New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-21
THE LATEsT WAR NEWS.


For the past few days, though there have been
ahoat hardly even rumors Of war, yet an oppres-
sive anticipation of something important about to
happen. hush Of expectation, and repressed
excitement, have been observed and felt by all.
The latest Southern papers show that in the
country of the Rebels there 10 similar looking
and waiting, except that with them, In spite of
their boastirg, there seems to be present fore
b0ding of coming overthrow. This morning we
have, however, intelligence OF stirring char
acter.
II appears that the rebels have for some time
been occupied in putting up offensive works at
Sewalls Point, opposite Fortress Monroe. Ac-
counts vary somewhat as 10 tho manner and the
details OF the attack upon the works. but the
most trustworthy statement runs thus: Ga Sat
urday afternoon the seauier Star discovered
battery at Sewalls Point, mounting two guns.
The Star opened fire and soon senced one gun.
Shortly after, the Thomas Frceborn, Capt Cash,
came on tie ground, aud being of lighter dIanght,
q. o0eo upset the remaining gun. The same yes-
sci, seeing knot of Sccessionists standing TO-
Cether near the discounted battery, threw
shot into the group, the members of which scat
tered speedily. The engagement occupied thiec
hours and more, at the end OF which time tho
offensive work was thoroughly demolished
On Sunday night the Thomas FreeborD, oruis-
ing in tie Potomac, captured two suspicious
schoone!s, one OF which confined thirty rebels.
The prizes ond prisoners were taken TO the
Nayy.Yard.
Import.nt news comes from another point On
Sunday body Of 1000 Virginians and South
Carolipans from Harper's Ferry took position
on the Virginia side, opposite WilliomsPort. o
town about seven miles from Hagerstown, Nd.
They there were 10 4 situation TO command tAe
ferry at that spot, and were expecting on Moe
day to be joined BY another body OF nine thou
send men with cannon.
Gen. Cutler, it is understood, has orders to
proceed at once 10 active movements forward
into Virginia, and will directly remove tho OBJ
structors in Norfolk Harbor.
Gov. Letcher has met with loss. He Lad
cOuscd to be made for hs particular study accu-
rate military maps Of Virginia. These having
been finished at Washington, were on their way
to the Governor when they wero seized b. order
Of the War Department.
We have two reports of Mississippi troops,
7bich may refer to only ono movement. 1t is
said that o. Sunday 1 100 Of them left Richmond,
under Captain Barksdale, for Harper's Ferry.
Also. that 1900 Mississippans reached Harper's
Ferry on Sunday. II ia reported that the small.
pox has broken out at the latter place
From Texas we learn that fears are enter
tanned Of AL attack upon the banks Of the Rio
GIaGde by Cortna. 1t is said that he is NOV
ne receives large accessons.
Yesterday, by bold stroke, the Government
obtained possession Of most invaluable document
airy evidence ngainst the sympathizers with trea-
son in the North. At a given hour the officers
of the law swooped down upon every consider
able telegraph Office in the Free States, and
seized the Accumulated manuscript dispatches Of
, a twelvemontb The result is that the Govern
| ment eau now trace the secret operations of the
Rebels and their aders and abettors, and hence.
forth hold the Northern enemies Of the Republic
at its mercy.
There is report Of an sttack BY tho Seces.
sionists on a Government steamer at the mouth
OF the Potomac, and that 10 the conflict four
| United States troops were killed. Tho report is
denied, and it is not now known what founda-
ton there is for it,
The Governor Of Kentucky has issued proc.
lamstion forbidding the movement OF Federal or
Rebel troops on the soil Of bis State.