Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-04

can be heard nightly, on every piazza, sneer-
ing at our failures and applauding rebel sue
cesses. One would think that we were pris-
oners here, rather than the garrison of the
village. 1t Is the current belief here that we
are on the best road to the rebel capital, and
that we Will be the first of the two armies to
enter that stronghold. Guerrilla skirmishes
are still talked of in camps, as the road
pirates haunt all the mountain Businesses,
from which they emerge at opportune times
and rob or murder wayfarers. A paymaster
was proceeding to Madison on Tuesday, with
upwards of one hundred thousand dollars in
his possession. He was waylaid, but man
aged to escape with bullet through his hat.
Notwithstanding the order of General Pope,
relative to guarding rebel dwellings, parties
have been dispatched from the New York 9th
major General McDowell's command) to
take charge of two residences in the neigh
borhood of WarrentOn. This appears to be a
flat disregard of the senior generals instruc-
tons, and will doubtless be examined into
when he returns to WarrentOn.
GEN. HUNTERS DEPARTMENT.
The Port Royal correspondent of the New
York Herald says the army there is at rest.
The summer heats are fierce and the troops
are wisely kept from battle. The navy is,
however, atwork. The Nashville is probably
corheied She is Gagged in Doughbay sound,
where the Paul Jones and the keystone State
are watching her. An eight-gun battery af-
tords her shelter and must be reduced before
she can be captured This. however, will not
long be delayed In Charleston two iron-clad
rams, after the plan of the Merrimac, are in
of H.,
intended by the same parties who produced
the Inflated scarecrow of Hampton Roads.
and they are expected, when completed, to ac-
complish the destruction of the entire block
aiding squadron. Vessels are still running
the blockade. regular line has been estab-
hshed between Liverpool and Charleston, and
the most valuable supplies find their way to
the rebels from this source. Shortly before
Pattoon'S departure the steamers Herald and
Memphis had gone in, and the steamer Econ
omist was daily expected. A large side-wheel
steamer ran in on Friday last, and it was, no
doubt, the lookedfor vessel
Brig. Gen. Perry sailed for Fernandna, St.
Augustine, and Key West on Saturday night
last, in the steamer Delaware. He is assign
ed to the command of all the forces in this de-
partment, excepting those at fort Pickens,
south Of this point. The Delaware took down
large quantity of commissary and quarter
masters stores, for the want of which the
people at Fernandina and st. Augustine have
sadly suffered. Gen. Perry's instructions re-
fer mainly to the question of the contrabands
He is informed that the practice of returning
fugitive slaves, Gas if, since Gen Hunters
letter was printed, there was such thing in
the Department. will not be allowed; and he
is directed to take serious measures against
any officer who shall be guilty OF excluding
negroes from our lines. The commanding of
ticer at st. Augustine-Col Bell of the 18th
New Hampshire-it is alleged, recently turn
ed woman from his camp, and the woman
was subsequently overtaken by her owner
Col. Bell is directed by Gen. Hunter at once
to produce either the slave woman or her
master at the department headquarters.
GEN. BURNsIDE's DEPARTMENT.
Two important expeditions have recently
been sent out from Newbern. The first and
most important was under command of Col.
Lee of Massachusetts, and consisted of the
25th and 9th Massachusetts regiments, Bel
gers Rhode Island battery, and four compa-
mics of the Sd New York cavalry. 1t was de-
signed that this command should operate di
rectly against Trenton, place situated at
about twenty-five or thirty miles from New
bern, on the Trent river. The second expe-
dltlon, which was composed of the 18th Mas
sachusetts regiment and a portion of the Sd
New York cavalry, was placed under COM
mand of Col. Fellows The latter expedition
was to attack the rebels at Pollocksville. a
small town situated at distance of thirteen
miles from Newbern, on the other side of the
Trent river from Colonel Lees command.
The rebels in Trenton skedaddled. There
was slight skirmish with rebel cavalry at
POllocksville, at which our men lost two kill
ed and two prisoners, all the New York
cavalry. The object of the expedition being
to ascertain the forces in the vicinity, and
having been fully accomplished it returned,
with its trophies.
On the night of the 25th ult, Michael ].
Gavin Of the 23d regiment Mass. volunteers,
was shot in the leg from a house on Muddy
street, while performing his duty as guard.
After he was shot he fired at, his assailant
reloaded and fred his second round, captured
one prisoner and was making fast to the
second when the sergeant of the guard with a
squad made his appearance and relieved him.
Thus, being the fourth attempt to murder
guards from the same quarter. Gen. Foster
concluded to put an effectual stop to it. On
Saturday morning the 23d regiment marched
to the scene of the assassins operations. Gen.
Foster and Col Kurtz being present, the men
acting under orders, proceeded with orderly
regularity to remove the furniture from the
houses Whereabouts. In short time six or
seven of the quarters adjacent were levelled
to the dust; but the old homestead held out
stoutly, being very substantially built, but
finally it had to yield, and, amid a cloud of
lime dust, it came tumbling to the ground
When the main building was demolished
there was cheering, after which the band
struck up the well known and tavorte air of
"Bully tor You, and other patriotic tunes.
The camp of company A, 9th Mass. regi-
ment, was struck by lightning on the oath ult
Joseph Birge Of northampton was killed, and
three other members were injured but would
probably recover.