Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-05
Affairs I'M WASHINGTON.
PROGRESS OF EVENTS.
News. Gossip, Rumors, ana Lies.


News. Gossip, Rumors, ana Lies.
Especial Dispatch TO the Cincinnati ENQUIRER
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The first day of summer
has brought US into active hostilities The action
against the Confederate batteries at Acouia Greek,
commenced yesterday, was continued TODAY. with
considerable loss on both sides. The two steamers
Anacosta and Freeborn, after severe fight. were
disabled and compelled to retire and await reinforce
ments. The PawHee was sent down Yesterday and
probably reached the scene some time this mdrning.
The troops board of her will no doubt land some
where the battery aud approach it by land and
attack it simultaneously with the vessels before
gagged assisted BY the Pawnee. A bloody fight will
then take place.
Several skirmishes have occurred last night and
to day near Fairfax Court House. The Federal
troops passed through the village twice, and lost
seven men and several wounded. They were fired
upon from the houses. Women in some cases ere
discovered loading the guns for the men, and urging
them It is fatal mistake to suppose that there
is paI ty in Eastern Virginia that will SUPPORT the
Government On the contrary, the people evince
the most bitter and undying hatred the North
who they believe are making war upon them sim
ply upon the slavery cause.
Dixon. who was appointed Collector at Aexan
dra, declines the post. The people at that place
are loud in their complaints of the insults and CD
preston of the North.
Jefferson Davis arrived at Richmond on Wednes-
| day. He was received with tumultuous demonstl "a
tons of JOY 1t is said that he is ready to make
overtures to President Lincoln to decide the
| by a pitched battle, allowing the North to have
one>tenth more men than the South. He desires
this, it is alleged. on the score of humanity.
| The Richmond papers received here tonight say
that the defenses around that city progre ssng
rapidly. The papers are very quietly in relation to
| the movement OF troops; the only mention being
| made that large numbers were leaving the city,
destination not known.
Manassas Gap is the rendezvous however, and
they will no doubt make desperate stand at that
| point. The country is fully and well wooded and
adapted 10 guerilla warfare to those who are &C.
quainted with the Businesses.
The President has given orders that hereafter no
visitors Will be allowed to see him before nine in the
morning and two P. N.
1t is needless TO say that the troublous times do
not effect the rapacity Of the ofiice-seekers.
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON June 1.-The Secretary of the
Treasury has completed plan to adjust the diff
cultes to the payment OF troops before Congress
! meets. 1t will be Immediately communicated to
| the Governors.
Provision is made for the repayment to the States
| of the money advanced, and to be advanced to
troops. This removes difficulty that has been ex>
| ceedingy embarrassing. 1t will remove Gov. Dem
nison's trouble as to paying the troops, and give
| great relief
Two Fire Zouaves were killed last night in the
skirmish near Wellington Flour Mill, seven miles be-
| low Alexandria.
WASHINGTON, Sunday Evening, June 1.-The Ohio
| troops here must be uniformed and receive their
pay at once. They are hearty and well disciplined,
| but have such clothes that they are ashamed TO
come to town and are so poor they can't buy tobac
co. They complain bitterly of the State authorities,
particularly of Darlington Other States have fur
nished their troops with wagons
| Our boys have been ordered into Virginia with
no means to transport baggage or the wounded.
There has been very severe cannonading at Ac-
Ne ii
deal splintered but they silenced some secession
| batteries Others have been erected. @
There is still one dangerous battery mounted with
rifed guns, at Acquia Greek. 1t is give and take,
down there, between gunboats and sandbags.
| Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June 2-The official dispatches re-
ceived to-day give details of second engagement
| yesterday at Acquia Greek.
During the previous night the ri1ed cannon which
| had been used on Friday on the Hill with effect
were removed during that night to the previously
silent batteries on the shore which were rebuilt,
and then opened yesterday on the three gunboats.
The latter returned the fire vigorously burning the
depot buildings, and making havoc In the batteries
| by shells.
The rihed battery was sienced except one gun.
The gunboats were splintered badly. Several shots
| went clear through the Annacosta, Freeborn and
Pawnee. The former was splintered into kind!ing
wood. None We're hurt on the vessels worth men,
tioning. Lieut.. Cast of the Freeborn was knocked
into the river by the wind, caused by swift ball
passing near.
Additional vessels go down the river to night,
| and in the morning the attack will be renewed.
The rebels meanwhile rebuilding the batteries.
1t is understood that an advance of three or four
thousand troops will be made on Fairfax tonight.
Additional reinforcements were sent over the
| river to-day. The Ohio Regiments, though ordered
over the river on Thursday, have been counter.
| manded, and are still in camp here.
Dispstchs,tO the New York Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The following facts were
obtained of the contest at Acquia Greek:
The engagement commenced on Friday and lasted
two hours and on Saturday it was again commenced
and lasted four hours. The lower beach battery,
which was damaged on Friday. was meantime re-
paired. The force Of rebels was supposed to be
1000 strong.
On Saturday tie Freeborn approached within
two miles. and commenced the fire. The Pawnee
took nearer position. For the first hour the firing
was brisk from the shore batteries During the en-
gagement the Pawnee fired 100 shells. An observer
through telescope number Of bodies carried
away in wagons
The officers say that the rebels had rifed cannon
Both vessels were damaged but slightly. One shot
went through the Freeborns cabin. The Pawnee
received eight shots. The Anacosta returned here
this morning. The Pawnee and Freeborn hauled
| eff being unprepared for long engagement The
railroad depot and buildings ashore We're destroyed
The rebels, it is believed, had eight guns.
Ofhcial-Acquia Creek account agrees with other
accounts. The enemy's batteries in range were
senced. Only seaman injured. The list
| New York Regiment did not GO to Acquia Creek as
reported.
New YORK, June 2-The Herald says that W. n
Washington, son of the late Col Washington, was
captured in tue Fairfax affair.
1t is reported that the battery at Matthias Point
proves to be wood pile.
Lieut. Tompkins' official account of the Fairfax
affair does not differ materially from the first report
He says that three of his missing. three
were slightly wounded. and horses were lost
lie thinks thirty five Rebels were killed and wound
ed. tie brought away five prisoners.
The Tribue'S Washington dispatch says that Mr.
Etherdge had arrived from Tennessee. He says that
Eastern Tennessee will show large majority for
Union, and that civil is inevitable if the of
the State goes for secession. Soldiers distribu
ted throughout the State TO voters The
Disunonists well armed and the Unionst IN
armed.
Mr. Field has gone to Cairo, authorized to con-
struct five floating boats of the capacity of 500 men,
intended to separate Memphis and points below.
WASHINGTON, June 3-Whe there is no doubt that
three of the six commissioners appointed by the Leg
islature of Maryland have waited on Jefferson Da-
Wis, no information has been obtained here to show
that their associates, instructed, have officially
visited President Lincoln.
The plan of organization for the forces, de-
sCribed in the general order, is modified TO al
low one surgeon and assistant to each regiment. to
be appointed by the Governors of the respective
States subject to the approval of the Secretary Of
War.
Lieutensnts Chsmbliss and Horton having rendered
their designations of active service, their names
have been stricken from the army list
Twenty or thirty Louisville steamboats, bound up
from New Orleans. have been seized at Memphis by
order of Gen. Pillow. Every one that comes to