Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-30
INTERESTING WAR NEWS.


Wilson's zouaves- New Orleans Naval fight, ete.
PARKERsBURG, Oct. 21.-On Wednesday
night last messenger arrived at Elizabeth,
Writ county, reporting that party of rebels
were committing depredations in the neighbor
hood of Burning Springs, eight miles distant.
Captain Hill of the First Virginia Cavalry,
stationed at Elizabeth. with forty of the com
pany, started in pursuit of the rebels. When
six miles beyond Elizabeth, he was fired into
from the side of a hill, close to his road, by
seventy-fiye rebels. He returned the fire,
killing twelve, wounding one. and taking five
prisoners. Two of Captain Hil's troops were
wounded. On Friday night, a force of two
hundred rebels attacked Elizabeth, but were
repulsed by Capt. Hill. with the aid of few
Home Guards but little damage was done
either side. On Saturday night, the rebels
robbed and burned several houses at Burning
Springs, stealing a number OF horses, etc.
Capt. Hill was reinforced Sunday morning, by
four companies infantry from Wheeling under
the command of Lieut.. Col. Richmond. There
are from three to four hundred rebels in Writ
| county, most of whom belong to that and
| adjoining counties. Col. Richmond is now in
| pursuit Of them.
RoLLA, Oct. 23.-Lieut. Kirby, with fifteen
men Of MajorWrght's battalion, had another
| fight with iorty-five rebels, near Linn Creek,
on the 18th, killing five of them and wounding
| about dozen. The result of Maj. Wright's
march from Rolla to Linn Creek can be sum-
med up as follows: Three successful fights,
| in which sixty-eight rebels were killed, about
| the same number wounded, eighty seven pris-
oners, taking one hundred and twenty three
| guns, fifteen horses, several yoke of oxen,
wagons and many other articles. Prices ar
| my was at Greenfield last Wednesday still
heading south. Reports from Springfield say
| that Gen. Mcbride of the rebel forces has re-
signed and Is on his way TO that place to dis
| band his division and return home. Col.
| nauln in and nf fINar al
Springfield, recently issued proclamation de-
| claring that all Union men who had belonged
| to the Home Guards would be reqdired to
leave the country or go to the Southern army
| for the same length of time they had served
| in the Federal army, and requiring pledge
| from the Union men now there for the exem-
| plary conduct of their friends who are absent
from home. The proclamation also prohibits
| the carrying of any more slaves South as such
| a course is calculated to lessen the confidence
| of the people in the ability of the Southern
army to sustain itself in Missouri.
CAIRO, H., Oct pa gentleman who ar
| rived at Paducah to-day, from Memphis, re-
ports that the arsenal and cannon foundry at
| that place were entirely destroyed by fire a
| few days since. Ii is reported that portion
| of the force at Columbus, Kentucky, under
| General Polk, has been sent to New Orleans
and Mobile, and that only 1000 rebels are now
at Columbus.
\
Watson from Liverpool attempting to run the
| blockade at Charleston on the 18th was pur-
| sued by the steamer Flag. The ship was run
ashore. Her crew escaped. The SHIP was
loaded with cargo of flannel and blankets
which was taken possession of and the ship
| burned.
PooLEsvILLE, Oct 24.-The following report
OF the battle of Balls Bluff, midway between
Conrad's Ferry ,And Edwards Ferry land oppo-
| site Harrison's Island, which occurred on the
| 21st, is CLEANED from authentic sources On
| Sunday night the Goth Col. Devin, of the 18th
Massachusetts,, who had for some time guarded
| Harrison's Island with one company, ordered
Capt. Philbrook of Co. H., and Quartz rmaster
| Howe, of his staff, with detachment of 200
men, to scout the Virginia shore in the dircc-
tion of Leesburg. They crossed from the
Island to the shore, and executed the order by
approaching within three -fourths of mile of
| Leesburg, returning to their starting point
about 10 O'Clock at night, discovering, as they
| supposed, a small camp one mile or more from
| Leesburg. On reporting to COL Devin, the
latter, with about 800 men, pushed forward
as directed by Gen. Stone, in the same locali-
ty, with orders to destroy the camp. At day
break the scouts returned TO Col. Devn, who
| remained with his command concealed, and
word was sent back that no enemy was in sight.
Capt. Philbrook's company took advanced
position while the remaining companies were
concealed as a reserve, in of an attack on
the advance. When about mile and a half
from the river, and 500 yards in advance of
Col. Devin's reserve, Capt. Philbrook, accom-
panied by Col. Devin in person, attacked and
drove back company of Mississippi rifemen,
and then fell back to the reserve concealed in
the rear, on the appearance of body of rebel
cavalry. The MssisSippians having longer
range guns, ii was with difficulty that the
Colonel maintained his position. During the
morning however, he was reinforced by 800
Of
bout O'Clock large force of rebel rilemen
tried to outfiank Col. Devin, when he fell back
to the river in good order, where he was re-
intorced by a battalion of Gen. Bakers Cali
fornia regiment. Gen. Baker then took COM
mand, first complimentng Col. Devin for his
successful resistance of superior force. The
Rebels now pressed our lines hard, and at this
juncture it was announced that Gen. Baker
was killed. Col. Coggswell of the Tammany
regiment arriving at the time with two compa-
nies, took command, he being the senior officer.
Col. g. deeming the battle lost made an at
tempt to cut his way through to Edward 8
Ferry, but failing, fell back towards the river
in tolerabe good order. The boat used to
convey the men 10 the Island was wamped,
when some of the men crossed over by swimming
several OF whom were drowned others took
, to the woods. Our loss was estimated IA killed
123 wounded, and about 385 missing, many of
the latter have since returned. The enemys
) loss is not known, but is heavy. Our men
, fought with great bravery throughout the en-
tire engagement The enemys force is various
ly estimated from 5000 to 10, 900, whilst ours
numbered abont 1900. 1t is proper to state in
i, connection with the foregoing, that Gen
Stones orders to Gen. Baker we're to advance
a brigade. including battery to the support
of Col. Devin, and to attack the enemy in
force only in case of knowledge of their
inferior numbers, and of his ability to defeat