gram Olartspontauts.
For the Mearenger,
LETTER FROM A MEMBER OF THE
RINGGOLD OAVALRY..
CAMP WASHINGTON, THREE MILES NORTH}
OP WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 2, '6l.
Editors Messenger:—My last was from
Camp Curtin. We remained there until
the morning of the 25th. Each JAY
brought in from three to eight ~ fl ies ,
until at the time of our leaving afire were
in camp thirty-one companies, comprising
nineteen or twenty hundred men—all ex
cept four companies were in tent. Little
occurred until Saturday morning to vary
Imarptluty.-Ont!istnrday morning we were
awaited to the Capital grounds and sworn
into the United States service ; not a single
man out of the eighty-four making the
leset hesitancy. I think I paid strict at
tention, and could discover no objection
able features in the oath. We were sworn
in by Col. Hastings, and in less than two
hours we received marching orders for the
Federal City, (to leave Camp Curtin at 3
o'clock,) but owing to some cause we did
not start till 3 o'clock in the morning. At
half past one the bugle sounded, and in a
few moments all were formed into rank in
front of our quarters, took a soldier's adieu
of Camp Curtin, and marched for the
depot. The night was fine moonlight, and
we encountered no rebels on our way, but
soon arrived at the depot of the Northern
Central. At 3 o'clock the iron horse be
gan to move off with us for Baltimore.—
We soon crossed the Susquehanna, which
is truly a fine sight on a beautiful night
like the one referred to. Arrived at York,
the former site of Camp Scott, at daylight.
After traveling some miles we began to re
alize that we were entering the enemies'
country by seeing a soldier standing along
side the track, musket in hand: he greeted
us with a cheer and a wave of the hand,
but his voice was soon as a rifle shot com
pared to a seventy-six pound battery. The
boys cheered till hills echoed and re
echoed with their shouts. From many of
the residences appeared, at the doors and
windows, the ladies waving their handker
chiefs, our fellows vociferously cheering in
turn. What made it still better, so far as
your correspondent was concerned, they
were generally remarkably good looking.
Some places they appeared looking fero
cious as tigers—their frowns clearly said
we would give you particular thunder if
we dared. Every few minutes we came to
a few tents, around which were standing
from ten to fifteen soldiers. We stopped a
moment at a station, and on inquiry,
found them to be the Second Indiana Reg
iment, under Col. Wood. Arrived at Bal
timore at 8 o'clock in the morning, and at
once marched a mile and a half through
the city. No one offered us the slightest
injury; drew up at the Washington depot.
Scarcely had we got more than fairly in
than we were heseiged on all sides by men,
women, children, boys, girls, old, young,
white, black, Irish and Dutch, asking you
to buy apples, pears, peaches, cakes, pies,
candies, tobacco, corn, coffee, and a hun
dred and one things you did not need, and
which soldiers would be far better without.
After waiting about an hour and a half, we
were furnished with breakfast, which con
sisted of as much bread, meat, and coffee
as you might wish. We were then dis
missed for a time, the boys mixed pro
miscuously through the crowd. I heard
and talked with a number of uncompro
mising Union men ; one young man in
particular, who seemed unusually well in
formed, gave me a detailed account of the
riot of the 19th of April. It is highly
probable that for some weeks ttfore and
after that, Baltimore was the worst and
most tyranically governed city that ever
existed in a republican government. Since
the appointment of the Union police, the
government has been much better and se
cure; daily accessions being made to loyal
forces. It is thought by well informed
men that at one time there was not more
than three thousand loyal citizens in Bal- '
timore. I asked the young man before
referred to, that, if the citizens of Balti
more were left wholly without restraint, if
the majority of them would be for the
Union, he answered, "I must confess that ,
they would not." No well informed man
now but will admit that a majority of the
citizens of Maryland are loyal. A few po
litical fortune seekers still keep up the
See. qpion doctrine and lead not a few
with them, for it has been remarked, that
no doctrine, however bad and evil in its
tendency, but, if ably advocated, has
found its followers. While in Baltimore,
the Mass. 21st Regiment came in fully
equipped and armed, having their baggage
wagons with them, also the Seventh
Maine Regiment, 900 strong. The latter
were armed and equipped except their
cartridge boxes ; both were composed of
fine, intelligent looking soldiers. They
encamped in Johnson's Park, in the city
of Baltimore. At half past:one we took
the can for Washington City, along the
road the same waving and cheering was re-
our canteens and haversacks, took up our
march for Camp, which was said to be one
and a half miles distait, kat which we
found it to be three milegs . ao some of the
fellows thought it torisObai far. Got in
to Camp between- , twine and ten o'clock,
not a tent on tileground, so we, two and
two, spread one blanket on the ground and
the other over us ; this and the heavens
were our only covering. I slept soundly
till the morning reveille sounded and
awoke with an appetite like a heathen.
