The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-27
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
WAR NEWS.

announcing that combined attack from
Fort Pickeps and the Federal war steamer,
Colorado and Niagara, had been made upor
= the Confederate batteries at Pensacola. The
bombardment commenced on the 10Th inst
and lie said to have continued for several
hours, after which it is stated that the steam.
ers withdrew out Of range of the shore bat
teries, the Colorado having suffered consid.
cradle damage, and the Niagara being in
jured still more seriously. 1t is added that
Fortress Pickens was also considerably
battered, and showed marks Of injury in
several places. The damage to the navy.
yard and Confederate batteries was slight
as the vessels could not get near enough to
hurt the yard or town to any extent" The
dispatches and accounts received at Wash.
ington and at the North say, that the fight
commenced on Saturday, and was In pro.
gress on Sunday. Fort Pickens, by firing
hot shot, had set the Pensacola Navy Yard
on fire three times, but the Confederates
managed, up to the latter day, to extinguisb
the flames. They had not, however, been
able to prevent the burning Of the town of
Warrington, which the hot shot had utterly
destroyed.
Foolish rumors are prevalent about an adj
vance of the Confederates on the Potomac
lines. These, doubtless have their origin
in the fact that the pckets from Gen. Blen.
ker's division mistook for the Confederates
the force of cavalry under the command of
Gen. Wadsworth, who were returning from
reconnaissance made in the direction of
Fairfax Court House. Much alarm was oc-
casioned by this mistake, but-it was not of
long continuance.
The Confederate privateer Beauregard has
been captured by the Government steamer
G. W. Anderson, of Boston, with twenty
seven prisoners and one large pivot gun.
The prize is lying safe at Key West. A
letter from Key West states that the Beau
regard made no resistance. She was COM
handed by Capt. Gilbert Hay. She was
captured on the 18th inst, one hundred
miles from Abaco. She threw overheard
most of her ammunition, etc. She had met
no vessel and had not even fired gun since
leaving Charleston.
An arrival at New York from Barbados,
brings news that a British man of war had
spoken the privateer Sumter on the 9th
ult., three degrees South of Bermuda, and
that the captain Of the privateer had inform
ad'the boa,ding officer that he had sent
challenge to the Federal gunboat Cruiser to
come out and fight him, but that the latter
lixd declined the invitation.
'f'1t is reported that the Government has de.
termined to put the whole Northern coast in
q state of defence; that immediate action
will be taken, and that the Governors of the
respective States will be vested with author
ity to construct the necessary Notifications.
According to the Wilmington IN. C.)
Journal, another schooner from the British
West Indies had succeeded in running the
blockade with a cargo Of salt, sugar, arrow
root, Sc. NJ
There are statements of a skirmish on one
Of the islands adjacent to the harbor Of Port
Royal, in which the Federal troops are said
to have been worsted. Beaufort had not
been occupied at the last accounts which
also state that the Confederates were daily
strengthening their position both on the
mainland in the vicinity of Beaufort.
.. It is stated in government dispatches that
Gen. jackson, who as Colonel formerly com.
manded at Harper's Ferry, is engaged at
Winchester in organizing regiment of free
negroes, said to number fully une thousand
The negroes are reported to be very enthusi-
sstic in their profession. We do not know
how true this may be.
A letter from Darnstown, Md, says there
are no fixed bodies or Confederate picket
stations from opposite the mouth of Muddy
Run up to half mile south of Goose Creek.
Above that creek, on the..sideling they have
dug rifle pits, and keep up regular system
Of pickets Of considerable strength. They
still occupy the fort in view of Edwards's
Ferry, and on Sunday displayed full rcgi-