The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-19
WAR NEWS

gunboafs and tugs, appeared between Newport
News and Sewalls Point and captured three
Federal vessels, one Of which was loaded with
coal aud another with hay. The Commodore of
the Confederate fleet first notified the French and
English war vessels which were lying in the
Roads, to move out of danger, and the three
prizes were taken off under the Confederate flag
in less than half an hour. The Confederate yes
sells remained out all day, during which the Mon
itor did not frera single gun, but remained quiet
at her usual anchorage. After accomplishing
this, everything remained quiet until about four
o'clock in the afternoon, when the Merrimac got
up steam, and running towards Hampton fred
gun at the United States gunboat Octarora, which
was fine shot, but fell short This act aroused
the mettle of the Naugatuck talso iron-plated)
which fred four of her heaviest shot, without,
however, doing any damage, and the Conleder-
ate vessels soon after slowly retired from the
Roads, in the direction of Norfolk.
The Baltimore Sun of the 10Th says:
The most important item of war intelligence
published this morning is brief despatch to the
Navy Department, dated Cairo Saturday last an
nouncing that Commodore Foote left New Mad
rid thatday with the fotila and mortar-boats,
with large body of troops en- route for Fort Pill
low, a few miles above Memphis. Before reaching
this work, however, the Federal advance will
have to pass four other Confederate Notifications,
the first Fort 0sceola, about 40 miles below ISL
and No. 10; and the next Fort Wright, S miles
below, in Tennessee. OF these we have no in
formation of the condition or armament, but Fort
Randolph, 80 miles above Memphis, and miles
below Fort Wright, is said to be military posi-.
ton naturally strong. 1t is an earthwork built
upon the Second Chickasaw Bluffs, more than
one hundred feet above the river and Immediate
ly south of Island No. "a. The lower part COM
mands the three mouths of the Hatchie river, that
empties into the Mississippi river just above the
town of Randolph, at the upper edge of the bluffs.
These bluffs form natural parapets of batteries,
and, at this point commands view of the Mis-
sisippi river for six miles each way. The town
of Randolph, near which the fort stands, consists
of about dozen houses. The next work is Fort
Harris small earth fertilization, about ten
miles above Memphis, and then is fort Pillow, a
strong earthwork, with bastions, walls and
trenches, mounting thirty guns en- barbet.e, the
chief defence of Memphis. 1t is probable that
some of these works have been abandoned since
the fall of Island No. 10, and their ornaments
concentrated at the two most important points,
Forts Randolph and Pillow.
The forces of Gen. Mitchell advanced on Sat-
urday last east and west of Huntsville Alabama,
on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and
now hold about one hundred miles of that impor-
tant line of Southern communication. The far
thest point reached east was Stephenson juno
ton, which was seized, the Confederate force oc-
cupying the place retiring on the approach of the
Federal troops. On the west the town of Deca-
tur, on the Tennessee river, was occupied.
: The steamer from Fortress Monroe reports that
the Merrmac and her consorts remained at Sew
all's Point all day Saturday until the evening"
when she, with all the rest of the feet returned
to Norfolk. Nothing was seen of them on Sum
day.
The latest reports Of the Pittsburg battle con-
tradict the statement Of the escape of Gen. Prem
tiss, and also discredit the report Of the wound
ing of Gen. Beauregard. ~,.
Some skirmishing is reported in the vicinity of
Woodstock and Edinburg, but no movements of
importance have lately taken place.
A. Confederate account of the battle of Pea
Ridge claims that their loss was not more than
100 killed, while the Federal loss is estimated at