We are encamped in a most beautiful
woods upon a high piece of ground. Our
fellows like it far better than Camp Cur
which has not a single shade tree in
it. Six companies of our Regiment are
now in, and the remainder are looked for
in a few days; all are furnished with a
Colt's six-shooter and sabre except ours,
and we will get outs in a few days. Di
rectly across the road is encamped the
First Regiment Pennsylvania Dragoons ;
about a mile in our rear the Second New
York Zouaves; on our left, about seven
hundred yards, a Regiment of Cameron Ri
flemen, I,ooostrong. Look where you may,
or turn which way you will, you will see
looming up the soldiers' tent, and hear
the bugle or drum. Large forces are en
camped in and around Washington City;
and from what I have already seen I am
satisfied our army is not yet ready to
move onward. It is impossible for one to
fully realize the magnitude of arming, fur
nishing and equipping such a force with
out seeing for themselves. Although the
work is pushed forward with great energy,
both night and day, and more is done in
one day more than one would suppose to be
done in a week. If those newspaper fault
finders would once see for themselves,
they certainly would cease grumbling.—
The old adage "make haste slowly" is
no where more applicable than in prepar
ing for war. When our army is fully
equipped, it will be one of the grandest
and most effective that ever moved on the
Western continent, perhaps, of modern
times.
The events now transpiring remind me
of the force led by Cyrus or Alexander the
Great. Unless some very grave error be
made, no one should doubt the reeult of our
forces when they again move; so certain
as time moves onward, so certain will this
rebellion be crushed out, and that, too,
effectually. We have all been furnished
with a blanket, two pairs of socks, two un
dershirts, one blouse, one cap, one pair of
pants; one pair of fatigue pants. We are
promised the remainder soon, but whether
the promise will prove true remains to be
seen. The health of our fellow* with an
exception or two, is very good. No soldier
is allowed to into the city without a pass,
or citizens out without a pass from the
Secretary of War.
Our address is Washington City, D. C.
Company F, First Regiment, P. R. C. C.
A Member of the Ringgold Cavalry.
For the Messenger.
UNION MEETING AT BOCK LICK, VA,
Agreeably to previous arrangements, the
citizens of Marshall co., Va., together with
their Union loving neighbors of Greene
co., Pa., met in the grove at Rock Lick
School House, on Monday, September 9th,
for the purpose of giving a public dinner
to the members" of Co. H, of the first Va.
Reg't, commanded by Capt. J. F. Donnelly,
who have returned from a three months ,
tour in the Mountains of Western Virgin
ia, where they did good service in driving
back the rebels. It was also expected that
a Company from Greene co. Pa., who had
agreed to enlist in the U. S. service, and
who had been invited, would be there to
partake with the Company from Va., but
this proved a failure, as only about eight
of the Greene county Company made
their appearance, the balance of them hav
ing backed out. The meeting was organ
ized by electing. J. H. DICKEY, of Mar
shall co. Va., President; WM. FLETCHER
and BENJAMIN ANDERSON, of Greene co.
Pa., Vice Presidents, JOHN JONES and
B. PARKINSON, Secretaries. The meeting
was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Dow-
LER, who afterwards favored the audience
with a short and patriotic speech. Rev.
Mr. TRAINER, being called upon, responded
in a brief, yet bold and patriotic style, in
which he clearly set forth the objects of
the rebels, and the dangers of disunion,
together with the duty of every American
citizen in crushing the rebellion. The sol
diers were then invited to a large table
which had been bountifully spread with
eatables of every description, and of the
very best quality: there still being room at
the table, the ladies were invited to eat;
after which the table, was cleared, and
spread a second time, when every one pres
ent was invited to eat, there being an
abundance for all. The dinner did great
honor to the good people engaged in pre
paring it. Between four and five hundred
persons took dinner. The utmost harmo
ny and good feeling prevailed.
After dinner several gentlemen made
Union speeches. A vote of thanks was
returned to the citizens for their liberality
and patriotism. J. B. 11.4.0 zit returned
thanks in behalf of Company H. On mo
was resolved a notice of the meet
forwarded to the Wheeling "Intelli
and the Greene co. papers, with a
to publish.
