Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-12
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

On Saturday afternoon, a rebel battery Of
six pieces, supported by 400 infantry and 200
cavalry, appeared on the Virginia side of the
Potomac, at Dam No 5. They at once opened
fire upon the dam, and against the building on
the Maryland side, burning one barn. and rid
ding several houses with shot. To oppose the
rebels there we're on one spot only one COM
pany Of the 18th Massachusetts, Regiment,
was very Ineffective. The next morning, the
rebels, ,emboldeDed by the weakness of our fire,
began their attack again in high spirits dur
ing the night, howe7er, there had come re-
enforcement in the shape of company Of men
with Enfield rifles they were hidden on the
bank, and unexpectedly returned the enemys
fire with such sharpness that they were forced
to retreat with the loss of l5 or 20 BY Mon
day noon, we had battery in position to do
good execution in case OF another attack.
The Richmond papers of Thursday contain
a dispatch, dated Savannah, the 4th inst,
which says that sixteen of the Union vessels
were inside Of the bar, and that an attack on
Fort Polaski was hourly expected If this is
so, we must be on the watch for news of the
most stirring nature.
By the arrival Of the Vanderbilt on Friday
we have later news from Port Royal The
troops under Gen. Sherman have been engag-
ed in the most severe labor since they reached
Hilton Heed labor which might have been
performed by the slaves if the policy of the
Commanding General had allowed him to take
advantage Of the aid within his reach Hill
ton Head Island is now in course of thorough
intrenchment, storehouses are building, and
fine wharf will soon be finished Beaufort has
not been occupied for some time. Important
recounoissances have been made partially
completed and entirely abandoned, forti6ca-
tionS were found. The expedition which has
recently been fitting out from Port Royal was
to sail within three or four days. Much i'm
patience is felt by the troops because they are
not allowed to take Savannah and Charleston.
The destruction of cotton by the rebels, in Or
der to prevent it from falling into our hands,
is wide spread.
Our latest adviceS from Missouri relative to
Ben. M'Culloch are to the effect that be has
gone into Winter quarters on Pear Ridge near
BentonVille, Benton County, Ark. This gives
the lie to the manifeStly improbable story that
he had surrounded Gen. Sigel at SedaIia. The
Rebel Hays, with 800 men, made dash into
Independence Mo, on Monday, and seized all
the horses belonging to the Pacific Stage Com
pany, beside making general Confscation Of
all property belonging to Union citizens.
On Friday party Of exasperated citizens
of Sedalia, Mo, attacked a gang of returned
Rebels from Prices army under Capts. Young
and Wheatley, at place about twenty miles
west Of the place mentioned. Ten of the Reb-
els were killed or wounded Among the killed
were Capt. Young.
Gen Prentice at St. Joseph Mo, on
Wednesday addressed large crowd of the
citizens of that place, declaring in the most
solemn manner that he would compel every
Secessonist there to take the oath of allegiance
to the United States Government or he would
set them at work In the trenches of Fort
Smith. The speech delighted the loyal, but
sent CONSERVATION into the ranks of the trail
tors.
The latest news from Price is that be has
moved short distance from Osceola with IA
part of his force.
The steamship Arago, with General Scott
on board, reached Southampton from New