Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-20
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

From the Dispatch Of yesterday we take the follow
ing account of an excursion by body of South Caro-
linians and others into the borders of the enemy:
YANKEES AGAIN ROUTED-SEvERAL OF THEN
DONE FOR
Spencer Hancock, Esq, OF Chesterfield Co.. who re-
turned this city yesterday evening from Fairfax Q. H.
gives the following narration of skirmsh which took
place about q O'Clock on Monday evening, few miles
from that locality Mr. H. was himself participant in
the affair and his statement may therefore be relied on
Ga Sunday morning Gel Gregg received orders TO 60
out a accommodating expedition. lie took with hin
600 South Caroilans, company OF kempers ARTILLERY
and two companies Of cavalry, including As OF Capt
Balls Chester company and Capt. Terrys company, Of
Be dford. Hestarted at o'clock A. NJ. They remained
Sunday night at place called GAINESVILLE On Monday
morning COL Gregg with detachment of cavalry, went
40 miles down 20 the Potomac river TO MAKE observa
tons They remained in the vicinity about an hour and
distinctly saw terts and men on the Maryland side
they judged there about 800 men encamped at that
point.
Col Gregg afterwards returned to Dranesvlle formed
his command into column and marched down the road
to place called Vienna Here they remained only long
enough up the track of the Alexandria Loudoun
and Hampshire railroad and destroy water tank
probably about hour-ater which they started to re-
turn TO Drsnesvle The troops bad proceeded about
half nile when the whistle of the locomotive heard
in the distance, whereupon COL Gregg ordered halt,
wheeled his columO, and marched rapidly back to Vi
enna lney nau scarcely ulne W lh%ce Two oiuHoH III
position when train of cars consisting OF six fats and
a baggage car, came slowly around the curve pushed
by locomotive. Each fat was crowded with armed
men, whose bayonets gstened in the evening SUM- and
gave men an impression thst severe contest was
at hand This however was not realised, the result
will show.
Just as the train was about TO stop, the artillery fred
welldreced shot from one of their guns, which rsked
the Hessians fore aud aft. CONSERVATION aud dsmay
distinctly visible and after another fire. the enemy
were hastily leaving the cars and taking TO the
woods The engineer of the train smart enough to
uncouple the locomotive and take the back track for Al
eTludra leaving the entire train 10 be captured by our
troops Col Greeg's infantry and the cavalry pursued
the fugitives short distance through the woods, but
we're unable TO overske them. few OF the party eX-
hibed bravery and endeavored, by shouts to rally
their flying comrades but it was impossible They then
turned and discharged their pieces at without
eff CT. Six OF the enemy left dead upon the
ground.
l. is believed that this invading party consisted of
regulars and Michigan volunteers. Col Gregg had re-
ceiyed information that detachm Mt of Federallsis
came to Vienna on Sunday evening, and brought timber
70 repair the bridge and that they stated while there
that they would come on Monday with men enough 10
whip aad hang every ID SecessoDis 10 the negh5or
hood. They made slight mistake IN their calculations
About twelve rounds were fred by artillery, but
the enemy scattered afer the second Neither the in
fantry nor cavalry fred shot.
Our troops bufnt The cars and captured a consider
able quantity of carpenters tools, blankets, and other
baggage together with about 20 muskets and number
of pistols Mr.. Hancock brings with him trophies
o. 5. soldiers cap haveock thoroughly saturated with
blood and bayonet.
The fire of our artileIists was most effective. One
man was found with his hand shot completely eff another
with his arm shot off at the shoulder and other ghasy
objects proved the destructive effect Of the Shots Il is
thought by that Of the balls broke the coup.
lDgs OF the locomotive; at all events the engine was
taken away from the scene of action with all possible
speed
After tie engagement, COL Gregg retired with his
command TO FiirsT Q. Ii.
