The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-10-04
CAMP LoUIsvILLE, KY, Sept. 2S, 1862.

CAMP LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 2S, 1862.
To TEE 1nrs TaADsa.
Since writing you last, have been able
toyollect the following items of news from
reliable sources:
On Friday morning (26th inst the rebel
pickets, numbering $50, entered Middle
town, in this county, Is miles from Louis
vile. They drove out our picket., 60 in
number. Yesterday they were within s
miles of the city, ana were committing
depredations on the Union citizens. These
bold fellows are part Of the force under
Col. Scott, who is acting as Brigadier
General He is supported by a heavy body
of infantry. His entire force of cavalry is
set down at HOO, and includes the Buck
ner Guards famous corps in this region.
His whole brigade is located between Shell.
byville and Niidletown, and numbers, all
told, 1000. A detachment Of Union troops
were sent out after them Friday night,
and this morning learn that . skirmish
occurred on the Shelbyville turnpike, .
short distance beyond Middletown, last
night, between ] and s o'clock, between
our advance cavalry force, under Colonel
Jacob, and SCOTS cavalry. The force of
the enemy il estimated varlously from
1900 to 5000, with two pieces of artillery.
1t seems our forces drove the rebels out of
Middhtown Friday P n The rebels formed
in lins about one mile beyond the town,
and fired upon our advance. As it was
evideat that heavy body of rebels were
still back, our force retired to hill this
side Of Middletown, where they are still
stationed. There were no casualties to
our troops. Ey this time it was dark, and
both sides remained in position. Nothing
has hsen heard from there since.
Ewrything is in commotion here this
mornng. A forward movement seems to
be feeshadowed. The rebels are closing
in a,ound US on all sides. They now
OCCUPY Chatlettsburg, Virginia, and Bar
bourNille. Most of these troops are under
Col Jack May, whose object no doubt ia
to gan strong foothold on the Ohio river.
at ornear Chatlettsburg, which is said to
be the hotbed of the rebels in this State.
Yesterday morning q company of about
100 9aerillas come down from New Castle.
and entered Lagrange, tore up the railroad
snd carried away the telegraph instru-
Inents The operator escaped to Boards
Station, from which point he telegraphed
the facts to Gen. Nelson, in this city.
The rebel scouts arc still at Taylorsville, |
but no considerable force this side of that |
place. An occasional butter nut ventures |
this way, but most generally is gobbled up |
by our scouts. 1900 rebels occupy a hill |
neas Salt River Bridge on the Bardstown |
turnpike, Is miles from here. The main |
body OF the rebels, however. were Friday
evening sncamped in the vicinity of Coxs |
Creek bridge, from Is to 80 miles from
Lsuisvill& The body at this poin: mum.
bers from 10000 to 1900. The whole of
Braggs army seems to be scattered all |
over the country in small bodies of from
2, 700 to 5000 in . place, and are repre-.
sented to b almost destitute of clothing.
but plenty to eat They have been On.
forcing the conscription law. But dsssr-
tipss are very numerous-not less than
500 havs cone into This city sines Friday