The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-05-29

A MIDNIGHT MARCH.
Col. Ellsworth Assassimated
His Assassin Instantly put to Death.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
No BATTLE NEE.
From the Washington Star ]

ing reports of military movements
kept the populace on the qui Uiue, to
which excitement fresh fuel was ad-
del on its being whispered that various
Regiments had been ord to pre-
pare for immediate service the word
also dropped by Gen. Thomas a, the
Seventh Regiment camp that the
storm was about to burst, indicated
that a decisive move must be taken.
The general idea among the troops
was that an advance be made into
Virginia, bat no body seemed 10 be
posted as to the exact purposes enter
tainel at headquarters.
A full moon looked peacefully
dowQ, and perfect quiet reignel on all
the neighboring shores. But this
was to give place very speedily to
more stirring movements.
Somewhat after midnight, Captain
Smead's Company, the National Rifles
and Captain Powel's company were
advanced across the bridge to tae
neighborhood of Roche's Spring.
Scouts were sent out in all directions,
who managed to get past the line Of.
the Virginia pickets. Somewhat la
ter, the Virginia pickets getting the
alarm, set spurs to their horses and
s"urried down the road towards Alex
andria in hot haste.
This morning, at 2 A. M, in pur-
suance of orders previously given and
rumored over Washington, on which
we were not at liberty to comment
yesterday, although within our lnowl-
edge, large body of U. S. TROOPS
crossed the Potomac from this city
and its neighborhood into Virginia.
Ellsworth Zonaves, in two steamers,
with the steamer James Guy as ac-
comparing tender, left their camp on
the Eastern Branch, and made directly
for Alexandria by water. The Mich
igan Regiment under Col. Wilcox
accompanied by detachment of U.
S. cavalry, and two pieces of Sher-
mans battery, under Lieut. Ransom
proceeded by the way of the Long
Bridge, direct for Alexandria.
The Seventh New York Regiment
halted under orders at Hugh's Tavern,
at the Virginia end Of the Long Bridge
the second New jersey Regiment is
at Roche's Spring, half a mile from
the end Of the Bridge /; the New York
Twenty-ffth and one Cavalry com
pany, and the New York Twelfth,
and the Third and Fourth New Jer-
sey Regiments proceeded to the right
after crossing the bridge, for the oc-
cupation of the Heights of Arlington.
They were joined by other troops
which crossed at the Georgetown Ac-
queduct
At o'clock A. NJ, at about the
same moment the Zonaves landed at
Alexandria from the steamers and the
troops before named, who proceeded
by the bridge, reached that town
as the steamers drew up near the
wharf armed boats left the Pawnee,
whose crews leaped upon the wharves
before the Zuuaves reached terra fir
ma The crews of the Pawnee,s
boats, were fred upon by the few DIS
union septries as the boat left the
steamship, by the way of giving the
alarm, when these sentries instantly
fed back into the town as fast as
their legs could carry them. Their
fire was answered by impromptu shots
from some ofthe Zouaves on the decks
of steamers bearing them. Immediate.
ly on landing Col Ellsworth march
ed the Zouaves up in the centre of
the town, no resistance TtQRtheir pro-
gress whatever being offered.
Thus quiet possession was taken of
that part of Alexandria, in the name
the United States, by the portion Of
the troops Immediately commanded by
Col. Ellsworth.
Those commanded by Col Wilcox,
at the same moment, as explained
above, marched into town by the ex-
tension Of the Washington turnpike,
the cavalry and artillery marching in
two or three streets below. the des-
tination Ct both these detatchments
was the depot of the Orange and
Alexandria railroad, which they in.
stantly seized. They also found, near
by, at Burch & Cooks, negro men, a
disunion company of cavalry, CON-
manded by Capt. Ball, (thirty-five
men and as many horses,) who were
made prisoners, not having heard the
alarm of the firing of the sentinels be-
low.
Everything found in the depot in
the way of stock, etc, is, of course, in
hands of the Government troops hold
ing it,
The Zouaves landed in Alexandria
In good order in doubl, quick time,
each company forming ID company
order on the street facing the river.
Company e, Capt. Liveridge. was
the FIRST to disembark. Capt. Liver
idge's Company was at once detailed
to destroy the railroad track leading
to Richmond, which service they
promptly performed After detailing
Compang E, Col Ellsworth directed
the Adjutant to form the Regiment,
and then with his Aid, Lieut.. Winser,
and file of men, started for the Tele
graph Office for the purpose Of cutting
the wires.
Col. Ellsworth and his detachment
proceeded in double quick time up the
street. They had proceeded three
BLOCKS, when the attention of Col
Ellsworth was attracted by o large
session flag flying from the Mar
shall House, kept by j. W. Jackson.
Col. Ellsworth entered the hotel,
meeting a man in hall he asked,
"Who put that up? The man ans
wered, ~ don't know am board
err here" Col. Ellsworth, Lieut..