Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-07-04
WAR MOVEMENTS,

There is thing from Washington more i'm
portant than slight skirmishes between the pick
cts and scouts Of the two armies.
The Government has in and around Wash
lngton seventy thousand troops.
| skirmish between the United States and
the Confederate scouts took place near Aexan-
drla on Sunday morning. The attack was made
oy the Confederates, who killed one and wound
cd one OF the Federal pckets. The pickets re-
turned the hire, killing two of the Confederates
and woundlng third. A detachment followed
In pursuit and found four rifles and three revolt
vers which the Confedcrates threw away in
t'leir flight.
From the Upper Potomac we learn that there
were indications of a movement by Gen. Patter
sons force. 1t was believed that the force would
cross into Virginia at Williamsport and Sheph
erdstown The main portion of the Confederate
force under Gen. johnson was still at Steven
sons Station, near Winchester and COL jackson
was near Martlnsburg with smaller force
Two regiments, one of Alabama and one of Mis-
sissippi returned to Harpers Ferry on Friday
morning. They again drove out the Union
residents destroyed the rest of the railroad tres
sci, and seized and broke up all the boats they
could get hold of on the Maryland shore A
Federal battery is to be planted on the Mary
land Heights commanding Harper's Ferry. The
Confederate troops have also been engaged in
blowing up Back Bridge, stone structure of
eighty feet span, on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, ten miles above Martinsburg The
explosion of four mines was heard on Thursday
last, but it is not known what amount of dam
age was done to the bridge.
Col. Stones column has been reinforced by
another regiment and it is said will be pushed
on from the Monocacy to Harper Ferry
From Grafton we learn that the United States
forces now hold the whole line of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad from Wheeling to Piedmont
Col. Wallaces Indiana regiment is still at Cum
berland with two Pennsylvania regiments in the
vicinity
From St. Louis it is reported that the Con-
federate troops were concentrating in Arkansas
on the border of Missouri, and that ten thousand
State troops were in camp in the State.
Washington June 3O.-Captain Craven has
been ordered to the command of the Potomac
hotia in place of Capt. Ward, deceased.
The New Jersey Brigade, which arrived yes
terday, have gone into camp near this city in
the neighborhood of the Rhode Island regiments
At the Navy Yard two large scows are to be
Immediately built, each capable of mounting
eight 50 pound guns with movable barricades
for the protection of troops thereon.
The steam transport James Guy left the Navy
Yard last evening with supplies for the gun boat
Freeborn which is accommodating between Ma
thias' Point and Aqua Creek
The steamers Cambridge Ben Deford and
Pembroke arrived at the Arsenal yesterday after
noon, the first named bringing Col. Cass Bos-
ton regiment, and the other vessels army sup
plies. The Cambridge in passing Matthias Point
threw grape shot into the bushes thereabout,
under the apprehension that the Confederates
might be in their former hiding places There
was no response, however, from the shore. Had
Col. Cass been aware of the recent action and
consequent death Of Capt. Ward, the Boston
regiment would have debarked and thoroughly
secured the neighborhood.
ihY6TIIER sKIRMisH Ar MafHIAs'
Attempt of a Accommodating Party to Plant
n Battery on Shore-Attacl of Large Force
of Confederates in Ambush-Captain Ward
of the FreebOrn, Killed.
Washington, June 2S.-The steamer Pawnee
arrived at the Navy Yard this morning, bring
ing interesting but painful intelligence from
Matthias Point. According to the statement of
persons in the expedition to that point Captain
Ward, of the gunboat Freeborn, yesterday OBJ
tanned from Capt. Rowan, of the Pawnee, a
reinforcement of about twenty men, and united
with others from his own vessel, comprising
between thirty and forty in ALL started in sever
al cutters for Matthias Point, taking with them
about two hundred and fifty bags which they
filed with sand on shore, and with which breast
works were soon erected, the proceedings being
under Che direction of Lieut. Chaplin.
While in the act of returning to the Freeborn
for the purpose, it is stated of obtaining cannon
for the battery, force of Confederates, various
ly estimated at from eight to twelve hundred,
suddenly emerged from thick wood in which
they had been concealed, and poured volley
OF shot into the Federal party, who made hasty
retreat. Several Of the men, by swimming got
back to the steamer Freeborn
Captain Ward, on the Freedom, protected his
men as far as possible with his guns, and fired
IL or Is shot among the Confederates, but with
what effect could not be ascertained. While in
the act of working gun, after, it is said, the
gunner had been wounded, Capt. Ward was
struck in the breast by bullet, and in the
course of an hour thereafter died from internal
hemorage.
A sailor named William l. Bess was wounded
in four places, it is feared MORALLY. Several
others were also wounded among them Jack
Williams, the coxswain, a ball entering his thigh.
The flag which he carried was completely rid
died with balls. The men all reached the YES
sells without further damage.
Capt. Wards body was brought here to-day
by the steamer Pawnee. In the funeral process
sion from the wharf to the place of temporary
deposit in the Navy Yard, was displayed the
riddled banner
The gloom which prevailed in this locality
when the remains arrived was oppressive.
The remains of Captain Ward will be trans
ported North.
1t is said that Immediately after the retreat of
the Federal force from Matthias Point, the breast
works were occupied by the Confederates.
Information had been communicated early in
the day, by negro belonging to DR.. Howe,
whose house was burnt by a party from the
gun-boat Resoute on Tuesday, that the enemy
were in the neghborhood at least one thousand
strong.
The object of Capt. Ward in throwing up the
breastwork at Matthias Point, was, that his
boats crews might be able to hold the place
with the aid of small howitzer battery and
covered by the S2-pounder guns of the Freedom
until his force should be reinforced by the New
York list regiment, which he had sent for to
come to his support It was thought that the