The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-05
nArsI PROM urrra roroxAc--rHx vxpsaAI

day to see the xpected movement of troops
. across the river at shepherds Ford, two mites
below fdam No. The toN.path OF the
canal was cut to permit the artillery to have
easy grade down in to the fording. but the
opposite bank was found to be 20 precpitous
that the troops could not ascend with ease,
take arose from the i1compet.ncy Of the
guides The fording Ia naturally one Of the
TEST on the river, and the proper ascent on
the Virginia shore very easy.
Law encam ped the "a and 30 Penney vanians,
under Gen. Wynkoop; the regular cavalry,
four com panies Of the ID, Parker's battery Of
artillery, the 9Th, 2lst, and 23d Pennsylvania
regiments, under Dol. Thomas; the l4th, 18th.
and 24th Pennsylvanians. under Gen Negley
the 18th Pennsylvania regiment, LIST Wisconsin
regiment and Mem aliens Independent Ran
gers under Col. Abercrombis.
(}en. Negley's and 3en. Wynkoop's bri-
gades actually struck their tents at s O'Clock
this morning and marched to the ford The
whole column, embracing eighteen full regi-
ments and several detached corps, such as
Major Doubieday's two companies, the ID
cavalry and the LIST city troops and Perkins
artillery, with the exception Of the 4th Con.
nectieut, lying i'll camp AT Uagerstown. are
now encamp.d here, and are under marching
orders, ana At O'Clock to morrow morning
the column VIII cross the river md take 10 a
position on the south side, unless repulsed by
The enemy.
Barnside's Rhode Island Battery Ia conf
L Is reported that some regiments from Dol
stones column will join this column to- NOR
row. In oroer To lessen the size of the col
umn, only five wagons instead Of eleven are
10 be allowed TO each regiment. Ten days
rations are to be taken in bulk.
The Stars aud Stripes were hoisted on a tree
on the Virginia side OF the river TO DAY by a
Marylander by the name OF Sanders, in full
view OF the Confederate pickets They did
not fire upon him.
Col. Jackson, with his force lies back some
distal &c, al Iekes' Hun, three miles this side
OF Martinsbu4g, with about J, 900 men.
The enemy were observed busiIy engaged
in erecting breastworks Immediately back of
the heights, opposite Major Dou bieday's bat
terry, late this afternoon. 1t is thong ht they
design putting guns IN position to obstruct
the march OF the Federal troops. Some fifty
shots were exchanged this morning between
the advance guards and the hostile forces at
Shepherds Ford. No casualties, SO far as
known, have occurred. There will doub tless
be sharp work before the Atm passes over, I'M
iesss the rebels retreat.
IRE FIRST BATTLE ON THE UPPER POTOMAC
HAJgssrows, ND, J uly AT O'Clock this
afternoon special conveyance arrived IN this
town, bringing Corporal John N mckinley,
of the lGu1pendent Rangers, of Phiiade phia,
he being the first soldier brought here wound i.
ed III an action which took place this morning
between the Federal troops under Gen. Pat
ter son and the Confederates
Cons iderabie excitement was at once occa-
SlOntu upon tH6 ARRIVAL Oh Inc wounded man,
and eagerness TO learn the news. From sta te-
ments made by him, and those in higher au =
thority, the Government telegraph operators
have Cleaned the following particulars:
Between three and seven O'Clock this morn
ing the United States troops, which have been
concentrating at Hagerstown and Williams
port tor several days past, crossed the ford at
Williamsport.
Major General Patterson reviewed the
troops as they filed past him. The morning
was bright and beautiful, and the soldiers
were in excellent spirits.
Scouting parties, composed of Capt. Nc
Mullins hangers, and others selected from
The LIST Wisconsin regiment, were sent out at
midnight, and frequently during the Might
brisk firing was heard between the Federal
pickets and those Of the enemy on the Vir-
GINA side.
The proper fords having been ascertained
the advance took place before daylight, the
post of honor being assigned to Capt. Mem a
i'm 5 Independent Rangers and the LIST Wis.
consin and IN Pennsylvania regiments.
