Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-17


out of reach Of Col. Smiths rfies,. They had
two pieces of artillery, which were brought to
Dear, but the distance was SO great that the
balls were almost spent before reaching our
lines. Col. Smiths artillery was of longer
range, and did considerable execution. The
fight lasted until dusk, and the last shot from
our side dis mounted one OF the enemy's guns.
Just at that moment Governor Wood, of 1lli-
nois, fell on the rear with the cavalry sent from
Quincy on Wednesday, and completely rout-
ed them, taking seventy-five prisoners, one
gun, and large number of horses. About
twenty or thirty rebels were killed. Not one
man on our side was kill ed, although several
were severely wounded. Col. Smith is deter
mined to shoot some of the most prominent
rebels. Gen. Tom Harris, the rebel leader,
escaped.
Yesterday morning, the steamer Pioneer left
Baltimore for her usual trip TO Annapolis,
West Cambridge and Easton, and on return
ing this evening landed four prisoners at Fort
M'Henry, upon the charge OF piracy, having,
as is alleged, been concerned in the seizure
of the steamer ST. Nicholas. The Pioneer
left Cambridge this afternoon. The prisoners
came to Cambridge in canoe, about y o.
clock on Thursday night, having with them
large box filled with carbines, Colts revolv-
ers, cutlasses, sabres, bayonets, cartridge
boxes, buek-shot, etc. The circumstances
being supicious, they were arrested by the
platoon OF the Dorchester Home Guards, who
had charge of them till they reached the fort.
Two of the prisoners were recognized as Bal
timoreans, and are said to have belonged TO
Col. Thomas expedition. The steamer Ar
row, which left Baltimore yesterday with de-
tachment of troops, made another search for
the pirate schooner, and found her aground on a
shoal, off Egg Neck Nar.ows. She had been
abandoned by the crew. A guard was left on
board, and tug has been sent down to tow
her up. There seems to be no doubt, from
various circumstances, that the design was to
seize the steamer Chester. When the steam
er Pioneer left Cambridge, q prominent seces-
sonist, the wharf, gave three cheers for
JEFF. Davis, which was the signal for regular
free fight between the secessionists and the
Union men there gathered. Pistols and bow
ie knives were freely used, and ii is the opin
ion of some of the passengers that several
parties sustained serious injury. Governor
Hicks was seen standing on the wharf at the
time.
The Freedom boat, 1t. Lowery COM
manding, arriving up from Aqua Greek.
She has been cruising for several nights up
and down between that point and Mouth river,
preventing communication between lower
Maryland and Virginia. The service is active,
arduous and dangerous. On Sunday at noon
the Freeborn was at Aqua Creek with the
Resolute, Pawnee and Pocahontas, and two
towards the feet with the ebb tide. When
within a quarter of mile small boat was
sent from the Pawnee to reconnoitre them.
The Resolute, which supported the small
boat, discovered they were internal machines.
One struck the rudder of the Resolute and be-
came detached from Its buoy and sunk the
other careened over and the fuse was put out
by dipping in the water. The latter was haul
ed on board the Pawnee. 1t had a cylinder
made of boiler iron, five feet long. and eigh-
teen inches in diameter, filled with all sorts of
destructive elements, designed to blow the
Potomac squadron to atoms. The machine
weighed about 400 pounds-connecting the
cylinder with the cask or buoy, which was full
of oil, the slow match was india rubber coated
fuse. The machine looks devilish. The
Freeborn brought it up to the Navy Yard,
where it attracts great attention. Thousands
visited it..
1t is stated that Judge Burton, of Kentucky,
and Hon. j. Z. Blair, Jr., of Missouri, are
each getting up company of sharp shooters
in their respective States for Col. Borden's
regiment. The Governors do not assist,
do those of other States, but upon application
to the President he expressed himself very
much interested in this regiment, and prompt
ly gave the assurance that all expenses would
at once be reimbursed. Mr.. ohm ] Braxton,
of Paris, KY, will receive applications from
that State, and Mr.. Blair, from his own State,
at st. Louis. The test is to be average of
five inches, ten shots, from centre, at 200
yards, at rest; or the same average at 100
yards of-hand.
July IA dispatch from Beverly, gives
the following from McClellan's column. A
battle was fought yesterday afternoon at Rich
Mountain, two miles east of this place, where
the enemy, numbering about 2000, under COM
mand OF Col. Pegram, were strongly entrench-
ed. About three O'Clock in the morning Gen.
Rosencrantz, with portion of the eighth,
tenth and thirteenth Indiana, and nineteenth
Ohio regiments, left this place, and after
very difficult march Of seven or eight miles,
cutting road through the woods, succeeded
in surrounding the enemy about three O'Clock
in the afternoon. a desperate fight immedi-
ately enSued, lasting about an hour and half,
resulting in the loss of 60 OF the rebels killed.
number of wounded, besides some prisoners
The enemy was completely routed. A rapid
march was then made by Gen. Mcclellan to
Beverly, passing Gen. Rosencrantz, command
on the road, with instructions to follow quick
ly. AT Beverly it was ascertained, late in the
day, that the rebel forces at Laurel Hill had
retreated moving towards Romney. The vic
tories in Western Virginia at Philippi and
Romney, the first triumphs of the campaign,
have been followed up by the driving of Col
Pegram from Rich's Mountain, and Gen. Garn-
EFT and ten thousand rebels from Laurel Hill.
Western Virginia is now free up.to the Blue
Ridge. Wise alone remains in the Southwest
ern part OF the States but his stay will be short
Gen. Mcclellan, in his official dispatches says
ssI may say that we have driven out some l0, 900
troops, strongly entrenched near Laurel Hill
under Gen. Garnett. The provision returns
show that the camp which Garnett abandoned,
must have contained about that number. They
were Eastern Virginians, Tennesseeans, Geor-
gians, and, think Carolinians. The success
of to-day is all that / could desire. We cap
tured + brass cannon. OF which one is rihed,
all the enemy,S, camp euujuape and tranSnor.