J. H. DICKEY, Pres%
JoNits, Secretaries ,
AEKXNSON,
For the Messenger
Union Meeting.
he 6th inst., a Union meeting was
Mount Morris, composed of the
of the border. After the organi"
Maj. J. A. J. BUCHANAN was called
.nd responded in a highly eloquent
triode address, clearly pointing out
1 of an American citizen in this
lour, calling upon all, without Ais.
of party, to stand by the Constitu -
the Union. It is enough to sa y
session proclivities, in this corner,
Ted before the power of his logical.
ions. M.
" tt" 11 . e fag.
A Deeidna Motary in Western Virginia—
General Floyd,. Obliged to Fly with the
Loss of Camp Equipage, Wagons, Horses,
Amminition,
The long expected encounter be
tween General .Rosecrans and Gener
als Floyd and Wise has at last taken
place, and notwithstanding the ene
my was entrenched in an almost im
pregnable position, with regular for
tifications mounted with nineteen
guns, and every possible advantage
on his side, our boys have been com
pletely victorious. Thus another
proof has been offerer of the su
perior pluck and determination of
loyal Union in against Southern
traitors. "Thrice is he .armed who
hath his quarrel jrist," &c. The tel
egraph gives the following interesting
account of the battle:—A battle took
place about three o'clock on Tuesday
afternoon, near Summerville. Gen.
Rosecrans after taking a reconnois
ance, found Floyd's army, five thou
sand strong, with sixteen field pieces,
entrenched in a powerful position on
the top of a mountain at Carnix Fer
ry, on the west side of Gauley river:
the rear and extreme of both flanks
were inaccessible, and the front mask
ed heavily by forest and close jun
gle. Colonel Lytle's Tenth Ohio
Regiment, of Bonham's brigade, was
in advance, and drove a strong de
tachment of the enemy out of their
camp this side of the position, the site
of which was unknown.
Shortly afterwards his scouts, con
sisting of four companies, suddenly
discovered themselves in the face of
a parapet battery, and a long line of
palisades for riflemen, when the bat
tle opened fiercely. The remainder
of the Tenth and Thirteenth Ohio
were brought into action successively
by General Bonham, and the Twelfth
afterwards by Captain liartstuff,
whose object was an armed recon
noissance. The enemy played ter
rifically on our forces with musketry,
rifles, canister and shell, causing some
casualties. Colonel Lytle led sever
al companies of Irish to charge the
battery, when he was brought down
by a shot in the leg. Smith's Thir
teenth Ohio Regiment engaged the
enemy on the left, and Colonel Lowe's
Twelfth Ohio Regiment directly in
front. Lowe fell dead at the head of
his regiment early, in the hottest
fire, by a ball in the forehead.
McMullen's howitzer battery and
Snyder's two field pieces meantime
were got in the best position possible
under the circumstances, and soon
silenced two of the rebel guns. The
fire slackened at intervals, but grew
more furious as night approached.—
The German brigade was led gallant
ly into the action by Colonel McCook,
under the direction of Adjutant Gen
' eral Hartstuff, but, after a furious
fight of three hours, night compelled
the recall of the troops, and the men
laid on their arms within a short
distance of the enemy, each ready to
j resume the contest next morning.
Floyd fled during the night, and
sunk the boats in the river, and de
stroyed the temporary brige lie had
made when he first occupied the po
sition. The turbulence and depth of
the river, and the exhaustion of the
troops, made it impossible to tbllow
him. He left his camp equipage,
wagons, horses, large quantities of
ammunition and fifty head of cattle.
Our loss is fifteen killed and about
seventy wounded, generally flesh
wounds. The rebel loss cannot be
ascertained, as they carried their
dead and wounded with them, but
it was certainly serious.
Captain McGroarty, of Cincinnati,
Captain McMullen and Lieutenant
Snyder, of Ohio, are among the
wounded but not dangerously.—
Twenty-five of Colonel Tyler's men,
who were taken by Floyd at Cross
Lane, were recaptured, and Floyd's
baggage,personal with that of his
officers, was taken. General Bon
ham's brigade, which suffered most,
was commanded by him in person,
and McCook led his brigade. Gen.
Rosecrans and Bonham, Colonels Mc-
Cook. Little, Lowe, Captains Hart
stuff, Snyder, McMullen, Major Burke,
of the Tenth' Ohio, and other officers,
displayed conspicuous personal gal
lantry. The troops were exclusively
from Ohio, and showed great bra
very
GEe BOSEORANS' OFFICIAL BE-
PORT.
