Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-18
WAR ITEMS.

The floating battery OF the rebels at Island
No. 10, was set adrift by them, and is now
aground near Point Pleasant. and will be re-
covered with its armament. The Ohi1 Belle
will also be recovered. Gen Pope with part Of
his army marched to Upton and attacked the
enemy next morning. He took 1000 prison
ers, and the rebels fed 10 the swamps in
great confusion. Our victory Is com 0lete
and decisive. Great quantities OF stores,
cannon and ammunition have fallen into our
hands also their baggage and supplies. The
country between Island No. 10 and New
Madrid on the east side of the river, Is being
secured by our troops. The entire rebel forces
at and above Island No. 10, are either taken
prisoners or utterly routed and demOralized.
A letter from Fortress Monroe gives the
following particulars Of the fighting before
Yorktown
The line of battle was formed about 10
O'Clock, Berdan's Sharpshooters in the ad-
vance Gen. PoSr's division has the centre,
Gen. Sedgwick the extreme right Gen.
Hamilton and Gen. Smith the extreme left.
A heavy pine forest intercepted the troops,
except occasional clearings which gave a dis
tnct view Of the enemy's entertainments.
These seemed to be of the first class and
mounted with heavy guns, supposed to have
come from the Norfolk Navy Yard. Son
after the firing commenced the enemy recCs-
nized Gen. Porter and staff, and at once
opened upon him with shells, one of which
burst within 20 feet Of the General.
The fight was carried on almost entirely
with artillery. with the exception Of Ber-
cans SharpshoOters. W eed-ns battery
opened first, followed by Martins on the lett.
Soon Grifin's Rhode Island and 5th Mass,
were in position and the battle commenced
in earnest. The discharges were RAPID on
the Union side, answered at intervals by the
enemy. The heaviest firing commenced at
hat past -. Morril's brigade, on the left
advanced within three quarters of a mile Of
the entrenched enemy. For one hour they
did uOt reply, our SharpshOoters popping
ihem a as -oon as they attempted to load.
About o'clock, Aliens 5th Massachusetts,
relieved the 4th Rhode Island. The rebels
all day, when opportunity offered, tried 70
she'll out the sharp shooters without avail.
Grifin's battery received no loss, although
batteries at their side lost several. After
Grifhn's battery was brought into action 1t
sileneed the guns of the rebels. The artil
lerists acted nobly during the whole engage
ment. They took their position and main
tained it until ordered to move. Heavy firing
closed with the day, but during the night
the pickets occasionally coald be heard bang
ing away far in the advance.
Private Mccullough, Company \, First
Vermont Cavalry, accidentally shot himself
yesterday. at EiInburg Va, his pistol falling
against the stove. The ball passed into his
breast, killing him Immediately.
\ gentleman Of New York, ju,. returned
from Winchester, reports scene of desola-
tion utterly indescribable. He says the
country looks much like the desert between
Cairo d Suez. There are hooks, however, out
of the way Of the main roads, in and about
Winchester, and the same is true Of the re-
gion round Leesburgh, where the foot Of the
destroyer did not get, but they are few and
far between.
The slaves are rapidly making their way out
of bondage across Maryland into the land Of
free labor. Nobody IS found to distrrs.
them any longer Large squads of them,
cOnhscated by our Generals In froRt, under
the act OF Congress, are furnished with evi-
dence Of their freedom. \ few days ago
80 Of all ages and sizes passed through
this city in charge Of an officer to Phils1el-
lAAAalf lEOLA bGutEtl D1uho , NlNt-iuH. 1ltV
were surrounded at the cars by hundreds Of
their OVID color. who poured their scanty
offerings INTO the hands of the redeemed,
amid general rejoicing.
Ii was a most touching scene, for there
were in the group Two aged women, bowed
down with slave toll, and they eyineed great
emotion at their deliverance. Another squad
Of some hundred or more went through Fred
rick last week to Pennsylvania. where there
IS great demand for frm labor Hundreds
are daily released By the generals in front Of
Washington, in the Advance.
The advance of our forces are now resting
on the Rappahannock, our pickets extending
to that stream. The railroad is in running
order to Cedar Run, within two miles Of
Warrenton Junction and thirteen miles
from the Rappahannoek. II will take sew
eral days to complete the bridge over Cedar
Run. as the recent storm has swollen the
streams very much. Neither Bull nor Cedar
Runs can be forded at present, and no troors
can move except BY railroad.
The cavalry pickets extend some distance
southeast of Brentsville, and skirmishes with
the rebel scouts are Of daily occurrence.