The Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia CS
FURTHER FROM THE NORTH.
GENERAL CURTIS’S MOVEMENTS—
AFFAIRS ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Cairo, July 30.—The following news was published in the Memphis Evening Bulletin, of the 28th ult.:
The reported crossing of troops and ammunition by General Price, at some point between Napoleon and Vicksburg, induced General Curtis to make a rigid personal examination. At Napoleon there was a steam ferry-boat plying across the river, but the owners, on seeing the steamboat containing Gen. Curtis approach, ran off up the Arkansas river. It was followed, overtaken, and captured, together with fifteen other ferry and flat-boats.
The report was that the Confederates were crossing forces up the Arkansas. Hence General Curtis went up the river to the White River Cut-Off, about thirty-five miles, capturing boats at every turn, and returning by White river, where he left a portion of his captured booty, as he might have an opportunity to use it hereafter.
Jeff. Thompson was at Austin, fourteen miles this side of Helena, on Friday morning. He had about twenty five wagons of ammunition a short distance off, and came in to see what the prospect was of crossing to the Arkansas side. He took breakfast in the town, but shortly after a Federal force surrounded the place, and Gen. Jeff Thompson only escaped by about five minutes. He managed to get his wagons off also.