Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-01-09
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.


!: Hostilitiss have again commenced on the Up
per Potomac. On Saturday last force of Con-
federates made their appearance opposite the
town Of Hancock, on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and attacked regiment of Federal
troops stationed there. After slight skirmish
the Federals retired to the Maryland shore to
await renforcements, and in the meantime the
Confederates destroyed the railroad, the bird ges
and the telegraph lines, thus cutting off COM
munication with Cumberland. General Lander
arrived with: reinfurcements during the night.
and on Sunday morning General jackson de-
~ r BY +
eraf troops, but the demand being UNDECIDED his
troops attacked the place with shells. and con-
tinued the bombardment up to the latest advices
received, without causing much damage to the
town or injury to the troops The Federal forces
responded to the attack with their artillery, but
with what effect is not known. Further rein
fnrcements were sent UP from Frederick on Mon
day, and all the troops comprising Gen. Banks
division were under marching orders. The town
of Hancock is in Washington county, this State.
and is about fifty-two miles west of Frederick
The presence Of the Federal troops at this point
was for the. purpose of protecting the railroad
and tho workmen engaged IN repairing it.
! The steamer Vanderbilt, at New York on
Monday from Port Royal, brings some news OF
interest from that quarter The V. has on board
1857 bales Of cotton. The brigade of General
Stevens advanced on the mainland on the LIST
inst, and after a short resistance took possession
of some Confederate batteries. The Confederates
had fallen back to their Notifications, said to be
very extensive and defended by $4,000 men
Under Gen. Pope Gen. Stevens force was 4,
500 strong, and in taking the batteries he is re.
ported to have had eight men wounded Major
Matson, of tho Eighth Michigan Regiment re-
ceived mortal wound. The loss of the Con-
federates is not known. At the latest accounts
Gen. Stevens held possession of bis position.
| within six miles of the Charleston and Savannah
railroad, where he would await reinforcements
from the North before be proceeded further in
land. ,t~19
The Washington correspondent of the Pha-
delphia Press announces the speedy sailing of
Burnside's Expedition, and predicts that it will
be followed by important results The writer
fadds that the expedition will probably ascend
the Rappahannock river, and that simutane-
Gus movement Of the Federal troops along the
I line Of the Occoquan will compel the evacuation
Of the Confederate batteries on the Potomac,
and secure to General Mcclellan possession of
the terminus of the Richmond and Fredericks-
burg Railway at Acquia Creek-thus forcing
the Confederatesa to abandon Manassas through
fear Of being outhanked and captured The
only reason for doubling neither this plan of
operations, is really to be carried out, at this
h.
declaration Of its purposes has been made public.
Reports from Kentucky state that the bridge
over Green rivcrz il completed. As the moves
ment of General Buell's army depended on the
completion Of this work .an early advance may
now nov, be looSSed for The Confederates in the
eastern portion or the State have retired before
Colonel Garfield, who is advancing towards
Prestonbnrg.. where General Humphrey Mar
shall is stationed with large force. General
|Schoepf is reported to have made several inef-
feetual efforts to draw Gen. Zollicoffer into an
engagement outside Of bis entrechments at
Somerset. >s
From Missouri we have the report that Gen.
Jennison, with a body Of Confederate troops, on
their way 10 .Sedalia, had passed through and
burned the townof Rose Hill, in johnson county.
+ From Western Virginia we learn that on the
4th inst. at .Huntersyille, .Pocahontas CO., four
hundred Confederate cavalry and three hundred
infantry were dispersed. and large quantity Of
army stores destroyed, BY q force Of Federal
troops
Gen. Mcclelap has 30 Tar recovered as te
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tend tesi,is =e.,ftHt-a aasssa>s-