St. Mary's beacon., 1862-01-23

remove the women and children instanter
Our own opinion il. from what We have
been able to dedurr fr.m the several re-
ports anI conj.c,urcs that have reaches
W. that she expedition j. destined for the
coas, of North Carolina. with view o'
scattering the Confrdrrates At Manassas
for the pr,tection Ut the railroad at Colds
boro or Weldon, or is intended as an adj
junct to the Hatieras force. aud that from
tha, point an attempt will be- made to ad-
vance into the interior Of the State.
Advicrs from Washington continue IL
show that the prospects for an early f'r-
ward movement are daily improving
Indeed, bat for the late heavy rains,
which have rendesed the roads across the
Potomac impossible. it is thong ht that the
grand army" would have been on the
move ere this. The financial depression
of the Government. it is thought. mus,
lead TO speedy attempt to crush out the
rebellion. aud, to that end, . forward
movement from Washington must unques-
sionably ensuc. The Baltimore San Of
Tuesday last contains rumor Of the
evacuation Of Manassas by the Confede-
rates. but. wc'rpredict, that when the
great onward step shall be taken the ru-
NOR will prove as unfounded as most Of
the war news daily published in the S"a.
The war news frum Kentucky is de-
cidedly stirring. An engagement is re-
ported between the rebels" under Z"l-
licoffcr. and the Fcdcrals. under Gems.
Shocpf and Thomas. in which the form
err were routed with heavy loss. 1t Is
stated that Gen. Zollicoffrr aud Baltic
Pcyton were both slain in the engage
mcnt and that the body of thu former
has fallen into the hands Of the Fcde-
raj troops. The fight commenced on
Sunday morning last and lasted all day.
Il is reported to have beea a most !es-
peratc affair, and the Fcdcrals acknowl-
edge very heavy loss. The reports
that have reached US are, however, all
from Federal sources aud the proper al
lowances must be made for the coloring
generally given by the Associated
Press'' aud its agents to all matters
pertaining to the successes Of the Fede-
raj arms. We doubt not but ut the South
! Confederate victory is claimed. aud We
should not be astoni>hcd that, if in few
days, We were to learn that the whole az
fair had turned out Humphrey Marshall
humtug and that Zollicoffcr aud Pcyton,
like Price aud McCuiloch. were to rise
from the dead and again resume the .lreaa
habiliments Of war. The Confederate for
ccs at Bowling Green and Columbus are
reported to have been largely augmented
Of late. and. at the former place. extensive
Notifications are reported to have been
very recently constructed. The Fcderals
are reported to be marching in immense
COLUMNS against both places. and dcspcr.
ate fighting may be- daily looked for in
this quarter.
Reports from Missouri also show that
there has been some quite severe fighting
between the Confederatcs, under JEFF.
Thompson, and detachment Of Federals
under Col. Mills. 1t is stated, that tn.
latter were routed with considerable loss
though the St. Louis Democrat claims tina,
the disparity 10 numbers Was SO srca
that the Federals had no hope Of SUCCESS
full resistance Of the force by which the,
were encountered. Great excitement, i
il stated, existed at Pilot Knob as it wa,
thought that the Confcderatcs would ut
tack the place in less than twenty fou
hours. Cen. Price is still in the viciri,,
Of Springfield, recruiting his force ant
awaiting reinforcemcnts from Arkansas
His men are said to be we'll armed an.
sufficient in number to maintain success
full defensive, though more active duty
is thought will be soon assigned them.
There is nothing new FROM Port Royal
Ship Island or Hatteras.
Rumors from Fortress Monroe indicat
that preparations are there being III ade 70
offensive operations against the Peninsu
Ia, though We doubt whether there is an,
real foundation for them. \ rumor, from
this source also, shows the evacuation O
Yorktown by the Confederates. but. as
needs confirmation, is probably untrue.
In Congress. nothing has yet transpire'
of remarkable or extraordinary charac
ter. Matters connected with the 6nan
cial department seem to absorb both tn
time and minds of most Ct the members
and the scheme to make Treasury notes
legal tender is being fully considered au
discussed. Most Of the military a,
poiutments Of the President have been 40