The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-11-21
PROGRESS OF THE WAR /.

November Is. with the prOmptnezs Of a steamer.
This is Capt. C's first round voyage. and be has
done. what very few before him have performed, on
their maiden voyase.-made the passages over and
back. each in IL is,s-
By the Yankes we are in receipt Of New York pa
pers to October /, and San Francisco dailies to Oct.
81. the latter containing teIegraphic advices from
Washington and New York to Oct. rs.
The gratifying news is brought BY this arrival Of
the completion Of the overland telegraph, by which
news will be transmitted hourly between New York
aud San Francisco, rs soon as all the connecting
links are completed. In other words, the news pub
lishei IN New York OF Washington on the evening Of
amy day will be transmitted to and appear in the
san Francisco papers Of the next morning.
We find the telegraph reports very full and some
what confusing to the cursory reader; and in order
to give a clear statement Of the position Of affairs ut
the latest adVices, we condense and curtail the vari-
oas reports received
AyrArns ox THE PoroMAc.-The Federal army hav-
ing been ordered to advance into Virginia. n forward
movement began on the 2lst October. General Stone
crJssed the Potomac with n portion of his command,
Mt EIuIris' Ferry, and the other At HarrisOn's
Island above Washington. SkIrmishing began be-
tween the enemy in uncertain numbers and II part OF
General Stones Command a early as . O'Clock this
morning, and continued with much effect until s
T.. NJ, when large reinforcements Of the enemy AZ
pearei upon our right, which was comman led by
Colonel Baker Of the California Regiment. The Uni
ON forces engaged were about 800. and were at
iackel by = force supposed to number from 5000 to
5000; ut this juncture Colonel Baker was shot by
four balls. and fell at the head of his Brigade.
while calamity cheering on his men: Immediately
before he fell, he dispatched Major Young TO Gen.
Stone to apprise him of the condition OF Affairs; and
Gen Stoae iRmsdiately proceeded, in person, to-
wards the right TO take command, but in the cOnfu-
sion created by the death Of Col. Baker, the right
wing sustained repulse with considerable loss Cen
Stone reports that the right wing retired in good or
der. The enemy charged from the woods IN all
directions. converging upon our force. They were
bravely met, but the slaughter OF our best officers
and men was 20 terrific. that the federalists were Mt
last Obliged to retreat. The Calioinia Regiment
went into battle with $50 officers and men. The
drowned are 80, kilei 80, prisoners 300, wounded
lbs, total sos. Sale ISL.
The Washington Stars account Of the fight at
Edwards Ferry, says both wings were attacked at .
o'clock A. NJ, but the enemy was repu!sed whenever
they appeared. About D r. NJ, the right wing
found itself confronted by near 4 GOO Of the enemy,
under Gen. Evans, with artillery. General Baker
CALAMITY headed the charge in which he was killed
The officer in command Immediately ordered the men
&c fall back on the river where they would be sup
ported by Gen. Stone and the portions Of the army
that had then effected q crossing. The men obeyed
in good order, carrying OF all the deal and wounded.
On relciiug the position selected, the right wing
turrei, though under the FIRE Of the enemy, which
gradually sIackened up until midnight when the
firing ceased Throughout the night the balance oil
Gen. Stones force crossed the river and threw up
temporary works that rendered his position secure
and enabled him to protect the crossing Of the diVi-
sion Of Gen. Banks.
Ine object OF Ten. stone : movement tO euaOHe
his command, with General Banks division, TO be
safely transferred to Virginia. Evans attacked Col.
Baker ia front and on both TANKS. Col. CoggsSel!
was taken prisoner
Information from Gen. Stones command announces
that the Eight was n desperate one, aud that large
numbers were killed on both sidesS Although much
stronger than our force, the enemy vas falling back
before Gen. Stones advance, and would have I'M
doubteiIy been totally routed, but for the fall of Colo
mel Baker. which produced Il sudden confusion among
our troops -
Stone, AMI being . Anp Gs.eral, 10 in full Command
Gen. Mcclellan LETT for Gen. Banks headquarters IN
the Geld this morning. -,
IL is n subject Of regret that Gen. Baker should
have engaged the enemy, when according 10 report,
he was ordered TO make q reconnaissance only, with
strict instructions. If attacked, to fall back and no;
fight. Gen. Baker made his will ON Saturday last
and den,iteI IL with Col. Webb. and when he left for
the field he said to the latter: 81 shall participate IN
forty eight hours. If I fall. l request you to take
charge OF my body"
The success OF the increment OF Gen. Stone and
Gen. Banks across the Potomac is nov established, a
the enemy did not venture TO make further resistance
TO IL Yesterday. All accounts agree that our mer
conducted themselves molly in the affair OF Monday
evening. The PARTON OF tae column winch receives
n temporary cheek by the death OF Col Baker De
haved calamity, though opposed oy n force triPi'
their number. The ground thus gained was let i
undisputei possession Of our troops
PhiLIDELPIL,, 2ith.-At the latest advices, o.
OOO federal troops had crossed the Potomac, and TIT
Rebels we're reIreatipg to Manassas junction.. wherl
it was supposed they would make a stand. and ole
fight. Information obtained from private Ietters 81
mates the loss in killed and wounded, at Edward
Ferry. at lI5- -
AFFAIRS IN MIssouHI-Gen. Fremont was ia full
pursuit Of the rebels, With about $4,000 soldiers
divided into four calumns The rebels had retreate'
as far rs Springfield in Southwest Missouri, Wit
every prospect or further retreat being cut of. Ger
Siesel was about 20 miles east Of them. Gen. Ian
about the same distance west, with Fremonts arm
in the rear. The rebels under Gen. Price woul
either be cut off or dispersed in q few days Late'
date from that quarter is October Is.
TuE FIGur AT THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI
An engagement took place Oct. IL, between sewers
gun-boats fitted out at New Orleans, and the Unite
States feet blockading the Mississippi The fOllO~in
IL the report Of Com. M'Kean, who commands tn
United States squadron, as published by the Wa
Department:
The Captain Of the Richmond reports that I'll
hole made in her by the ram was two feet below n
water line, and i've inches in circumference Att
first alarm the crew cOolly repaired TO quarters, al
"a the ram passed abreast the RichnOHd. the entI
port battery was discharged AZ Eer-with What enc
vas impossible to discover IN the dark.ess- A re
light was shown as a signal OF danger, and the squa'
ron was under way in a very few moments. the Ric
moad covering the retreat The PrebsI went oS'
the bar, while the PiEceHRes and The Rtehmo'
grounded The enemy now eoming DOWN III NV
with fast steamers, they commenced nrng AT U
while we returned the FIRE from our port ostterIe
and rifei gun on the poop; our shot, however, u,
ing short, while the enemy's shells burst on all SO
Of US. and several passed directly over the ship
At 9 : 80 A. NJ, Commander Handy, Of the ~
cenHss, mistaking my signal TO the ships outside I
bar to &c, underweigh for n signal for him TO aba
don his ship, came on board the H'chmoHd Win I
officers and a large number OF his crew, the remai
ing having gone on board the UGter Uifch.
Commander Handy, before leaving his ship, b
placed . lighted Slow match under the magaztr
Having watched n reasonable time for an explosion
directed Commander Handy to return to his ship wi
his crew. to start his water, and, if necessary, at