The following is Gen. Rosecrans'
official report of the late battle at
Gauley river : "We yesterday march
ed seventeen and a half miles, reach
ed the enemy's entrenched position in
front of Conifix Ferry, driving his
advance outposts and pickets before
us. We found him occupying a
strongly entrenched position, covered
by a forest too dense to admit of be
ing seen at a distance of three hun
dred yards. His force was five regi
ments, besides the one driven in.—
He had probably sixteen pieces of ar
tillery. At three o'clock we began a
strong reconnoisance, which proceed
ed to such length that we were about
to assault the position on the flank
and front, when night coming on,
and our troops being completely ex
hausted, I drew them out . of the
woods and posted them in the order
of battle behind ridges immediately
in front of the enemy's position,
where they rested on their arms till
morning. Shortly after daylight a
runaway contraband came in and re
ported
that the enemy had crossed
the Gauley during the night by
means of the ferry, and a bridge
which they had completed.
Col. Ewing was ordered to' take
possession of the camp, which he did
about seven o'clock, capturing a few
prisoners, two stand of colors, a con
siderable quantity of arms, with
quartermaster's stores, messing and
camp equipage. The enemy have
destroyed the bridge across the ;Gau
ley, which here rushes through a
deep gorge, and our troops being
stll much fatigued, and having no
material for immediately replacing
the bridge, it was thought prudent to
encamp. The troops occupy the fer
ry and captikred the camp, sending
a few rifled cannon shots after the
enemy to produce a moral effect.—
Our loss will probably amount to
twenty killed and one hundred
wounded. The enemy's loss had not
been ascertained, but from report it
must have
,been considerable.
(Signed) 11. S. RosEce.ANs.
GEN. LEE MAKES AN ADVANCE--HIS
FROSPEOTS NOT VERY FLATTER-
EMI
While • one wing of our Western
Virginia army has just put Floyd,
the thief, to flight, the other and the
main division, stationed at Cheat
Mountain Pass and • thereabouts has
been advanced upon by Gen. Lee.
The telegraphic account says that the
rebels commenced an advance to
both pickets so late ago as Thursday,
and succeeded in surrounding the fed
eral fOrt situated on the summit of the
mountain, cutting the telegraph wire
connecting that post with Grafton,
Clarksburg, e. They continued to
advance on Elk Water until within
two miles of our troops, when a few
shells from Loomis' battery dispersed
them. The skirmishing was kept up
all night. They did not, however,
enjoy their success long, for on Fri,
day morning two regiments were
sent to cut their way to the summit,
and succeeded, the rebels fleeing in
all directions. Two rebels officers
while spying around the Elk Water,
yesterday morning, were suprised by
our pickets and shot. The body of
one was brought into camp, and
proved to be that of Col. Sohn. A.
Washington, of Mount Vernon, pro
bably the meanest man, next to the
fellow lately caught forging Confed
ate treasury notes, in all Ameri
ca.
As will be rememberd, Gen. Rey
nolds, of Indiana, is in command of
the forces at Cheat Mountain Gap,
and on the road to Iluntersville, on
Elk Creek, head waters of Tygart's
Valley river. At the former place,
on the summit of the mountain, were
stationed the 24th and 25th Ohio and
14th Indiana. Extensive fortifica
tions had been thrown up and a fort
of considerable dimensions was in
course of construction. Breastworks
encircled the camp, and cannon were
flanked so as to command the ap
proach for over a mile. The battery
was from Wheeling. At the base of
Cheat Mountain Gap, this side, Gen.
Wagner's headquarters are establish
ed and also two of the Cold water Artil
lery, of Michigan, with Parrot rifled
guns, (10 potindexs,) and one Indiana
Regiment. At Camp Elkwater was
the Third and Sixth Ohio and Fif
teenth Regiment of Indiana, and the
remainder ofthe Michigan battery.—
There are formidable works at this
point; also acres of forests have been
cleared away by the troops so as to
give space for the artillery to operate.
should General Lee prosecute his re
searches much farther, he will doubt
less be forced back with great loss. as
Reynolds must have, altogether, over ,
eleven thousand good and tried men,
commanded by first rate officers.—
There must be' several hundred men
from this county in that district, and
we look for a good report from them.
The Rebels About to Cross the Potomac,
From the information received by
the Government, telegraphs Col.
