Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-31
Msas of tl,e aveek.

1 Df THE ARRIVAL nere or the On1teQ SLatcS Stea mer Mcclellan from the gulf squadron we have full details of the fight at Santa Rosa Island and the attack ofthe rebel fleet on the block sding sqsdEon at Southwest Pass of the Miss 1ssipp. The attack on Wilson's regiment at Santa Rosa Island on the 9th instance was fa, less success for the enemy than the southern accounts represent. The attacking force was fifteen hundred strong, brought from the Pepsa. cola navy yard in three large steamers. The Zouaves' camp was taken by surprise. and ou, men were compelled to fall back, the rebels ta. King thelr position and burning the whole camn Col. Wilson is said to have mannuvered b.d,, so that the resistance of his men was loss offao t'Fe than might have been. He was reinforced oy three companies of regulars from Fort Pick. ens' which immediately caused the rebels to re- treat to their vessels, where the fire of the fede- rai troops told severely upon them. The rebel loss in the affair is estimated at three hundred and fifty killed, wounded, and captureJ. while 'hat of the Aouaves and regulars is about sey en- ty.
 The rebel accounts of the attack of the New. Orleans fleet on the federal vessels lying a. an chor near the s. W. pass, on the night of the lzth plove to have been highly oyer-coorcd and false in some particulars. The United States fleet consisted of the Richmond, Huntsville water Hltch Prebe, and Vinceunes and the steamship Nightingale. The rebel fleet com prIsed six gunboats the battering ram Manassas and several fire ships, the aim of the expedition being clearly to burn the federal ships The ram Manassas driited foul of the Richmond do-
 ing her slight damage. Onr squadron promptly got under weigh and drifted down the river to avoid the fire ships. The Richmond, Preble, 'lncenns, and Nightingale got ashore, but with out any damage to vessels or life The three
 former were got off next day, and the Nishtn- gale was quite safe. While ashore they were attacked by the rebels but without injury, only one shot striking. The squadron had no one killed or wounded.
 WE have highly satisfactory news from Mis- souri. Springfield again occupied by the National troops on Saturday evening last, and the retreat of the rebel Price, with his army, is thus cut off, and he will be forced either to give battle with the certainty of defeat or to surren- der The occupation of Springfield was preced- cd by one of the most brilliant achievements which have yet marked the progress of the war. Major Szagonyi, at the head of Gen Frcmont's S body-guard, made charge upon body of the enemy, upwards of two thousand strong drawn up in line of battle at their camp, near the town de completely routed them, and cleared them from the vicinity, after which he hoisted the Na- tional flag on the courthouse, and then retired temporarily, to await a reinforcement, which soon joined him. Our last accounts, it will be rccollected, left Price retrcating towards Green. field, in Dade Country, On his way to Spring field, while Gen. Siegel was at Bolivar, in Polk Country, pressing forward to reach Spring Sfsld before Price. This he has succeeded in doing, and Gen. Fremont has thus attained ar almost incalculable advantage in position, which will no 1 doubt soon be avaied of
 | NEWS from Western Virginia is generally good but this is better than good-is is the best we have received from any quarter for several days. Gen. Kelly, the hero of Phillippa, having sufficiently recovered from the serious wound received there to resume active operations, has again made his mark against the rebels. He marched from New Creek in Hampshire County, on Friday night last, and attacked the enemy at Romney on Saturday afternoon, routing them and capturing many prisoners, together with three pieces of cannon and all their wagons and camp equipage. The rebels, in their precipitate retreat, took the road toward Winchester. The National loss was but tria;ng.
 IN the disaster which befe our froces at Ed wards Ferry, and by which the gallant Col Baker fell, out of only nineteen hundred men who crossed the river and were engaged in the battle, ! there are killed and missing sercn Hundred, and wounded in the National hospitals one Hundred and si1tv.
 Gel. Baker was shot, apparently in the chest or stomach. He was standing in advance of his left, endeavoring to ra.ly company of Penn sylvania skirmishers. He fell heavily forward, but immediately raised himself upon his hands and knees, and afterwards with an effort, to his feet. He stood erect only for m instant, and, without uttering word, fell again motionless. It is probable that he received another shot at the moment of rising.
 GEO. D. PRENTICE has proved himself an in 1 corruptible patriot. Among the many schemes l for carrying Kentucky out of the Union was a persevering attempt to buy Prentice, or, failing that, to buy his paper He was at first ap- proached with the modest offer of $25, ,000 which was of course promptly declined. The anxious buyers, thinking perhaps their bid had been be- low Prentice's estimate of his honor, increased their offer, and through an old political friend, since quartered at Fort Lafayette, he was i'm formed that fifty thousand dollars was in Lou isville bank, subject to the draft of George D.
 Prentice, provided the Journal were lenccforth
 conducted according to certain terms An iu-
 creased severity upon the disunionists, in the
 columns of the Journal was the response to this proposal. Next came a railroad man from the
 far West, who eschewed all politics, and wanted
 an influential paper to support the Pacific Rail
 road enterprise. He would give Prentice $25O,-
 ooo for the Journal. This bid was too low, and
 George D. Prentice remains unbought and un- |