SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, May 30, 1863  A very rare publication from the Confederacy which seldom comes to the collector market. Although much of the content was literary in nature, there are news reports and a few illustrations.
The front page has a nice illustration of: "Commodore French Forrest, C.S. Navy" with the balance of the front page taken up with a detailed biography of him, focusing on his leadership in the on-going Civil War (see).
Page 2 has a full column headed: "The Times" which reports on the latest news from the various war fronts. Some bits include: "Recent events in Mississippi have not advantaged the Confederate arms...Dates & places now become uncertain. there was a fight at Bayou Pierre, wherever that is, which did not terminate in our favor. Grant pushed forward in the direction of Jackson...On the morning of the 15th he attacked Pemberton...The sum total of this jumbled intelligence is that we have been outnumbered & beaten at every point...Morgan has driven the enemy across the Cumberland river...The Third North Carolina Cavalry had a desperate skirmish with the enemy in Isle of Wight County...All quiet on the Rappahannock..." and much more.
Included also is a literary piece done with the Civil War as a backdrop, titled: "Outlines From the Outpost". There are two poems titled: "Poems Of the War. Scene In A Country Hospital" & "the Two Armies".
Half of the back page is taken up with 8 cartoon illustrations under  the heading: "Spraggins Turns Out" (see).
Begun on September 13, 1862 the "Southern Illustrated News" sought to fill the void left when the Southern States lost access to Harper’s Weekly and other illustrated newspapers from the North. In its “Salutatory,” in the first issue the editors state:  "...We propose to issue an Illustrated Family Newspaper…devoted to literature, to public instruction and amusement, to general news, and to the cause of our country in this trying hour when she is engaged in a terrible, but resolute and hopeful struggle for her liberty and independence..." Although it could be argued it never lived up to all of these goals as reports from the war were very limited, it was an important publication nonetheless. At its peak boasting as many subscribers as the largest daily paper in Richmond. As with all Southern publications it suffered from lack of supplies, reporters, artists and engravers as many had been drafted either into the military or into the service of the Confederate administration to engrave paper money and stamps. The engravings were crude when compared to Yankee publications.
Eight pages, in very nice, clean condition.