Forney to Friday's Press, there is
good reason to believe that the rebels
are preparing to cut off all communi
cation on the lower Potomac. Their
batteries at Aquia Creek have been
increased in number and strengthen
ed by additional guns. They are de
termined not only "to hold the ter
minus of the railway at all hazards,"
but they are also evidently preparing
to command the fall range of the riv
er, and cut off intercourse. They have
cannon which, by actual experiment
has thrown shot into the bank on the
opposite side of the Potomac, and
more of these heavy pieces are to be
added to those already there. With
these, two objects are to be gained—
the stoppage of our 'shipping and the
landing of an army in Maryland. A
very intelligent lady of Washington,
and an excellent Union woman, who
has at her house,- been feeding and
nursing our sick soldiers, made an
effort, a few days ago, to get her daugh
ter home from Virginia, where she
has, for some time, been on a visit to
near and dear relatives of Southern
proclivities. A communication was
sent to the mother advising her to ,
allow the daughter to remain as a
matter of security, as it was the pur 7
pose of the rebel army to cross the
Potomac in a few days and enter
Washington.
In addition to this, we have the
evidence of escaped fugitives, of in- I
telligent Confederate newspaper cor
respondents, of editors of Southern !
papers, and of numerous private cor
respondents, all tending to show an
intention on the part of the rebel lead
ers to invade Washington. Whether
this "intention" will ever be brought
to the test of a trial does not yet
clearly appear. There is one thing
certain, however, that Gen. McClellan
is ready to receive them with the
strongest force that can be gathered
on the sacred soil of Virginia. As to
the attempt to cross the Potomac, !
it must be made quickly, if at all, for
to the flotilla, now numbering eigh
teen vessels, six more will be immedi
ately added. Against these the little
steamer Page, and all the batteries
they may be pleased taiblant on the]
banks of Aquia Creek, will not .be
able to cope with . any show of sue-.
•
cess.
'Bob Tyler, once notorious in
Philadelphia for his extravagant pre
tentions and bad poetry, has been ap
pointed Register of the Treasury of
the rebel Government in Richmond.
Bob has an unsettled actountwith our
State treasury, contracted while he
was Prothonotary of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, which needs
adjusting, or Bob's honesty will be
come depreciated in these quarters.
1
ALL UP WITH THE REBELS IN MIS-
SOURI.
It is pretty well ascertained, says the
St. Louis Republican of Monday, that
a large portion of the troops lately
concentrated at New Madrid, from
Tennessee and other quarters, have
been withdrawn. Some to Hickman
Kentucky, and others to Tennessee.
The only force of any stength iu the
Southeast is under the command of
Jeff. Tornpson, and he can very soon
be disposed of, by the army which
.may move in the same direction. The
truth is, many men who have engaged
in this 'enterprise are getting heartily
sick of the business. We hear of
some gentlemen who have recently
returned from Price's army who are
disgusted with the aspect of things
there, and who will be well content
to the Union, if they can have any as
surance that they will not be molest
ed for past offences. They are more
than ever disgusted with Jackson's
conduct. No one seems to know
anything of his whereabouts, but it is
quite certain that he is not in the
State, while he is requiring his fol
lowers to risk their lives and property
in his cause.
ANOTHER NAVAL EXPEDITION.
FORTRESS MoNROE, Sept. 11.—The
steamer S. R: Paulding leaves to
night for Hatteras Inlet with rein
forcements. The steamer Baltimore
is also on the way with naval stores.
The U. S. sloop of war Jamestown
has arrived from the blockade off
Florida, but brings no news of impor
tance. The appointment of Gen.
Reynolds to chiefeommand at Hatter
as Inlet gives entire satisfaction. At
Old Point vigorous measures are be
ing taken for fitting out an expedition
against the Southern coast. Under
Gen. Wool's command the army here
is attaining a good degree of discip
line, and the troops arg impatient to
meet the enemy.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN A THEATRE
-DEATH OF SIX BALLET GIRLS.
PHILADELPHIA, September W.
There was a frightful accident at
the Continental Theatre on Saturday
night, by which iOurteen ballet girls
were terribly burned. The sad affair
still continues to agitate. the city.—
No less than six deaths have occur
red, but it is hoped that the rest will
recover.
A coroner's inquest is now being
held at tho theatre, which will be
open to-morrow night, with "Tem
pest" as the play. On Wednesday
night a benefit will be given in, aid
of the sufferers.
THE APPROACHING CRISIS.
The manner in which the military
affairs of the North are now conduct
ed, gives the people a hope, amounting
almost to a certainty, that the time is
at hand when this rebellion must suc
cumb to the legal authority of the
country- There is every indication
that a great battle is approaching and
that a blow will be struck which shall
dstroy the conspiracy which has
attempted the overthrow of this re
public.