The advancing columns consisted OF the
brigades OF Co.'s. Abercrombie, thomas and
Negely.
The independent Rangers behaved remark
ably well, getting close up 10 the enemy, at &
distance OF only IS yards. Col. Abercrombie' &
brigade led the advance, and the casualties OF
the conflict were almost exclusively in the
First Wisconsin and Eleventh Pennsylvania
regiments DOL jarrett and Lit Col Coul tel
led the skirmishers, opening upon the enemy
at four hundred yards. The whole of the
Confederate forces at Martinsbur COR sstins
OF four regiments OF Infantry and one regi
ment of horse, were engaged in the action -
They had with them four pieces of artillery
partly riiiei cannon, and were commanded by
Gen. jackson.
Tn. First City Troop, of Philadelphia, were
assigned a position near the u. 5. Cavalry
under Capt. Perkins, and behaved remarka
bly, we'll As far as knoW n, the casualties on
the Federal side are two killed and several
wounded. Several Of the dead and wounded
of the Confederate troops were left on the
field, in their hasty retreat. Two OF them
were buried by our men.
In anucipa ion of retreat of the Federal
forces, the Confederates had levellei the
fences on both sides OF the turnpike even with
| the ground, so rs to cut them Off in the even
OF their re firing to the Potomac
The first stand was made at Porterfeld' s
| farm, on the turnpike road near Haines vile,
where IL was necessary TO destroy a barn and
carriage house IN order to make a charge
upon the enemy.
Here the conflict was fierce, the Confeder.
ates standing we'll up to their work, but fiual
ly slowly retreating. knapSacks and can
teens We're hastily thrown aside, IA encum
brances to a backward march. They left
behind them a number of blankets and other
articles OF value, indicating considers bic
loss on their side.
THE LATRsT FROM ALEXANDRIA,.
ALEXANDRIA, July 1t is now estima TED
that there are about 5000 Secession troops
WiiulE one hours Walk OF a1rlaX court
House, with large bodies of horsemen on the
roads between our pickets and that point.
The cleo ZION here to day was very fiat af
fair. 1t IL nnders TODD that ~ votes were
gates to the Legislature. There was no op
position.
1t now turns out that four Seceseionists
were killed by the fire of the picket guards Of
morning last, the fourth body being found il
the woods yesterday. He was recognized a
the brother of neighboring farmer namec
Fairfax
The news from the camps to-day is unim
portant. The ice boat, City of Philadelphia
is still guarding the city front.
Lieut.. Chauncey Mckeever, U. S A, Act
ing Assistant Adjutant General of this brig
jul ant Generals Department, and will remain
here on duty in Col. Heintzeiman's staff.
PROM WASHINGTON.
WAsHINdToN, July 2.-The Presidents mes
sage will be accompanied by reports from tn,
Secretaries OF War, Navy and Treasury DE
partments. Not one of them have yet been
completed. There is no determine ii ON as tc
hence in advance of delivery to Congress, as
under previous admins trations--a measure
which avoided many errors inseparable from
hasty telegraphing.
Lieut.. Dol j. w. Ripley, chief of the Ord
nance Bureau, has to day received the brevet
of Brigadier Colonel in the u. S. Army.
The marine artillery of the first regiment
Rhode Island, left Washington by rail yester.
day-des tination unknown The 14th regi.
ment of Brooklyn broke camp to- day, and
passed in TO Virginia. The 4th Michigan and
the l1th Massachusetts regiments arrived here
this morning. The latter, with their splendid
and extensive eq ipments and eighty horses
Occ pied sixty three cars.
Major General Fremont has not yet been
assigned TO command. He expresses a nope
that ha will not long remain inactive.
Coates Kinney has been appointe an add
tional paymaster in the army.
The I'd New Hampshire and the 18th Mas
sachusetts regiments were to-day reviewed by
the President and Secretary Of War.
liant L p (4iifnpr of North liza roliuq aud