Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-17

our pickets. The divisions of Generals Mccall, Smith, Porter, and McDowell were promptly pre- pared for an apprehended emergency, but noth- ing further transpired beyond the firing of a few shots from the rebels, which fell short of our troops. About three rebel regiments showed themselves, and the expectation was that gen. eral advance was imminent Great excitement prevailed in Washington and throughout the federal lines, but it was generally thought that no further attempt at an attack would be made.
 GEN. PRICE is known certainly to be encamp- ed near Papinsvile with 10000 men, 2,0OO wag- ons and an immense number of horses. The Missouri Convention met on Saturday, when the committee on elections presented report re- commenting that the state election be deferred till the first Monday of August, 1862, and that the present acting governor, lieutenant-governor and secretary of state be kept in office until after that election Our correspondent writes us from Sedalia that Gen. Fremont's army is stuck in the mud between California and Sedalia. He conf- dently predicts that no forward movement will be made from Sedalia for two weeks to come.
 DR. HAYES RErURNED.-The friends of sci ence and discovery will be pleased to learn of the safe return of Dr. Hayes who went to the polar regions several months since. He reach ed Smiths Strait on the 26th of August, 1860, but could not penetrate tho Strait either last sea- son or this. He wintered at Port Foulke near Alexander. He reached with dogs and sledges, a latitude of el deg. and 36 min., the 18th of May last. Two of the party have died, namely, Auguste Sontag the astronomer, and Gibson Caunthers. Dr. Hayes arrived at Halifax on Wednesday morning.
 THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER of the llth inst, just received here, has an account of the confs- | cations of estates and property in Virginia, which has occurred under the terms of the re- cent Sequestration act of the rebel Congress since the 3Oth of September. The aggregate value of the property thus confscated owned by Northern Virginians, is estimated at eight hus- dred Mousand dollttrs.
 Among the sufferers are the following persons, who are named in the Enquirers list: Augustus Belmont of New York, who loses five hundred hogsheads of tobacco, valued at two hundred and eighty thousand dollars Woods, Lowry and Farant, of Norfolk, Virginia; c. M. Fry 6 Co.,. of New York, and Chickering & Sons, of Bos- ton; the last named house losing large stock of pianos in the hands of their agent in Rich monl.
 Also, an estate owned by William c. Rives, Jr. of Boston, consisting of eight hundred acres of fine land, fully stocked with negroes, live stock and implements; and another estate own ed by Francis Rives of New York City, also con taining eight hundred acres and stocked with slaves.
 Still another large estate of eight hundred acres, belonging to Mir. Sigourney of New York city, with its negroes and live stock, has been confscated.
 The rebel authorities have appointed agents to take charge of these estates, and to pay the rev. cnues arising thcrefrom into the Confederate Treasury.
 IT is reported that ex-Goyernor Wise has been attacked by an illness of so serious a nature that | hls lllc was Tn danger.
 1 FROM FORTRESS MoSHoE-A party of New York Zouaves who were sent out from Newport's News Saturday. to cut fuel, were attacked by a scouting party of rebels and driven in with a loss of one team.
 TIE STEAMER R. 8. Spaulding sailed Saturday with large shipment of Quartermasters and Commssary stores.
 BR1cAD1ER-GESEnAL WILLIAMS goes with her, and will assume chief command at Hatteras inlet.
 WE UNDERSTAND that Lieut.. Fred Myers, U. s. N. who was appointed by Governor Bucking- ham, to the Coonelcy of the 10th Reg. c. V. has been refused permission to accept the ap- pointmcnt, the Administration considering his services in the Quartermaster's Deparement too valuable to be dispensed with at tho present | time.
 A MRs JACKSON, the mother of Ellsworth's 1 murderer, has beon arrested for giving aid and comfort to the robels. A new rebel battery is being erected on the Potomac at Cockpit Point about five miles from the Freestone Point bat tery. The marine court martial closed it's st- tings at the capital on Saturday. The case of Toombs arrested for conspiring to effect the es- cape of certain secession members of the Mary land legislature, was concluded, but the decision was not announced. Capt. Putnam of the Quartermaster's Department, returned from his visit to the Western Department, and reports favorably on affairs under Gen. Fremont's ad- ministration.
 The 9th and 7th Connecticut regiments are at Annapolis pleasantly quartered in the Naval Academy buildings, but will not remain there long.
 THE 4th Connecticut Regiment are at Fort Richardson, Arlington Heights.
 A SERIOUS and tragical affair occurred last Monday night at the temporary encampment of the 9th Connecticut regiment. During the tur- moil of pitching tents and preparing supper in the midst of terrific storm, an unprincipled speculator smuggled a hogshead of liquor into the lines, and before detected by the officers enough of his poisonous compound had been dis pensed to create the greatest disturbance. Dur ing the reign of it's influence an affray occurred Tn which one citizen was killed, two or three wounded. and