Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-24
The South Becoming DiStrustfuI
of their Leaders.
Rebels Beginning to Appreciate their
Condition.
LATEST FROM FORT PICKENS.
official Report Of Billy Wilson's
Fig ht with the Rebels.
PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHT At THE MOUTH OF
...... THE MISSISSIPPI.
Especial to the New York Herald !


Clellar, Banks and Stone have been on the
Virginia side, OF the river all day in the vi.
0inity OF Lees burg, and it is telegraphed to
head quarters Tonight that our troops are in
possession Of that place.
The whole of General Banks's'commsnd
have crossed the river, and our forces are
in sufficient strength to meet any number
the rebels are capaole of concentrating at
that point. ..-... .. ..
reconnaissance in force was made to -day
from the camp of General BlenBer's division
by way of ADandale within q few miles of
Fairfax, without discovering any body of
rebel forces.
1t is evident the enemy has retired still
further from the front of our lines.
l am informed by the highest authority in
this Government that the published state.
ment in 8. New York paper to. day, that at a
Cabinet meeting yesterday, all the members
of that body prom judgment thst
Fremont should be superseded and that the
order to this effect would be issued to-day, is
untrue.
No such decision YVES made in the Cabinet,
and, as matter of course, no such order has
been issued. The facts are, the condition of
affairs in General Fremonts Department was
discussed in the Cabine at yesterday. Some of
the members were in favor of depriying him
os his command Immediately and ordering
him here to be tried by court martial Others
opposed such action while in his present po-
sition in face of the enemy. The subject oc-
Cupied the President and Cabinet for several
hours, when they decided by vote to leave
the whole msSter to the decision of tho Presi-
dent. The latter will find the question a
very difficult one to settle, involving as it
does not only the great pecuniary interests
of the Government, but, perhaps, immediate
! and important military results. Together
with the law officer of the Government, he
will give the subject thorough investiga-
| ton and decide it in accordance with the
| facts.
Csssus NJ. Clay, our Minister to Russia,
has intimated to the Government that in
view Of The threatening attitude of the rebels
he would prefer to surrender his present
commission as representative to Russia, and
enter the army in active defense of the Gov
| erDment. The Cabinet has the subject under
consideration, and Kentuckians here are
anxious for the return of the gallant Cassius.
[spe cial Dispatch to the New York world.l
Only the Rhode Island officers stood by
their guns, the men retreating early in the
fray. The enemy charged from the woods
in all directions converging upon our force
They were bravely met, but the slaughter Of
our best officers and men was so terrific that
the Federalists were at last obliged to retreat
Colonel Baker was killed by horseman
who rode close to him and fired five shots
from a revolver, all taking effect.
The slayer was at once brought down in
| turn by Captain Derriel. The same brave
man recovered Colonel Bakers body, head
ing charge of his company for that purpose.
The California Regiment took over, of men
and officers, six huudred and eighty-nine
the drowned are about fifty killed, thirty
prisoners, three hundred and wounded, one
hundred and twenty five; total, five hundred
and FIVE; safe, about one hundred and eighty
four.
Two howitsers and two field pieces of tht
Second Rhode Island Battery were hauled NJ
the hill and effectively handled during th'
fight, by Colonel Baker himself aided BY
Wistar, his Adjutant, Hawley, Colonel Cogs
well of the Tsmmany, and Company g, Cap
tain Derriel, First California.
The forces which crossed the Potomac were
as follows:
First Battalion Of the California Regiment
six hundred and eighty-nine: Massachusett
Fifteenth, one thousand; the Massachusett
Twentieth, about five hundred; Tammau,
Regiment, two hundred; total, two THOUSAND
three hundred and eighty-nine.
WASHINGTON, October 23.-On the adven
of the news of the fall Of Colonel Baker
General Lander was Immediately ordered t
the scene, being at that time making ar
rangements to proceed to new command
|
General Gustavus W. Smith was not in thu
fight at Edwards's Ferry. The rebel army
was commanded by General Evans.
To-day at noon the enemy was not In torc'
in our immediate front nearer to Washing
ton than Centervile All their troops arr
withdrawn from Fairfax Courthouse anC
Station, except picket guards.
EpwARDss FERRY, October 23.-During
skirmish last evening" nearly opposite thi
point, General Lander received a painful
flesh. wound in his left leg. The ball ha
been extracted, and no danger to life or lin
is spprehended.
PHILADELPHIA, October 23.-The Richmon
Rhg, a copy of which has been receive,
/ here, in an editorial on the war, says all tn
indications point TO a long war. After com
menting upon what it terms the safer Policl
of acting on the defensive, which has beeI
] adopted by the rebel Generals, polio.
which the editor fails to appreciate, AM
| showing the supremacy the Federal force
, had gained, threatening the whole coast, an
able to assail at any point the extended fror
tier of the South, the following declaration
despair is uttered: 90
, 'aThe possibility of our success Is n,
. within range of accident. To prevent OF
subjugation or determination is all we ca
/ hope for We have no skill in strategy, al
know nothing Of the means at the commaI
| of our Generals; but if this is all that is le
\ | ro ma had xralI he lnoEino ont for farm