The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-04-04
Virginia..

country US possible, and cut oil his retreat.
Virginia.
The Potomac army is quietly pushing
southwark. Warrenton Junction now in
possession Of our troops is the point on tho
Orange and Alexandria railroad at which
the Warrnton branch road, ten miles long,
connects. 1t is ioriy-ono miles from Alexan-
dria, and forty seven from Gordonsville.
On Friday morning u reconnaissance IN
force was mads toward Big Bethel. and tho
rebels TO the number of one 1900, fleeing, tho
place was occupied by our troops.
Later reports Of the baltic near Winches-
ter state that tho cncmy's loss was much
greater than was at iist supposed. and tho
number killed on their side cannot be much
less than one thousand. Our forces still oc-
cnpy Strasburg,an oil Is quiet there. Gen.
Shields is improving, and hopes to soon DO
able to renew his duties in the field.
The following is from the correspondence
Of the evening Post:
The scccssionsts have talked 30 much OF
the inyincibility OF this brigade that 1t was
well 10 settle The question. Hencelorwari,
they must keep their mouths shut. jackson
was fairly entrapped. In trusting to reports
OF secession women he made htal blundcr,
and has given our army brilliant victory to
opsu the campaign with. Ills entire force is,
estimatcd Mt 5000 men, two regiments OF
cavalry and five batteries; but they wero
very much exhausted iron two days march,
ing. and were in ND condition 10 engage our
men, who vcrs fresh and strong. Their
artillery was extremely well served, and from
all | can learn in that respect they had u
great advantage over us.
Our Gree was about twelve thousand, al
though not nearly all Of 1t was engaged.
Fortrc-- Monroe md the Mcrrimnc.
From Fortress Monroe we have important
information respecting the future movements
Of tile rebel steamer Nerrimae. Souc iugit-
ives from the rebel side Of James river. who
reached our camp al Newport News recent
~, report that the Mcrrimae Is now ready to
make another attack. She is said to have o
q fifteen inch riaed gun ON board carrying
300 pounds conieal shot, with steel points
They also state Tat she suffered terribly In
the enraceipe with the Monitor. AMI tho
report that she returned TO Norfolk in q
sinking condition is NOT exaggerated. IL
stated as a fact that the second time she run
her iron PROV in the Cumberland she could
not extr,cate herself, and that, fortunately
for her. the prov broke oH, or she would
have gone down with the Cumberland. Tho
fact that the steamer jamestown came out
both Thursday and Friday to the ncighbor-
hood Of Sswcll's Point 10 reeonnoitrs, leads
TO the opinion that the Merrimae may DO e1-
pee.cd to make her appearanee again IN tho
Roads at almost any moment. That she Is
apain I'm commission and ready Tor service, no
doubt is now entertained.
The st. Louis Republicans Cairo despatch
says. persons who LEI, Memphis report beaa.
regard. Polk, Cheatham and Clark Mt OF near
Corinth. where IL Is expected that great
battle would soon be fought.
"A correspondent Of the CINCINNATI Ga
rite writing from Pitisburs, Tenn, under
d,,, Of the Goth inst, thus sums up tho 70
sal, 81 the expedition under Gen. Grant
hut two results have rs yet been accom-
plisbed by this expedition. The direct rail-
road connection between jackson Tcnnossec,
(wbere the rebels are said 10 be fortifying,)
and Coyinth, Miss, (wherc they are concen-
trated in considerable f,rce,) has been tenn
ponrily destroyed and large National ar
my hasbesn planted ut D convenient point
in lower West Tennessee. within two or
three hours steaming. or less than q days
march, OF either Mississippi or Alabama,
mis-. From such point Il 10 easy to SEQ
that movements may be directed against DIFF
ferent points IN the very heart Of rcbcldcm.
as our military plans or the Developments Of
the campaign may require Almost In tho
geographical centre Of the s:oeded States,
WORKING inside the rebellion, instead OF on
the borders. the army Of the Tennessee River
Expedition has secured base OF operations
that threaten the rebel leaders asa dozen diff.
ferent places. sflafo5 nai.E.iT