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Health & Fitness

Middletown 150 Yrs. Ago: Vicksburg Not Taken! Preparing for the Draft ...

War News

Vicksburg is not yet in the possession of our forces. Government has received official intelligence from Gen. Grant up to May 25, Monday, stating that the siege was progressing satisfactorily, and that he considers himself abundantly able to maintain the investment and at the same time repel any attack upon his rear. News not official to the 26th is that affairs remain unchanged. No severe fighting appears to have taken place since Monday, the 18th, our forces during that time being engaged in bombarding the town. The attack on Friday, the 22d, was not made by the entire army as reported, but by a force under Gen. Blair, which assaulted the principal rebel battery and failed to capture it.—Gen. Grant’s base of supplies is on the Yazoo, and is perfectly secure.

The expedition up the Yazoo river has been perfectly successful. Admiral Porter announces that three powerful steamers and a very large ram were destroyed at Yazoo City, and a fine navy yard of the rebels was burned. The property captured and destroyed amounted to over two millions of dollars.

It is stated that Gen. Banks has crossed the Mississippi with his army at Bayou Sara.

Gen. Burnside’s headquarters are to be removed this week from Cincinnati to Hickman Bridge, Ky.

The news from the frontier is that a considerable force, supposed to be under Gen. Price, crossed the Arkansas on the 20th near Fort Gibson, and after a severe fight were driven back by Col. Phillips.

Latest from Vicksburg.—News has been received to the 27th. Three assaults had been made by our forces upon the rebel stronghold. The last assault was made by Gen. Sherman with 20,000 men, in which we lost 600 killed and a large number wounded. Our outer line is within 100 yards of the rebel works. No apprehensions are felt by Gen. Grant of any serious attack on his rear. It is the opinion that the city will be taken by regular siege approaches.

The Enrollment.


It is required that the enrollment under the conscription act shall be completed by the first of July. This enrollment must include all able bodied men between the ages of 20 and 45 years, not exempt by law. Those enrolled are divided into two classes. The first class includes all unmarried men between 20 and 45, and all married men between the ages of 20 and 35 years. The second class comprises all married men between the ages of 35 and 45 years. ... The draft is to take place under the direction of the board of enrollment, which is to consist of the Provost Marshal, and two others who shall be appointed by the President of the United States, one of whom is to be a regularly licensed and practicing physician. Among those exempt are the only son of a widow or aged parents dependent upon him for support ; where two or more sons are liable, the mother may choose which shall be exempt ; the only brother of orphan children under 12 years of age, and the father of motherless children dependent on him for support. Where two or more of one household are already in the service, the rest liable, not exceeding two are exempt.

Certificates from surgeons are to be sworn to before a justice of the peace. Examinations are to take place in the presence of the Board of Enrollment.

No hesitation should be felt on the part of those who are exempt in making their cases known in season, so that their names shall not go on the list. It will save trouble to themselves hereafter, and will greatly facilitate the work of making a just allotment of those who are liable to military duty.

Emancipation in St. Louis.

At a late election in St. Louis, the vote stood for immediate emancipation 5,228 ; for gradual emancipation and no emancipation, 2,081.

Local News.

The work of numbering the streets was necessarily delayed for a few days last week. It will now be prosecuted as speedily as possible. All dwellings within the city limits will be numbered.

The College Boys are to give a concert at Rocky Hill on Tuesday (this) evening, and will sing in Cromwell on Thursday evening. Lovers of good music in Cromwell should improve their opportunity.

There is always a crowd at the Post Office on the arrival of the evening mail, and on several occasions a few rowdies had made considerable noise and some disturbance, rendering it unpleasant for those who were waiting for the mail to be distributed. We are glad to notice that the nuisance has now been abated and people may wait in quiet for the delivery of their letters and papers.

A valuable horse fell down in Main street in front of the McDonough House, and died almost immediately on Thursday. The cause was not apparent to outsiders, and must have been best known to the horse at the time.

Police Items.

Before Justice Bacon.—George Dickerson was up for the grave offence of removing Mr. Foster’s barber’s pole. No good proof was brought against him and he was discharged. Michael Murkle was also arraigned for having carried off that pole. He said he was not guilty, and there was no proof that he was guilty, and so he was discharged. ...

Two vagrants, man and wife, were sent to Haddam work-house by the Mayor.

Coming This Way.

A large number of Irish emigrants, just landed at New York, came up by the boat last week, but most of them went on to Hartford. We hope the next load will stop here. They are wanted. There is room enough for them, and a plenty of work to do. People are paying outrageous prices for labor, and it would be a great relief to see a small army of broad shouldered and hard fisted Irishmen walk into town some fine morning.

Dry.

The streets and roads are very dry and dusty, and what is more important the crops are in danger from drought. Very little rain has fallen for two or three weeks past, and much of the corn that was planted is said to be in the same condition as when put in the ground a fortnight ago. Many rain-water cisterns have given out for the first time in years. On Sunday there was a small sprinkle, but the clouds blew over early in the evening.

Middletown.

It is now the first of June. Gardens and ornamental grounds are in prime condition. Shade trees are in full leaf. Middletown is in full dress for the season. We assert that she is the most beautiful city in the state of Connecticut.

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For more articles from The Constitution, go to the Middlesex County Historical Society blog.

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