If the enemy make_ an attempt to
break through our lines, which, in their
desperation, they may do, they —ll
, .e . y ,y iey
most certainly be cut to pieces, never
to rally in force again. If they want
the thorough and determined prepara
tios which (lens. McClellan and Scott
are making, and reolve to meet the
_ _
advance of the army of the republic,
their defeat is equity certain. The
attention of the whole world is now
with the most intense interest, watch
ing the progress of events in the Uni
ted States. In a few weeks, at least,
perhaps in a few days, the conflict
will take place, which will vindicate
free institutions from the suspicion of
weakness, and will restore and caac
to be respected the authority of the
National Government.
Already we have the news of sharp
skirmishing in the vicinity of Wash
ington, in which the rebel troops
have been compelled to fall back.—
There may be some delay yet before
a final contest comes. But when it
does come we have every confidence
that complete success will crown our
arms. Recently General McClellan
made the following little speech to
the federal army:
"Soldiers—We have had our last
retreat. We have seen our last de
feat. You stand by me, and I will
stand by you, and henceforth victory
will crown our efforts."
These brief words speak volumes
of hope for the cause of the Republic.
A Devilish Act.
There is no act which the secession
ists have been guilty of so atrocious as
the injury to the bridges on the Hanni
bal and St. Joseph Railroad on Thurs
day, by which a passenger train was
precipitated into the Platte River.—
The persons who were thus killed and
wounded were not soldiers—perhaps
not all of them Unionists; but they
were peaceable civilians, women, and
little children, who were wantonly
consigned to a sudden death, or ling
ering agony of mutilated bodies and
mangled limbs. In the history even
of civil war we Can remember nothing ,
so atrocious. The Black Hole of Cal
cutta sinks into insignificance com
pared to the devilish wickedness of
this act. The perpetrators not know
ing whom they might destroy. They
had not even revenge as an excuse for
their crimes. What they did was
done in mere wantonness against
peaceable travelers, against those
whose sex and years are respected in
all civilized nations. We shudder
when we contemplate the terrible
enormity, the cold-blooded ferocity of
this pretextless destruction of human
life.
110rAN incident in New Haven is
related by the Register: Two widows,
twin sisters, aged eighty eight years
each, were present last week in the
camp of the Sixth and Seventh Con
necticut Volunteers, in good health
and spirits. Born before the Revolu
tionary war, they have lived to see
the first attempt to destrt nation
.established in their chilMod.
i-The fact cannot be gainsayed
that sickness, debility, prostration
and death have taken hold of the
rebel army to such a degree as to
cause the greatest consternation
among the otpeers and soldiers. As
additional evidence of this fact to
what has been heretofore published,
we gather from late Southern papers
the following in relation thereto :---
"The hospitals at Fredericksburg,
Va., are crowded with sick sol
diers from the
. Carolinas, Arkansas
and Tennessee regiments. The hos
pitals in Richmond have been full for
some time, and they are obliged to
quarter the sick wherever they can
find a shelter. The Mississippi brig
ade, which was composed of tbrty
seven hundred men, has only twenty
three hundred on duty. One-third
of Johnston's division are prostrated
by disease. The small-pox is raging
violently at Lynchburg and Lees
burg. and two thousand men are in
the hospitals at those places."
Col. Geary has a Skirmish with the Rebels—
They are Completely Routed.
WASHINGTON, September Dith.—
The following official dispatch was
received at General McClellan's
head-quarters to-day: "DARN ESTOWN
Mu., Sept. 15.—This afternoon, at
three o'clock, about four hundred
rebels attacked the extreme right of
my pickets, about three miles above
this place, opposite Prichart's Mills.
The affair was a spirited one, lasting
about two hours. The enemy was
driven from every house and breast
work they occupied. Eight or ten
rebels are said to be killed and a
number wounded. Our loss is only
one killed. Our victory is complete,
and the troops behaved most admira
bly. Our cannon were efficiently
served, and rendered good service in
the action. [Signed,]
No. W. GEAR Y,
Cal. 28th Pv_g . t. Pclin'tt. Reserves
Legislators, Editors and .T'romiuent Citizens
under Arrest--St3cession Frustrated.
BALTlmpan, Sept. 13.--The Provost Mar
shal arrested this morning before daylight
the followingdistinguished citizens: Mayor
Brown, Charles If. Pitts, Lawrence Sangs
ton, S. 'l'. Wallis, T. P. Scott and Ross
Winans, members of the Legislature. F.
