The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-03
The War News.

OF the rebels
The War News.
We avail ouselves again of the labers OF
tho editor of the ST. Louis Republican, In
presenting from thai very able conducted
journal the following admirable review OF
the situation" at the close of the week
ending Thursday There is little to add.
The rebels on the Virginia Peninsula
between James and York re'ers, still hold
out behind their elaborate counter muirs
of bastions, parapets, radens, trenches and
rifle pits; but these works are daily being
weakened, and the Federal troops are
making steady Roadway by gradual APP
proaches The engagements that have
thus far occurred have been OF an Incon-
siderable and indecisive character, the
results of reconnaissance to acertaIn ac-
curately the enemy's position. Gen. Nc
Clelian is feeling his way towards York
town. testing the strength of the several
points of resistance preparatory to hurting
his columns upon the weakest. he Is
necessarily at work laying the siege so that
its result cannot be doubtful, and so that
when the grand assault is once made the
enemy shall have no ground to exuit over
a repulse. Notwithstanding the horrible
condition of theroads the progress, though
necessarily slow, has been quite satisfactory,
and the eager soldiers are in excellent
spirits. :,
The same cause which have delayed and
INSTRUCTED operations on the peninsula
have prevented a rapid advance upon
Richmand by other routs. Since the oc-
cupation of Fredericksburg by portion
70 Gen. McDowelTs corps, we have not
heard Of any importont movement IN that
quarter Gen. Mcdowell is. however, no
doubt preparing to follow up the refreshing
rebels and to MANAGE the rebel capitol
from the the north.
The progress of Gen Banks is also slow,
though steady and sure. As he advances
towards Stauntor he finds the bridges des
sroyed over the numerous streems in that
part of the: country where his forces
row are, and much detention. arises from
this cause Jackson is still retreating In
the direction of Gordonsville to form a
junction with the rebel Gen Smith, and
there prehaps make stand. One division
of Gen Fremonts army, under Gen. Mil
row. has advanced from about Cheat Noun
tain and Huttonsville to Monterey, whilst
another column, under Col. Piatt, has
marched from Gouley bridge towards
Louistown, fifty-two miles distant, and we
take these to be movements to join with
Banks column previous to the anticipated
operations against the left wing OF the
enemy at Gordonsville.
Whilst Rich nond is thus beleaguered
and threatened, affairs on the North Caro-
lima and Georgia coast are growing exceed
incly alarming to the rebels. Burnside
occasionally relieves the monotony OF the
siege against Fort Macon by incuTsions up
on The towns along PamlIco and Alder
marie Sounds, exercising wholeson
influence upon the Confederates, ano
bothering them TO divine what blows he
really means to strike when he gets a
=" good ready" Pulaski having fallen and
Fort jackson, six miles below Savannah
being also In the possession of Gen
Hunter troops, the city itself Savannah
within four miles of which the Fedora
pickets are said to be now posted, must
very soon capitulate and surrender
Charleston may ouickley follow. New Or
leans, tie metropolis of the South, the
great commercial port OF Dixie, Is hors d'
combat The guns and mortars OF capt
Porter's feet overlook the Crescent City
and at the present stage OF water IN the
Mississippi, and broadside from his twenty
one armed schooners, to say nothing O
thesnumerous other vessels of the expedi
ton, would lay the city completely at the
mercy of the Union forces, if any resist
ance were made We doubt not Mobile
will be next in order Of the heet-and thu:
the strongholds of rebeidom are fated.
The possession of the Mississippi at and
q below New Orleans, must soon be followed
with the opening up of that stream
throu shout its whole length. Hastily
constructed batteries may have been
thrown up along the banks to detaIn the
advance for some little time, but the rebel:
have no cannon to spare, and can haroiey
erect any very formidable fortifcatlon'
between New Oorleans and Memphis
. The authorities at Vicksburg. four hun
slred miles above New Orleans, it seems
are already alarmed, and have declared
martial law in that vicinity. This IS a
very significant indication, for Vicksbure
only is needed now to cut off ersTy railroad
communication of the rebels of the Miss
aissippi Valley with the Atlantic seadoard
With the fall Of Memphis our great rive
will be unlocked to the Gulf
From Halleck's army, the rumors few
days ago, that Reauregard was preparing
to evacuate Corinth and fall back npo
Grand Junction are contradicted, and tn
information is quite positive that Beaure
gard means to give fight. Halieck $ arm
is steadily moving forward, advancing II!
lines mile or two each day, SO that til
battle must come off within three days
At latest accounts She,mans division OF
cupied Pea Ridge, which a week ago wa
the advance position of the enemy
Skermishing between,the advance portio
OF the two armies occur daily. The iates
affair of this sort is given in the Chicag
Journal of yesterday morning as follows
CAIRO, May l.
The 4th Illinois Cavalry and two CON
panies Of the Cd Illinois Cavalry, the Who'll
under the comnane of Col. Dlckey, wen
on reconnaissance from the right win
Yesterday towards Purdy Four miles thi
side they met force of rebec cavalry, wh'
Aed in great disorder, and could not b.
rallied by their officers. Col Diekey pu,
sued them to Purdy, took possession O
the town, burnt two bridges. and took
locomotive which was run into the river
The engineer and fireman and lieutenan
were taken prisoners The lieutnaut al
then retired. having cut Oft all raIlroa,
communication with the country north @
~Corinth, which has been the source of al
rebel supplies.
se TAe Arrest of Jcnnisou.
2" LEAvESwoRrrI. April go.
In circular just published, Gen. Sturgi
says:
:. Tf.o .rroet IF Col Ienn;Son was III