The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-12
War News OF the Week
THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA.


E1lnburg midway between Strasburg an
Stanton, in the heart of the Shanandoa
Valley. Gen. Shields was with hin
rapidly recovering from his wound. Th
rebel Gen. jackson is at New Marke
johnson, with 10000 to 10000 men, is g
Gordonsville.
Gen. Milrov, at Cheat Mountain,
Western Virginia, having moved forward
the rebel forces it that region commence
a preeipitate retreat towards Stanton
whence they could continue their figh
by Railroad. Gen. Miiroy in consequence
has taken peaceable possession of cam
Allegheny, their late stronghold.
A special dispatch to the Philadclphi
Inquirer, dated Thorofare Gap, Va, Apr
I'd, 1862, TIA Baltimore, April 9th, says
I" A rebel force of seven regiments of in
fantry, two regiments of cavalry, ane
three batteries were thrown across the
Rapphannock to cut off Col. Gearys com
mand at White Plains. By forced
march they reached Salem, within five
miles of the Union band, last evening
with the intention of attacking Col. Geary
in two columns, cutting off his retreat, and
then Selling this formidable gap to inter
cept the progress of reconstructiEg the
Manassas Gap Railroad. The attack was
to be made at daybreak this morning
Their movement was made secretly, with
the intention of making dash and cutting
the Union command to pieces. Col. Geary
became apprised of their presence and
designs. and moved his whole command
off quietly during the night, and battled
with the mountain roads, wading sterams
and rivers of mud for five miles, and by
daylight occupied this gap, where he pre-
pared for resolute and determined stand
In the mountain defiles. The movement
was most important, frustrating design
to accomplish a victory by the destruction
of much dreaded command, to revive
the dropping feelings of the rebels in Vir-
ginia. The calls were beaten IN the even
ing and camp fires left burning as usual,
after the command marched Although
in such superior force, the rebels had not
the temerity to follow and attempt an
entrance into the rugged defiles here. 1t
Is supposed they returned at once to their
original position south Of the Rappahan-
mock. One of the Union scouts was killed
and three of the rebels taken prisoners
Thorofaoe Gap is a station on the Ma
nassas Gap Railroad, fourteen miles west
of Manassas. 1t is gap in the Bull Run
Mountains.
In Gen. McDowell's Department. be-
tween Banks and McClelland forward
movements have been made to the Rap
pahannock and beyond, the rebels retiring
and burning the bridges behind them
Our troops are now encamped on the Rap
pahnnock. The rebels have either fallen
back upon Richmond, or gone to Yorktown,
20 reinforce Magruder fredericksburg
also, is nearly deserted by the secession
troops, and can be taken by our army any
day. Richmond is gloomy ane dispondent.
Their only hope is in Magruder sustaining
himself at Yorktown. If that falls, the
rebels concede that Richmond must fall
into McCiellan's hancs.
As for Mcclellan, he left Fort Monroe
with his army of from $4,000 to 100000
men on Friday of last week for Yorktown
proposing TO reach Richmond in a week by
that route Several gunboats started in
the same deirection by the river OH the
same day, and engaged and took the
rebel batteries at Shipping Point, miles
from Yorktown, thus gaining an easy
point from which TO receive supplies. The
army marched on Friday as far as Towards
Creek, where they drove in the enemys
pickets and birouched for the night By
10 clock next day the columns were in
front of Yorktown. The rebels here are
said to number about 10000 and occupy
a very strong position. The ground in
front of their work is low and swampy,
very difficult to approach. Yet Gen. Nc
Clellan is advancing upon them with
same and steady pace, and has no doubt
of ultimate and speedy success in dislodg-
ing the enemy. Thus far the fighting
has only been by guns at long range, but
in a few days Mcclellan will be ready to
make the assault, when there will be sharp
but short work.
The Merrimac, at Norfolk, has been re-
paired, and, accompanied by iron clad
gun boots, has ventured down the river as
far as Craney Island. 1t was understood,
she would make her second appearance in
Hampton Roads on Sunday, but the day
being foggy, she held back. The govern
nent are easy about her, feeling confident
that the arrangements are ample to insure
her destruction in few hours should she
dare to re-enter the Rords.