The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20
NEWS or the WEEK
New York Aug. Is

ION CouTtT Vi aug. ISL AAiSouoN' 80" SNi..
the opinion gains ground here that Mcclellan
is gradually evacuating his position at Berkely,
and is reinforcing Gen. Pope With the bulk Of
his army, the number of Yankee transports in
the James River is immence, and great activity
is observable among them
A Washington dispatch to the Times says
that Secretary Seward stated last evening that
the current stories published in some Of the
papers, and generally believed here for the last
three or four days that Gen. McClellan's army
were known here that independent of Mr. Sc
wards statement, lead 10 the same belief.
What may come in the future. of course remains
uncertain. Military matters, therefore, assume
profoundly mixed appearance.
SecessionisEs have rumors of disaster to Nc
Clellan's army. loss Of artillery. loss of ship
ping. &C.. but in very vague form and not
regarded credible.
The HeralTs Harrison Landing correspon-
dent says: Retel troops in considerable num-
bers were seen last evening and this morning
on the south side of James River,
Some of our returned prisoners state that
the night before last monday night over a
hundred pieces Of artillery passed their prison
in Richmond, or their way to reinforce Jackson
in front of Pope. For several days large
bodies.of troops have been marching off in the
same direction"
The Herald. Harrison Landing correspon-
dence of the 18th, says: Early this morning
one of the truce boats arrived here with l47 of
our Union prisoners from Richmond. Among
them are Generals Mccall and Reynolds, Col.
Simpson, Major Binney of the 18th New Jersey
Regiment, Col Stockton of the 10th Michigan,
Lieutenant-C Colonel Sweiizer of the G2d Penn
sylvania, and other officers captured in the
battles on the Peninsula. Our officers Of high
rank state that they have been treated with
marked indignity by the rebel authorities.
After II o'clock today. these returned
prisoners will be free TO join their several com
mands'
The Richmond Examiner Of the 18th inst
contains the following: Among the prisoners
who reached the city on Saturday and Sunday
was Brig. Gen. Price and IA officers. inc luding
one Major. one Colonel and other commissioned
officers.
They are all at the Libby prison. The off
GERS from Gen. POpe's command are kept in
solitary confinement, in conformity with in
structiOns. and the rule as enforced will not be
departed from under any consideration. About
800 prisoners have arrived at the Libby prison
from POpe's army
The Heralds correspondent, On board thc
gunboat Essex. gives graphic account of the
attempt 10 capture the ram Arkansas.
On the 25th of July the Essex advanced to
where the ram was moored, under a tremendou.
fire from all the batteries. When within few
rods of the ram, the latter's bow line was lei
loose, and she swung around with the tide, thu:
partially evading the blow from the Esse,
which grazed her side, causing the Essex to rur
ashore. For several minutes the water batter
les, field artillery. masketry and heavy lane
batteries played on the Essex. At the sam,
time the Essex delivered, at six yards distance
raking fire from her three nine-inch guns into
the ram, going through her plating and killing
sixteen and wounding thirty of the rebel crew
The remainder of the rebel crew fed to thu
shore, and if the feet had properly supported
the Essex, as agreed upon, the Arkansas would
have been captured.
The Essex escaped with only three shots tha
took effect, killing one of her men and wound
ing three.
The Union feet remained passive spectators
of the brave act.
The Essex is covered with indentatiOns al
over from the shots of hundreds of cannon
Her smoke-stack is riddled, her wheel-hous,
shot through, and during the affair she was he
from view by the splashng of the water thrown
up Ly the iron shower about her.
Sigel's Headquarters, near the
Rapidan River. Aug If.
The enemy is still reported to be retreatine
beyond the Rapidan river. Although the,
have a force on the other side with guns in po
sition, and large body of cavalry in theiI
neighborhood, they are supposed to be merely
covering the retreat of the main body.
Gen. Milroy is in the advance with General
Bayard's cavalry and some artillery. The river
is easily forded at many points.
1t is stated that Stonewall Jackson's army
numbers at least sixty thousand men, He ha
managed to move them all of safely. excepting
few stragglers.
Some Of the latter came into our camp las
night and said that almost all the Virginia
soldiers would desert if they thought they
would be we'll treated.
A Union soldier was found in the woods OF
Wednesday with his musket barrel grasped in
both hands. The stock was broken off. and IL
dead rebels were lying around him with theil
heads mashed and others bruised in variou:
WAYS. all dead. This shows with what despera
ton the Union hero had fought for his life but
without avail His body was pierced with three
balls.
Many of the enemy's dead were left unburied
while others were only covered. In many
places arms and feet were seen above the earth
Some thirty six wounded prisoners concealed
near the battle field in houses were brought In
oday.
Cairo. Aug. Is.
The Grenada appeal of the 9th SAYS tina,
Baton Rouge is in the hands of Breckenridge
that he captured four regiments, six transport:
and sunk two gunboats.
The same paper has dispatch dated Knox.
willie 9Th. which places the Federal loss at Taze.
we'll near Cumberland Gap, at eight hundred
and says the fight lasted two days.
Culpepper. Va. Aug l3