The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-02

$3.50 noeso ANoWpott INeWb 70 uttoCAcu."
Col. Phelps says he can hold the place against
twice his number. which now consists offour
effective regiments.
The rebels to day have been practicing
from battery some five miles below Sewall's
Point, and just below Rip Raps.
Heavy firing is now going on at Pig Point.
The following reports, by telegraph yester-
day, are important:
BALTIMORE, July %.
It became apparent carly last evening that
the rebels mediiated an attack on Hampton,
and Gen. Butler determined TO abandon the
town In case of n formidable advance and at
Z o'clock an order was given for families and
goods to be removed in an hour. Orders
were also issued to burn the town rather than
have 1t fall into the hands Of the enemy
Gen. Butler well understands that the POI
session of Hampton by the rebels will DO Of
no particular Importance.
A stampede Of tho negro population has
taken place, and all last night and to-day the
road has been lined with refugees TO the Fort.
rcss, and army wagons and carts bringing in
goods from Hampton.
Nearly 1000 "contrabands" must have
come in during the last IA hours. For the
present those not employed will be quartered
in and around the Seminary building, lately
the headquarters Of Col. Duryea.
About o o'clock Friday night the Naval
Brigade and Massachusetts, companies came
in and encamped near the Fortress. Max
Weber's regiment came in Saturday morning
and will occupy Camp Hamilton.
An alarm occurred this morning, and
several buildings in Hampton were fired by
our troops. Tho rebels will undoubtedly
occupy the place tomorrow unless 1t be
burned.
WASHINGTON, July %.
Official information has been received that
the rebels contemplate at an early day the
planting of batteries on the Potomac ut
points TO command thu channel. At Aqua
Creek they have FIVE guns on one battery and
three upon another, and while an excursion
party on board Of o steamer from Washing
ton was in that vicinity ON Saturday, q train
of cars full Of troops is said to have arrived
there. BY way of amusement or experiment
few Intellectual shots were fired from the
steamer distance OF three miles.
1hiNCs IN GLNEhAL'
Tho telegraph yesterday afternoon brought
us the following report
New YORK, July 90.
The Heraid's Washington dispatch says :
Secretary Wells has offered powerful naval
force TO guard the river below Washington,
so that il would be impossible for the enemy
to cross i. Above it is equally secure.
The division of Gen. Banks have been TO
inlorced within the last three days with a
force more than double the number OF those
returned home, the story that Gen. Lee in
tended TO cross the Potomac between Wash
ington and larper's Ferry is pronounced abb
surd as he is considered too discreet nm officer
to be caught between the divisions OF General
Mcclellan and Banks.
A reconnaissance was made on Saturday
night by large force Of cavalry and infant
~ in the direction ai Fairfax Court House.
A portion OF the party proceeded to Fairfax.
There was no enemy except mounted pick
cts, who retired.
Col. Lander is authorized to organize and
summon hero the body Of men from the
Plains whom he employed when opening the
overland route to the Pacific.
The Times Washington dispatch says rcli-
able information has deem received in WASH
ington, which leaves no doubt that Gen
Patterson willully RETAINED from holding
Gen. johnson in check.
The same correspondent writes :-"Pro-
ceeding few steps further, an officer, whose
uniform was trimmed with goldlace, was seen
having on his breast plate, mississippi NJ
les. +" The wounded man raised slowly to bis
elbow, and endeayored to bring Sharpe'S
rifle to bear upon your correspondent, when,
acting on the maxim that "self preservation
Is the first law of nature" your correspon.
dent put bullet through his head"
About the middle of the battle the Zouayes
fired by platoons upon the rebel infantry sta.
toned in tho woods. After they had fired
they discovered troop Of horse coming down
on tho rear. They carried the American flag,
which deceived Col. IIeintzelman, and made
him believe they were United States cavalry,
and he so told tho Zouaves. AS they came
nearer their true character was discovered,
but too late for all the Zouaycs TO reload
The regiment faced and received the cavalry
as they came down. with leveled bayonets,
which threw them into confusion. Then
away went muskets. and the Zouaves went
in with their knives and pistols. They sciz-
ed horses and stabbed their riders. In this
hand.to-hand conflict the Black Horse Troop
were handled in their own prolesscd way OF
fighting. The sequel showed the Zouaycs to
be the most expert handlers Of the knife.
When the fight was over, there were not
twenty of the four hundred cavalry left alive.
Men and horses had been cut To pieces by the
Infatuated red shirts. This troop OF cavalry
had boosted they would picket their horses
In tho grounds Of the White House.
MUTUAL RETREAT.
There Is no doubt that the rebels were ac-
tually retrcating towards Manassas Junction
at the very time when our soldiers were run.
ming towards Ccntreyille. The reinforce
mcnts from Manassas were probably intended
to cover the retreat OF the troops that had
been engaged in the action. Long before the
panic on our side occurred, the wagon train OF
the rebels was their intention to retire. This
train was followed by large bodies Of infant
ny, and it is probable that il our men had
stood their ground even fifteen minutes lon
ger, they would have had undisputed posses
sion of the field.
1t is stated by Virginian, who came from
Manassas into our lines to day, that the or
der for the retreat of the rebels had been nj.
ready issued. II is evident that the enemy
did not Immediately understand the move
ment on our side. They thought themselves
whipped, and tho sudden retirement OF their
yictors undoubtedly astonished them. This
Il .nnarent from the fact that no pursuit was