The Yankee Gazette

RUMORS ABOUND!

REBELS MOVE SOUTH OF RAPPAHANNOCK!

WHAT IS LEE UP TO?

There has been some activity as reported by correspondents at army headquarters. Several divisions of Union troops were seen marching to the west toward Culpeper Court House soon after the advance of a large part of the Union cavalry in that direction. These events recently unfolded in the Union camps.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

PRESIDENT WATCHES EVENTS UNFOLD IN THE WEST "WITH GREAT INTEREST"

Members of a "peace movement" established in New York, with clubs in Boston and Pennsylvania., are making themselves heard through newspapers and corner conversations. Though they are not a vocal group, they have been quietly campaigning with members of congress to seek a unified solution to the crisis by letting the South go. It is said that "Copperheads" operating from Canada have given influence to these individuals, contributing money and connections to further their cause. We can only hope that these unscrupulous types will not succeed and will be howled down at the scheduled Union meetings this summer.

THE NEWS FROM VICKSBURG!

REBEL STRONGHOLD SURROUNDED!

Gen. Grant

General Grant expressed hope that the recent victories will persuade the Confederates to recognize the desperate situation they are in and will soon surrender all of their rifles and cannon, as well as the city. Admiral David Porter, commanding the US Navy river gun boats, has cooperated fully with Union land forces. Despite strong Confederate positions over looking the river, the admiral's iron clads and river boats have succeeded in passing these batteries and bombarding the outer earthworks held by Pemberton's men.

NEGRO TROOPS TO BE RAISED

200,000 SOLDIERS!

SECRETARY OF WAR OFFERS OPINION

from the New York Times - The Secretary of War, referring to the intention of raising negro troops immediately upon the return of the adjutant general, said that "within six months we would have 200, 000 negro troops in the field." The War Department's plan for recruitment is to raise regiments of black Americans who are runaway slaves or freedmen and who wish to serve their country. The regiments will be led by white officers, fully trained in military discipline and drill. As of this writing there are only a handful of negro troops in the field, most notably the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Robert Gould Shaw, which is on duty on the South Carolina coast. The president has also offered his opinion that negro troops would benefit from their service, fighting for a cause of freedom in the South as put forward in the Emancipation Proclamation, issued after the Battle of Antietam.

Negro regiments under the flag of the United States will ensure that the Union army will have a sufficient amount of troops to occupy territory that has been taken by our victorious armies and to guard Union supplies and railroads. The introduction of the draft will also swell the depleted ranks of the army, but there has been some resistant encountered at enlistment offices in several cities.

PRICES IN DIXIE

WAR INFLATION HITS SOUTHERNERS HARD

The "Richmond Examiner" of May 23rd contains the price list of the Board of Commissioners appointed under the act of the rebel Congress to estimate the prices to be paid for articles purchased for the Southern army: Wheat at $4.50 per bushel, corn at $4 per bushel, potatoes at $5 per bushel, flour at $22.50 per barrel, bacon, salt pork or lard at $1 per pound; brown sugar at $1 per pound; coffee priced at $3 per pound, and hay at $80 per ton. It must be remembered that the rebels have to seize all stores now and individuals have to pay double and triple these rates. For the average civilian in Richmond, a day at the grocer will cost them $10 for a pound of coffee and $3 to $4 dollars for sugar. The poor strength of the Confederate dollar and the effectiveness of the Union coastal blockade is said to be having this effect and is stretching the rebel war budget to its limits. It is a shame that the civilian population must face such privations, but such is the price paid for rebellion!

A side note to this story is the effectiveness of our blockade of Southern ports. Rebel blockade runners succeeded in running 28,000 bales of cotton out of Charleston, South Carolina last year and have delivered over 9,800 out of the Confederacy to foreign markets during the first quarter of 1863. The Confederates insist of exporting their main commodity- cotton, in exchange for arms and equipment as well as general stores. Yet the blockade runners are privately owned ships that only carry a small portion of cargo for the Confederate government, and not all of their imported goods are guaranteed to reach government warehouses.

LETTERS FROM THE ARMY

"ALL QUIET IN VIRGINIA"

LETTER HOME FROM THE 57th NY

The YANKEE GAZETTE is pleased to announce that letters have been arriving at our home office and we will be publishing many of them beginning with the next issue. We are pleased to print what they and their families send us. Miss Adeline Moore has submitted this letter she recently received from her brother, Lt. Cornelius Moore of the 57th New York Infantry: