Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-06-06
By the Last Mails.

The first serious encounter Of war has ta-
gen place in Western Virginia. Two columns
Of United States troops, under the command
of Colonel Kelly, Virginia volunteers, and
Colonel Crittenden, of the Indiana volunteers,
| made q forced night march from Grafton to
Phillippi, the county seat of Barbour county,
near which they surprised camp Of COnfed
! crate troops reported to be two thousand
strong The surprise was complete. The
camp of Conlederates was captured, and they
fed leaving fifteen dead bodies on the field
( The United States forces seized large amounts
of arms, ammunition, provisions and some
horses. The pursuit was continued and it
was expected that a number of prisoners
would he captured. Colonel Kelly of the
Wheeling regiment, was mortally wounded in
the attack, and soon after died. Several of
/ the Federal troops were also wounded.
From Fortress Monroe we have intelligence
up to Saturday evening. No movement of
any importance had been made. The troops
were being drilled and disciplined, the posi-
ton of Newport News Point strengthened
and preparations busily going forward for an
advance movement in some direction. There
were no Confederate troops nearer Newport
| News Point than Yorktown, on the York riv-
er, where there were reported to be two thou
stand under command of Col. Magruder late
of the United States Army. Among the late
est additions to the force at Fortress Monroe
is picked company of sappers and miners.
There are about 1000 men there
From Williamsport, Md, we learn that the
| Virginia troops opposite that point on Satur
day made another attempt to get possession
Of the ferry boat. The Union men at Viii
Transport resisted and shots exchanged bv
which the Secessionists are reported to have
suffered without damage to their onponents
Major General Patterson and staff arrived
at Chambersburg on Sunday. 1t was belev-
ed that the military stationed there would
move forward into Maryland in few DAYS.
! The force is upwards of $4,000.
An engagement has taken place between
the United States gunboats and the Confeder-
ate batteries at Aqua Greek, on the Potomac.
| The cannOnading was commenced on Friday
by gunboats Anacosta and Freeborn. The
engagement continued two hours, the batter
les replying with spirit. The batteries on the
wharf were silenced, and the depot buildings
knocked to pieces. The shore batteries we're
repaired during the night. and on Saturday
the cannonading was again resumed the Paw
nee having joined the attacking force. The
beach batteries were again slenced, but bat.
terry on the hill, supposed to be armed with
rifle cannon, was beyond the range of the
guns of the vessels. Only one man on board
the vessels was wounded, and the vessels re.
ceived no serious damage, the firing from the
batteries being generally too high to be effec-
tive. Among the Confederate troops it is be-
lieved that number were killed or wounded.
as parties were seen removing them from the
batteries The Pawnee and Anacosta were
still lying off the Creek, but beyond the range
of the batteries.
The affair at Fairfax Court House ON Fri
day night was merely an encounter between
the scouts of the two armies. a company of
United States Dragons, under command of
Lieut.. Tompkins, made a reconnaissance as
far as the village, where they were fred on.
The dragons then fired, killing the Captain
of the company. They then charged through
the village and made good their retreat. Two
of their men were captured Bnd three wound,
ed, whilst they brought off five prisoners. The
number killed on the side of the Confederates
ranges all the way from one to twenty. On
Saturday night the dragons, it is reported,
returned to the Iiliage and succeeded in bring
ing off the two men captured the previous
night
On Friday night the outposts, near Airing
ton, were fred on by the Virginia scouts, and