Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-16
News of the War.
OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM NEW
ORLEANS.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
BEAUBEGARD CUT OFF FROM THE
SOUTH.


Fosters staff being appointed colonel. Two
COMPANIES Of our troops left for Washington
N C., to form nucleus Of the regiment.
Largenumberso Of Union men voluntarily took
the oath OF allegiance. They will be armed
and equipped by Burnside, to defend their
homes against the rebel. Our troops have
captured horses enough TO mount two COM
panies of cavalry and make frequent dashes
among the rebels.
the rumor OF the evacuation OF Curinth.
and its ccupation by the iederals is repeated
by every arrival of deserters. There is now
no doubt that Beauregard, while holding his
forces IN line Of battle. is gradually falling
back On Grand junction. The opinion gains
ground that there will be no general engage
ment between the two Armies at their pres
ent position.
When the flag oI truce boat was waiting
for the prisoners to BE- sent down from Nor
folk On TuesdLy, the rebel gunboat Teazer
came along side.
The Teazer is armed with lOO-pounder
Parrott gun. All her officers, with one ex-
ception, were drunk. A flag of truce came
down to Newport News next morning, and
ordered her to return to Old Point, which
was dJne.
The Columbia. from Havana, brings the
following additional particulars about the
hombar iment g! the Forts q: New Orleans.
i fIg OF truce was sent to demand an un
| ditional surrender of the Fort The rebels
| fired upon the flag OF truce, and Col. Hig-
gins, the commander of Fort jackson, re.us
ed to vi Id, saying that the terms were mad
! missable.
The enemy were engaged in mounting guns
on an irOn-clac battery, when the mortars
re-opened to prevent them.
Alter buryIng their dead q, the Quaran-
tine station the Flag officer st rted for New
Orleans with the Hartford, Richmond. Pen
sacOll, Brooklyn. ard Mississippi, together
with the lroquois, Oneida, and SIX gunboats.
At Quarantine Station the fleet found a.
large supply Of coal.
The soldiers taken prisoners report that
the Confederates placed their sole reliance in
the forts, the gunboats. and the distractions
across the river, Tor the defence Of the city.
and that there are no batteries to IMPEDE the
progress OF our ships up the river. except at
Lafayette, where they have heavy battery
on raft. to oppose Commodore Foote
Capt. B,iley has come on from New Or
leans with DISPATCHES. He telegraphed from
Fortress Monroe on the s,h to the Secretary
Of War as follows.
IL have the honor 10 announce that in the
providence OF God which smiles upon ius,
cause, the squadron under flag officer Farra-
gut has been vouchsaied IA glorious victory
and triumph in the capture of the city Of
New Orleans, Forts jackson, St. Philip, ,Liy-
ingston and Pike, the batteries below and
above New Orleans, as well as the total des-
traction OF the enemy's gunboats, steam
rams, hoating batteries, iron-clad fire RATS
and distractions, bOoms and chains. The
eRs eisht i Tah teh millions Of cotton and Slipping
| Our luss is SO killed and l23 wounded. The
enemy lost from one thousand 10 fifteen hun
dred besides several hudred prisoners. The
way is clear and the rebel defences destroyed
from the gulf to Baton Rouge, and probably
to Memphis. Our flag waves triumphantly
over them all.
On the afternoon Of the 1;hthe rebel pickets
above Columbian bridge, on the east side of
the Shenandoah, were driven back by de-
tachments under Col. Foster, who was sub
sequently ambuscaded by two rebel regi-
ments. The action lasted an hour, when
Foster withdrew in good order. Tne enemy
did not pursue.
A company of Vermont cavalry was cut
of and surrounded, but escaped by swim
ming the river.
The enemY's loss is lot stated except seven
prisoners belonging to the 9Th Virginia and
9Th Louisiana, which indicates that the
enemys force ~as one Of Ewell's brigade
Next morning twelve OF our men were re-
| ported missing. IL was reported ut New
Market that a skIrInish occurred Wednesday
near Staunton between Milroy's advance
and Edward Johnsons command The lat
ter was repulsed and retreated
Gen. Fremont telegraphed on the Sth that
Gen. Coxs advance, consisting OF part Of the
23i Ohio. occupied Giles Court House and
the narrows OF New river Wednesday, driving
out the rebels. who were taken by surprise
A considerable quantity Of commissary
stores was taken and some twenty priyates
made prisoners. The surprise prevented the
burning OF the place is the reb' Is intended.
The citizens remain and mos, oi them seem
layally disposed.
A despatch from Cairo saws IL IS report-
ed from Pittsburg that three brigades of
Gen. Buell's army had seized that part of
the Memphis and Charleston railroad mid
way between Corinth anu Grand Junction
thus cutting off the rebel communication
between the two places. lt is also reported
that detachment Of Gen. PJles army had
seizei the road South OF Corinth
The expedition from Hickman, ky., sent
against Clay and Kings guerillas, fell In
with them 10 the vicinity Of Obien, on the
river, and after d sharp skirm;sh the rebels
were routed. Ii appears that IN the first
skirmish with Curtis Nebraska Horse, six
OF our men Were killed, twelve wounded,
and h'ty captured.
Two gentlemen who arrived at Louisville
thursday from New Orleans, report that all
sloDg the Mississippi there is one general
bonfire OF property. particularly Of cotton,
of which II 100 bales were burned at New
Orleans. At Memphis the sugar and mo-
lasses 10 large quantities Is on the bluff ready
to be rolled into the river and all the stock
OF cotton is ready to be fired on the approach
OF the federal fleet. The people Of the river
towns are retreating upward and destroying
property along all the Southern tributaries
OF the Mississippi, the planters IN many
cases applying the torch tJ their own cotton.
The rebel government has also boats moving
up the river destroying the cotton. Among
the great numbers only one planter was
found whe objected to the burning Of his
cotton.
Minister Adams has presented a claim TO
the British government for the restoration of
the ship Emily St. Pierre, the captain of
which rose upon the prize crew and con-
veyed her to Liverpool after her capture BY
the United S;ates feet for violating the
blockade.
An order from the War Department says,
upon requistions made by commanders of
armies in the field, authority will be given by
the department to the governors Of the res
pective States to recruit for regiments now in
the service
The Atlanta Conteder0ey of the 23d ult.,
reports the arrival of long train of box
cars OF tories, and their departure on the
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