The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-05-29
THE WAR.
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON
TEE WAR OPENED!
Alexandria Captured.
Col. Ellsworth, Assassinaaed.

Noulu DC tEe Case, Iale litSt Ikplt SSNcEal
regiments, with the New Jersey and Michi
gan Brigades, Ellsworth's Zouaves and Dis
trict Militia, crossed into Virginia, pickets
having been previously driven in by the
advance guards. One Of the regiments took
the road leading to Fairfax Court House,
about 30 miles from Washington, while an
other one, the Jersey, stopped at the fords,
a lie from the Lons Bridy,, awaiting orders.
| An advance into Virginia was also made
from another point, viz at the mouth Of the
Potomac Aqueduct, Georgetown.
The 9TH New York Regiment was among
the troops, and after several hours march,
occupied a point between the bridge and
Columbia Spring, on the line of the Wash
ington and Alexandria railroad The Dis
trict of Columbia troops returned TO Wash
ington this morning From 5000 to TO- 900
troops were sent over into Virginia this
morning.
Firing was heard occasionally by the dri-
wing in of the Virginia pickets.
At 0 a. m, the N. Y. Zouaves, 1ltl and
59th, and Jersey regiments hold Alexandria,
while Arlington Heights are occupied by
several regiments.
The entrance into Alexandria was attended
by an event which has caused the deepest
gloom over this community. Col. Ellsworth.
who had hauled down the Secession fay
from the Marshall House, was soon after
wards shot by a concealed foe. His dead
body has been brought to the Washington
Navy Yard.
Accounts from Alexandria are somwhat
contradictory, but there is no doubt Of the
fact that man named Jacks, n who shot
Col Ellsworth was instantly put to death,
some say by both bullet and bayonet. When
the Federal troops reached Alex ,ndria the
Virginia soldiers fired at them and fed
Visitors to that city say the scenes were in
tensely exciting. Federal vessels were in
the meantime before Alexandria.
1t seems to be true that a body of FEEDER
al troops has advanced to Fairfax county to
take possession Of the Junction of the
Orange and Alexandria AMI Manassas Gap
Railroad, with view Of intercepting the
advance of troops towards Alexandria from
! Richmond and other points. " " 4"
Nearly 5000 troops arrived at Washing
ton yesterday. e#
l o'clock, a MT IS reported that as
the Virginia troops retired from Alexandria,
one of them was killed by return shot from
the Federal forces There is prospect of
capturing the fugitiyes.
Among the forces sent over to Virginia
were two batteries and two companies Of ar
tillery.
The news Of the death of COL Ellsworth
was not generally known throughout Wash
ington until towards 10 o'clock to-day. The
excitement was intense, especially among the
military, who express the greatest inpa-
tiencc and desire to be sent over to Virgin
! la.
! From spy,gass view of Alexandria the
stars and stripes are flying from various
! points.
| 500 troops from North Cnrollna arrived at
Richmond last Monday night, and are now
stationed near Old Point Comfort. They
were to b, followed by 500 more in day or
two from the same State, making full reg;-
ment of 900.
BALTIMORE, May 24--The steamer Norfolk
has arrived.
General Butler left FoTt Monroe yesterday
with 1000 troops, in propellers, and landed
them.
An officer just from Washington says the
War Department received to-day accounts of
the erection Of several new and formidable
batteries near Norfolk, and there were
l 500 troops between Norfolk and Sewalls
Point
A gentleman from Richmond, says
there are 900 troops there, and that they
are arriving on every train. Two regimen IS
from North Carolina whilst he was there and
two from South Carolina left on the same
train he started on, but turned off on the left
at Taylorsville. This would take them to
Gordonsyille and they probably went to Gull
pepper.
The presence of General johnson a: liar
per's Ferry is confirmed
Two Kentucky Regiments were ordered to
reinforce the Viginians at Point of Rocks
yesterday. They were throwing up en-
trenchments on the Heights last night.
Two hundred soldiers from Federal Hill
marched through the streets Of Baltimore
this p m, and seized large quantity of
gunpowder which was taken to the magazine
in Fort McIIenry.
New YORK, May 24.-The ship North
Carolina, from Iiavre, for Norfolk, has arri-
we'd a prize to the Minnesota.
The schooner Tropic Bird, under British
colors, and the Pioneer owned in Richmond
have beer captured and are en- route here.
From the Frontier.
LEAvESwoRTH, May 25.-The U. S. forces
| from the Indian country, west of Kansas,
| comprising six companies cavalry and five