AFFAIR AT NEWPORT NEWS
On Sunday norni. last, Mr.. Samuel Pryor. of the
Charles City Troop, in company with Mr.. I'LL Carter,
Jr and Mr. Lee, citizen OF War"ick county, out
on Il Reconnaissance NeTpor News aud we're proceed
ing quietly along on horseback, when they were sur
rounled by party Of about % Hessisns, who hid
in the bushes The three gentlemen at once fred upon
the enemy and it Is believed each killed a man. The
fire was returned and Mr.. Pryor received shot in the
zroil They then retired and proceeded distance
from the Of action before hil companions were
aware Of the disaster that had beiasn n. Pryor. lie
Sos takel private house, where he died about SIX
hours after beirg shot The body brought up 20
WcoK's wharf YESTERDAY, 10y the steamer Curtis Peck,
Capt j. H. Fireman. from whom we learned these par
;icgjuiars
EVACUATION Of HARPER'S FERRY, &c, &c
com the --dluOTe sun or ID ufuhN, We copy lO-
loving dispatches made up by The Northern Associated
Pres.
FREDERICK June III A resident o. this city, who has
buf Just returned from H-rpsrs Ferry states that the
bridge las been totally destroyed with the exception 81
the per- which yet standing The trestle work Of
tn rsirOlu wi.bn toe town vas also destroyed. TIE
Government buildings were being seversly burnt when
be left there at ii o'clock this morning. The ariDory
was first fred aud dosrOyedhe ite works, il is sup
posed will follow next AL the machinery had ben
transported n'o the intelr several "a ago. He esti
mates that OILY about 900 troop. remained IN the
when be left The main body, it said has been pushed
forward TO CharGs,own and point near Lessburg.
Frederick June l4,h--Nidnigat route Of the
main body Of tn retestrg army was b. the turnpike
leading to Ubarics.owa and Shepherds'oTn but their
precise destination not known lhy were lost in
The distance, and in the vicinity sufficiently
informed o give tie necessary Information.
At oelock this morniag. the great bridge Of the
Baltimore and Ohio R4ilroad, over the Potomac, was
fred aud soon after Tremendous report heard,
ed oy the explosion Of mucs under the centre span.
In one hour the entire structure was in ruins and fell
into the river. This noble work. one thousand feet
long built by Engineer LGtrobe but years since in
bo mcst scien nc manner. It had SIX Spans and was
built at heavy outlay.
The trestling on which the road supported from
the bridge 20 the end OF the Government property about
half mile in extent, is nearly all destroyed, as well as
au upper bridge of l20 fee. in length the Govern
men; canal.
The telegraph station buildings and other railroad
works al5o demolished The long range Of substan
tsl buildings formerly occupied as the Government Arm
DRY burnt to the ground, With the pon OF two
buildings az the east end the Shenandoah river
These will probably yet be burnt.
The fe has been raging all day. and when we left was
Just bursting out in the quarters.
The rifle works on the Shenandoah were fred this az
ternoon and none OF the Government property remained
except the dwellings for officers the hills aud Two out
burnt 10 April by the Government troops when its forces
abandoned the place.
The loss to the Government must he in buildings alone
from four to i've hundred thousand dollars whilst the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company has suffered
scarcely lees and it is believed that of it's equip
ments have been embraced in this wholesale ruin.
At HsrtinsbGrg, above Herper's Ferry, come of the
extensive workshops and engine buildings Of the work
are located and there well az other places in thu
State OF Virginia the railroad men, bV an active Union
sentiment are said to have been greatly instrumental in
the loyalty that prevails along the line Of the
road
The road men at Martnsburg number some 400, and
there are said be on the whole line OF the road nearly
4 O00 many of whom thrown out of employment by
the action OF Virginia and the effects OF the on the
building OF engines, &c.
The turnpike bridge at the mouth OF the Shenandoah
is also TO be burned According to reports every night
some further destruction may be expected no United
States troops in sight reported being sufficient
y near the Place to preyent It.
The troops ordered to leave twenty-four hours
before they did and one OF Johnsons staff said it was
reported the Federal troops going to take Win.
chester and fortiy it, and cut them off But they would
nov 20 there and be reinforced from Richmond. We
found in the buildings burned in April fifteen to twenty
two thousand musket barrels, gathered in piles
STILL LATER.
The Ba imore Sun OF Monday furnishes some addition
al particulars;
SANDY Hook, June l5-l2 o'clock, A. MA passen-