkansas, by Gen. Blunt on the 1st of September.
Daily Southern Cross, 6 November 1863, Page 5
The occupation of Fort Smith by Blunt and of Little Rock by Davidson furthers immensely the purpose of recovering Arkansas to the Union. Blunts success is officially reported. The Creek Indians, who constituted a large portion of McIntosh's force, have mainly deserted. With only 160 men the rebel General retreats from the Arkansas southward to the Red River. Davidsons success is only a report. It may be premature. But he was despatched by Grant with a strong force to take the capital; and if the report should prove untrue that Little Rock has already been evacuated, there is no doubt, in view of Davidson’s strength, that it will very soon be true.
Daily Southern Cross, 6 November 1863, Page 5
The rebellion which the U. S. Government is engaged in putting down is not to be crushed like an egg nor yet like ever so tough at nut. It is rather like a nest of viper, in spongy ground - the old ones are dead, the young ones must come one at a time, under the heel. So the Confederacy may not topple to its utter ruin with a. crash that will startle tho world, but inch by inch settle away as pillar after pillar falls until it lies a mass of ruins long before the victors discover how successful their assaults have been….
The war is in its third year. We have had alternate seasons of victory and defeat, triumph and failure, glory and shame. …
Now the rebels own undisputed, west of the Mississippi, only the southwestern quarter of Arkansas, a mere fraction of Louisiana, and the southeastern face of Texas ; east of the Mississippi they have a third of Virginia, the eastern third of Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia, but without any safe access to the sea, a more spot in western Florida, all of Alabama except its northwestern and southeastern corners, and a mere slice of Mississippi. And of this which still remains to them, the possession is of a most risky character. Texas isolated is left by Jeff Davis to work out her own destruction. The leaven of Unionism is said to be fermenting there, and General Banks, by late accounts, is preparing to stimulate it with the presence of an army flushed with repeated victories. Davidson's expedition is about to dispute with Price the possession of Little Rock and what is left to them of Arkansas. San Francisco Bulletin, Sept. 19.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 28 November 1863, Page 5
In Arkansas again the Federals have obtained possession of Little Rock, the capital of the State. Altogether the war news shows that the Confederate cause is growing more and more desperate every day.