The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21
WAR NEW s.

WAR NEWS.
The telegraphic dispatches from Washing
ton report that on yesterday morning por-
tion of Gen. McCalPs division, engaged in
foraging and reconnoitering near Dranesville
encountered force ofthe Confederates, con-
sisting of four regiments of infantry, reg
iment of cavalry, and battery Of six pieces.
The Federal force engaged was Gen. Ord's
brigade, the first oegiment of rifles, and q
battery Of four guns. The engagement last
ed an hour and half, and resulted in the
repulse Of the Confederates, who retired leav-
ing ffty-seven killed and twenty-five wound
ed en- the field two of the latter afterwards
died. The Federal loss is reported to be ten
killed and fifteen wounded.
The demonstration made by the Confede-
rates under Gen. Jackson, on Thursday, at
Falling Waters, appears to have been for the
purpose of distracting the attention of the
Federal forces from one of the dams on the
canal which they attacked and endeavored
to destroy with rifled guns, but without ef-
feet. On Thursday night, party of Fede-
raj troops crossed the river in skiff and
burned a mill. All was quiet in that vicinity
yesterday.
From Missouri, the u s. government tel
egraphic dispatches report that portion of
Gen. Pope's force surprised camp of the
Confederates on Thursday afternoon, and
captured thirteen hundred prisoners, one
thousand horses and a large quantity of ar
my stores. The Confederate loss in killed
and wounded was not known; the Federals
had two killed and eight wounded. Two
hundred wagon loads of clothing for Gen.
Prices army have been captured near Soda
liza. 1t is now believed that Gen. Price will
cross the Usage river and join Gen. Slack.
when general engagement will ensue. The
towns Of Pspinsville and Butler, on the Usage
river, in Bates county, were burned by Fed
eral troops from Kansas on the 18th inst 1t
is stated that these places were the resort of
companies of the Confederates.
From Kentucky, under date of 18th De-
cember, we have news of the advance of
Gen. Shoepf's brigade, numbering some
seven thousand men and two batteries,
against Zollicofer, who was entrenching him.
self on the Cumberland river 1t is supposed
that battle between them has already taken
place.
The advices from Port Royal are to the
10th of the month. The principal islands a,
the mouth Of the bay are occupied by the
brigade of Gen. Stevens. The expedition
which has been organising for some time
past under Gen. Viele, has been abandoned
Rather over one thousand bales of cotton
have been secured.
The Ashepoo river has been ascen led by
fotilla of gunboats, under Commander
Drayton. He describes the plantations in the
vicinity of the river and its tributaries as
entirely deserted. Nearly all the negroes
have been taken into the interior, the cotton
destroyed, and the buildings burned.
We have various rwmors from the South
These reports say that Memphis, Tenn,
is being fortified Oh a grand scale one
fort has an armament of one hundred and
two guns. A pontoon bridge has been placed
across the river. Com. Hollins turtle " YES
sci, it is reported, has had an engagement
with the U. S. steamer Massachusetts, and
was disabled. An instruction among the
slaves of Mississippi is also reported. These
latter rumors are MT believed.
By an arrival ut New York, we have ad.
vices from Port Royal to the 18th. On the
day before the vessel sailed, four hundred
Federal troops crossed over from Port Royal
Island to the main land, and encountered a
force Of Confederates, said to be fifteen hum
dred strong, who fred a volley and then re-
treated.
Charles Dickens declines being a candi-
date for the British House of Commons.