Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-02-06
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

THE LATEST WAR NEWS.
A dispatch from Washington states that by
an order Of the Secretary of State all the priva-
teersmen confined in the prisons of New York
and Philadelphia have been removed therefrom
and placed in military prisons, with view to
their exchange for citizens of Northern States
held as prisoners of war at the South It is also
stated that General Wool, under instructions,
asked Gen. Huger whether, if Captain Smith
was delivered to him at Norfolk, Colonel Corco-
ran, would be also restored to liberty. A mega
tive answer was returned, on the ground of the
difference of rank of the persons but it is be-
ieved that the plan adopted by the Government,
as indicated above will result in the return of
Col. Corcoran and the other officers now held as
hostages for the privateersmen, and general
exchange of all the prisoners will, it is also be-
leved, soon follow.
The correspondent of the Chicago Times, wri-
ting from Crow Point, Kentucky, gives terri
BILE account Of the excuses committed by the
Federal troops under General Smith, during
their late reconnaissance in force from Paducah.
He declares the march to have been ga most
disgraceful one; that "pllage and murder were
of frequent occurrence, that "houses were plum
dered of all their portable contents; ;" that five
country residences were burned to the ground =,
and that from the village of May6eld to the
Tennessee river no living thing that could furn-
ish food for the men was spared. He cites three
cases of wilful and deliberate murder; and adds
significantly, "the citizens mad1ened t. frenzy,
armed themselves and hanging on our rear shot
'wn stragglers." :
A report from Richmond via Fortress Monroe
states that General Beauregard left for Kentuc-
ky, taking with him fifteen thousand men, and
that President Davis is to take command Of the
troops Of Manassas in person after the inaugura-
ton on the 22d instant
From Missouri we learn that the Federal
troops are advancing toward Springfield and
that SO far Gen. Price shows no design of again
retreating.
Commodore Fvote being in want Of men for
his gunboats, Gen. Ialleck has issued an order
to transfer sufficient number of men from the
ranks to that service.
| It is reported that another expedition is pre-
pairing at Cairo, but its strength and destination
! is not known,
/ The President has stated that General Lane
is to act as a Brigadier General, subject to the
orders of General Hunter. 1t never was design
ed to give him an independent command. .ez-
Colonel Garfield has fallen back from Pres
Itonsburgh to Paintsville to meet his supplies as
| it was impossible on account of the state of the
| roads, to move the wagons forward. He has
| ordered several reconnaissance in the direction
| of Piketon, but no traces of Humphrey Marshall
| or his army could be found.
A despatch from Savannah, January 3Oth
states that feet of steamers, which went from
that city to strengthen the distractions in the
river, met with no opposition whatever, the
Federal vessels having withdrawn the day be-
FORE Seventeen Federal vessels were reported
| to be in Warsaw Sound. A private letter in
had taken place on St. James Island, near Apa-
Iachicola, Florida, in which the Confederates
were victorious. The Federal troops are said
to have lost in the engagement sixty in killed
whilst thirteen were taken prisoners. Tile mr.
| Der of wounded is not given. The loss of the
Confederates is set down at thirteen. =; -
| ~ ueSpdICu IcCelVeu ny Cue NAVY department
from Captain Marston, of the United States
steamer Roanoke, states that heavy firing was
heard on Thursday last in the direction of Roam
oke Island, leaving no doubt in the mind of the
writer that Flag Officer Goldsborough "was a,
work."
The Norfolk Day Book of the S1st ult., states
on the authority of Gan escaped Yankee" thai
the Burnside expedition lost during the recen,
storms eighteen vessels, and from three to five
hundred men. The Day Book is now Satisfied
that the backbone of the expedition is broken,
and believes firmly that its failure will tend
greatly to the stoppage of the war.
The whereabouts of General jackson and his
army on the Upper Potomac is not definitely
known. 1t is reported that the main body d
his army was at Winchester on Thursday last
A reconnaissance by small body of Federal
troops was made on Friday last in the vicinity
Of Drainesville but learned nothing further than
that the Confederate lines were three miles south
of that point.
Il The Sumter. -
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Four Federal steam
ers and three sailing vessels are now on the alert
to capture the Confederate steamer Sumter. and
the ship-of-war Constitution is now fitting out
at Portsmouth for similar purpose. Several
national ships are lying in port for want of sea.
men, about 900 of whom are now needed BIZ
the Navy Department. while Flag Officer Foot.
: