Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-10-25
TFrom the Gin. Commercial, 23d inst.
THE WAR NEWS.

THE WAR NEWS.
We have news this morning of several
bloody encounters, and the indications
are that great and decisive events are at
hand.
The rebel Jeff. Thompson has been de-
feated near Fredericktown, the county
seat of Madison county, south east of
Pilot Knob, and west of Cape Girardeau.
Madison county is in the third tier of
counties from the Mississippi river, and
the third from the Arkansas line. The
object of Thompson was to sneak
around toward St. Louis, and make di-
version by creating an alarm on the Mis-
sissippi. His defeat, and the pursuit of
his forces Will, probably, have the effect
Of relieving that portion of Missouri of
his disturbing presence. His loss was
undoubtedly severe, rebel surgeons ac-
knowledging that it was over two hun
dred One Of his principal officers, Col.
Lowe, was killed.
The sharp repulse of Gen. Zollicoffer
in an attack upon an inferior body of
troops at Camp Wildcat, forty miles from
Camp Dick Robinson, is an auspicious
event, and it is to be hoped that ener-
getic action will be taken by our forces
in Central Kentucky. The offensive
movements Of Zollicoffer. probably end
at Camp Wildcat. It is now the turn
of the United States troops to go in and
force the fighting. .:
Gen. Stones entrance into Virginia at
Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac, near
Leesburg, was disputed by powerful
force of rebels. A bloody but indeci-
sive engagement took place. We have
lost at that point several valuable of
fcers, among them Col. Baker, of the
California regiment, and Col GogswelI,
of the New York Tammany regiment,
killed, and Gen. Lander, slightly
wounded. Our troops made good their
position on the Virginia shore, and oc-
cupy line of hills three miles south of
the river This affair was regarded so
serious that Gen. Banks advanced by a
forced march TO the support Of Gen.
Stone, and is now ON the ground. If
the rebels do not desert Leesburg and
abandon the upper Potomac altogether,
battle in that quarter may be expected
to day. General Mcclellan cannot af-
ford to allow heavy masses of reinforce
ments to be sent from Manassas to over
power Banks and Stone, and it is quite
possible that the fight at Edwards S Ferry
may be the precursor Of general en-
gagement.
1t is at length admitted that the rebel
batteries, on the Lower Potomac, are a
serious obstruction to the navigation of
that river 1t is found trou 3esome to
run the gauntlet of batteries on the Vir-
ginia shore, and Washingt ton must look
to the railroad for all supplies. 1t is
obvious that single track will not fur
nish sufficient supplies; and military
necessity may arise to drive the rebels
from the river. The point to strike at
in order to raise the blockade is Manas-
sas The rebels seem to have planned
we'll to force the fighting at their famous
railroad triangle. Now that the mill
tary stagnation on the Potomac is
broken by fighting, We may look for
the grand struggle.
| For some days there has been evidence
that Mcclellan was preparing for it
The clearing out of the hospitals in the
neighborhood Of Washington, by send
ing the sick to Baltimore, is signifcant
that bloody work is expected. The
drilling Of the troops every day in
heavy marching order, is also one Of
| the signs Of the times.
At latest accounts from Fortress
Monroe skirmish was progressing neal
Newport News and there was proba
bility when the steamer left that there
would be very sharp engagement be-
fore the affair ended
Before the close Of the week we may
hear that the combat has deepened al
along the line. If Gen. Price does moi
run for Arkansas, he must fight Gen
Fremont before the week passes. There
are probabilities of fighting on three
lines in Kentucky within few days
Gen. McCook is being powerfully rein
forced for a forward movement along
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Gen. Zollicoffer with his traitorous ant
vandal horde, has already commenced
the fighting in Southern Central Ken
lucky, and can hardly fail to get all ht
requires. Gen. Nelson has advanced
from Maysville and Olympian SPRING
to give battle to the rebels in Eastern
Kentucky The situation on the Poto
mac is critical and portentous. The
great Naval expedition is already unde
way, and will not carry less than twenty
five thousand men.
We are anxiously expecting the ac
count from our side Of the fighting a
Santa Rosa Island, and in the Missis
sippi river. There seems to be les