K. Howard, the editor of the Baltimore
"Exchange" was also arrested. The whole
party were conveyed to the hospital for
sick patriotism, located at Fort McHenry.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 13.-1. following ad
ditional arrests have been made : Messrs.
Dennison, Quinland and Dr. Lynch, mem
bers of the Legislature, from Baltimore
county, Henry L. Warfield, Dr. J. Han
son Thomas and John C. Brune, city mem
bers. Also, Thomas W. Hall, jr., editor
of the Snith, The Legislature was to have
met on Tuesday next, and these arrests ef
fectually defeats the intended legislation,
hostile to the government, including, as is
supposed, the passage of an ordinance of
secession.
It is rumored that other arrests are to
follow. All the arrests have been made
pursuant to orders direct from the War
Department. Of course there has been no
official announcement of the arrests, but it
is believed that all the names given above
are correct. It is also reported that Henry
May, the Member of Congress, Henry M.
Mortit and W. 0. Harrison, members of
the Legislature from the city, have also
been arrested. These, with the names be
fore given, comprise the ten city delegates.
The rumor is also current that Benjamin
Howard, the Peace candidate for Gov
ernor, has also been taken into custody.—
There is considerable excitement of a sub
dued character about the streets.
The Chance for a General Engagement.
The disposition of the rebel troops
to pick a quarrel with our forces when
ever they go outside their intrench
ments does not, writes the Washing
ton correspondent, of the New York
"Post," necessarily indicate an attack
en our fortifications. The general opin
ion in and around the capital is that
the rebels will make a desperate at
tack somewhere along our lines with
in a week, but good militay judges
declare that there is nothing yet to
warrant such an opinion. Their ob
ject probably is to draw out our troops
and to provoke a battle outside the
range of our guns. Friday's occur
rence shows how this might occur.—
If Col. Stevens had been heavily rein
forced, and the rebels had also been
properly supported, an engagement of
the first class might have ensued.—
With two armies so close to each
other, it will be exCedingly difficult
to avoid serious skirmishing and a
battle even. General McClellan, how
ever, will very certainly avoid all risks
till he is ready. He will not allow
himself to be provoked into a fight
by the insolence of Beaurega.rd, if he
is not fUlly prepared for offensive op
erations. If' the rebels cannot wait
till then, they must take us as we took
them at Bull's Run—on ground of our
own choosing. Our generals will . not
give them the choices of time and po
sition in the next "artillery- duel."
An officer that was in the skirmish
at Lewinsville informs us that the
rebels were evidently surprised by the
ardor of our troops'and the vigor of
our artillery practice.
AN INCIDENT AT CRESSON.—An af
fecting incident too place:at Cresson
the other day on the occasion of the
arrival of the train bearing Gen. Ly
on's remains at that point. The mo
ment the cars stopped Gen. Ander
son most unexpectedly appeared on
the train, and shook hands with the
escort. lie said he was stopping at
Cresson, and could not allow the oc
casion to pass without taking a final
farewell on earth of the remains ofso
brave a soldier and excellent officer
as Gen. Lyon. The General then
passed on to the coffin, and bending
his head above it, said with a trem
bling voice: "We could ill afford to
spare so courageous a soldier at this
time. America needs all her heroes
now." As Gen Anderson was leav
ing the car, Mrs. Plummer, U. S. A.,
one of the escort, and wounded at
Wilson's Creek, rose from her seat,
and saying she would be most hap
py to know the hero of Fort Sump
ter, he cordially grasped her hands,
and gallantly replied, pointing to the
Captain: "You need not seek, my
dear Madame, to know heroes when
you have so brave a one in him you
have chosen for your husband !"
Ent ant( gtissor,S.
GEN. WEIGLITMAN.—The Genera/
Weightman, who was killed in Me-
Cullongh's army at the Wilson's
Creek battle, was Major Weightman,
formerly- 111 the United States army.
Ile was an Englishman by birth, but
came to this emnitry at an early age.
He accompanied Doniphan's regiment
to Santa Fe, in the Mexican war as
Captain of Artillery, and on - his re
turn was appointed Paymaster in
the arlll \-, with the rank of Major.—
In 1845 he became involved in a,
quarrel with the celebrated expresa
rifler F. X. Aubrey-, at Santa Fe, and
shot him dead.
