The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-06-08
Tie War New,

The war news 1t the past week 'i;!s
been fraught with no staItling events
The great armies in Virginia are gradually
approaching nearer to s,ch ether, 50 that
their O, tposts occasionally meet. and some
diminishing takes place, but there has yet
been no battle. Gen. Butler is apparently
slowly but surely winding his Gordon OF
iron and steel around Norfolk, SO that 1t
cannot be long before that secession
stronghold must yield, while in the same
manner Harpers Ferry is gradually being
hemmed in, so that retreat or defeat
awaits the rebels there.
The division eff Gen, McClelland from
Wheeling has advanced upon the line o.
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, repairin:
the road and bridges as they 60 to within
. days march Of tho Ferry from Pennsyi
vania large army is moving slowly in th(
same direction, while from Washington
another column is gradually working 1t:
way towards the same point. Indeed Tho
telegraph, in its dark way, yesterday agar
informed US that secession retreat from
or battle at Harpers Ferry cannot %
delayed beyond day or two.
These are the main outlines Of tht
movements in Virginia during the week
At the same time, gigantic movements il
the way of concentrating troops upor
Cairo are going on in the west, nearly al
the Illinois regiments which! have recent
ly been accepted into the Z. s Service
are now under marching orders for Cairo
while several Iowa and Wisconsin regi
ments have also been ordered TO the same
point. In week there must be 2O,uU0 tt
10000 men concentrated there. These
movements are no doubt preparatory Il
the advance of the great expedition dowr
the Mississippi river, which seems to b'
fully determined upon.
Gen. Banks has been assigned to Thu
command on the seaboard to ac' in con
junction with Gen. Butler upon Norfols
The skirmishing on Monday and Tue:
day at Aqua Creek ION the Potomac) bs
tween three I. S. war vessels and 4 shor
battery led to no definite results. Til
place is to be taken by combined Ian
and water attack.
jeff Davis is at Richmond, Gen. Beat
regard, at latest accounts, was with tb
rebel army at Manassas Junction.
On Wednesday morning the Harrie
Lane exchanged about 80 shots with til
Pig Point battery, nearly opposite New
port News, James RIVER She received
shots, and had n.oa wounded severely
She was about three-sourths Of mile iroI
the battery, having seven embrasure
which disclosed heavy pieces Two of IL
Harriet Lanes shells burst immediate
over them.
The latest accounts from Pensacola inc
cate that the rebels are Withdrawing the
forces from that point, Gen. Bragg Lavir
no confidence that he can take Fo
Pickens.
SUBsrASc= OF YESTERDAYS DISPATCHES
The steam flotilla at Aqua creek was
Tuesday night reinforced with troop, loo
ing towards another collision at that poll
Gen. Patterson is advancing to co-or
rale with Gen. Mcclellan.
A column under Gen Mcdonald is pl
pairing to advance towards Manassas Jur
ton 1t is doubted whether the rebels
Harpers Ferry viii have time to join t
force at Manassas junction If not tn
will be surrounded. If they do, there W
be battle preliminary to cur occupy
the Ferry.
An order was read to the troops in Y
sinia, at evening parade on Thursday eve
ing, to provide themselves with feur da,
ratious, preparatory to march forward
gentleman who arrived at WashiI
ton on Thursday, direct New Orleans, So
the entire commerce OF the South is il
wretched condition. Louisiana, MissiSsip
and Texas are suffering most. He was
Galveston on May Sth. If the blocka
IL rigedly enforced people III Texas "
starve Bacon was % cts per ID, -four
per Dbl. They were wholly dependent
New Orleans When that is cut Off IL
will be in an awful condition.