SENATOR JOHNSON.—Hon. Andrew
Johnson male a speech on Saturday,
in Cincinnati, in which: referring to
Mr. Nelson, he said: I have to-night
read with great pain and regret. the
reported recantation, by a distin
guished citizen of Tennessee. of the
views hitherto expressed by him.—
I regret this step on the part of that
distinguished citizen for two reasons.
I regret it more on his own account.
If it were my case, I do not hesitate
to say rather than make such a re
cantation I would be screwed .down
in my iron coffin and buried in the
earth feet foremost.
DisT itEsst :s; F A.T ALITY .—The most
distressin g ease of family bereave
ment that we have heard of for some
time is reported from Richland town-
ship, Cambria county. Three chil
dren of Mr. Peter P. Lahmen, resi
ding a few miles from Johnston, were
taken sick, died, and were buried
within a week! The eldest and first
to die, was aged over tburteen, the
next seven, and the youngest and
last nearly t6ur years. The last two
died and were buried within three
days. The disease was putrid sore
throat.
SLEEP' Nin AT THEM POST.—NOtWitil
standing the fact that a soldier was
under sentence to be shot on Monday
morning for sleeping at his post, a
number of our pickets over the river
were discovered fast asleep; and, in
one instance, an important military
movement was defeated by this eir
e mustanee.
AN OFFER ACCEPTED.-COL Sohn
Fitz Roy De Courdey, an English
Officer of much distinction, has ten
dered his services to the Government,
and the offer has been accepted in
the same generous spirit in which it
was made. Col. Dc. Courcey com
manded a Turkish regiment during
the Crimean War.
PaY.North Carolina has elected six
Union men to the federal Congress.—
C. A. Foster, one of the Representa
tives elect, has arrived in Washington,
and says that the Govenor of North
Carolina also inclines to loyalty to the
Union and the Federal Govern
ment.
WASIIINOTON, September 1.4.—H0n.
Charles Henry Foster, of North Car
olina, who, it is understood, will re
turn in a day or two to that State to
participate actively in the cause of
the - Union, was to-night complimen
ted with a serenade, to which he- ap
propriately responded.
BALTIMORE, Sep. l4.—Rev. E. Yates
Reese, D. D., editor of the "Meth
odist Protestant" newspaper, com
mitted suicide this morning by cut
ting his throat.. The unfortunate
man had Buttered from mental der
angement for some time.
gar-As the marriage ceremony was
about to be performed in a church „re
cently, the clergyman desired the par
ties wishing to be married to rise.—
A large number of ladies immediately
rose, and in confusion all but one sat
n quickly again.
SHARP SnooTiso.—At a trial on
Saturday, one ot'Bt_Tdan's Sharpshoot
er's hit a barrel six times in succes
sion, shooting at adistauce of one mile.
c , e.esh will have to give that mudsill
a wide berth.
INHUMAN BURNING OF NEGROES.-
lit:grOt":4, at the instigation of
two white men, murdered Mr. Gibson,
an overseer in Monroe county, Ala.,
un the 2.-1-th ult. They were tried be
fore Judge Lynch, who rendered a
verdict of burning at the stake, which
way put into execution.
iste-From privateering, the com
merce °NA; North is suffering much
injury. The number of vessels cap
tured so far is sixtv-nine.
she-Col. Pley-el, a Hungarian, who
served as General in the Revolution
of H 49, and has sixteen orders for
bravery, hits received a commission
to raise a regiment of Polish Lancers.
" Dan Rice, the showman, is
stumping the Western States, out
side (Allis menagerie, in favor of the
LThion cause. He addressed a meet
ing at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on the 28th
as — e-The St Louis papers say that the
interview between the President and
Govenor Gamble of Misssouri, was ofa
very gratifying character.
gig The death of Miss Catharine
Hayes is mentioned in the last for
eign news. Miss Hayes was born in
Limerick, Ireland, about 1820.
roi-A million of new style' postike'-'
stamps are produced daily by •"tioi - 6
printers.
Cineinnati has furnished more
than ten thousand men to fight for the
Union.
stiirA prison is being fitted up at
Washington for the reception of fe
male traitors.
:kb - Postage Stamps are taken at
par on subscription, and greatly pre
ferred to Western and other uncut.
rent money. . . .
Mir Negotiable paper in New Or
leans, secured by colaterala, goes
dull at three per cent. a month. Se
cesh is rather hard on cash.
PAYMENT OF WAR ExpENsEs.—The
Government have been paying out
more than $2,000,000 a day for • sev
eral days on account of the
There is no Foreign news of
interest.
I.