The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-22
THE W AR.

lHl w Al.
~>->~>~>>>~>>>>>~S-~~> -><~~>->~>~>~~>~
McCiclian's Army Advancing.
Wnvk HocsE, Va, May Tito Hon. q.
M. Stanton, Secretary of war:LThs com
bined army and naval expedition wentsome
% miles up Pamunky River to-day, and
forcedthe rebels to destroy two steamers
and some twenty schooners. The expedi-
ton was admirably managed. We have adj
vanced considerably to day. The roads are
mprov ing FEYygg7rYTA
lsigned) E Gso. b. McCLrL1As.
WnlrE HOUSE,, Va, May 1S.-From the
correspondence, Of the Associated Press, we
learn that the advance guard Of our forces
on the main road to Richmond, via Bot tom
Bridge, drove the enemy across Chickahomi-
ny River yesterday. Our troops on arriving
at the bridge, which is fifteen miles from
Richmond, found it on fire and were opened
upon BY rebel battery. No one injured.
We expect considerable difficulty. in cross
ing here, as the country is low and swampy.
Our advance from this point must necessari.
" be slow, there being NO river transporta-
ton, and every available obstruction placed
in our way by the rebels. go
The Richmond Dispatch Of the 18th, in an
article on the evacuation Of Norfolk and
Yorktown, and the conduct Of the war says,
"by abandoning detached points which It is
impossible to defend, We concentrate power
full forces and are enabled to battle the enemy
in every attack Of vital Importance. This
paper mentions terrible panic in Richmond
on Friday en- the approach Of our gunboats.
A Federal Repulse ON the Jam e.
a3Vpv sid ttAi River iaa nop 3si
The Gun5odts Beaten Off at Fort Ddr1iuo
p --.Sspenteen titled on board the Fiotills-
b The Naugatuck's 100 posinder Burst.
e WASHINGTON, May l7.-The following has
been received at the War Department this
mornings: iaRiar nsed shd ASH ssh
a 1sat3tsH s9tG WrLLIAxsBuRG, May.l7.e
The gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aroos-
took, Naugatuck, and Port Royal were re
pulsed from Fort Darling, seven miles below
Richmond, yesterday. sae s5{ faiev -
A portion Of them have returned to James
town Island near this place, IN James river.
Seventeen of our dead have already been
bnried,, and there are numbers wounded
aboard the vessels, Including Lieut. Morris.
The 100 pound gun on the Naugatuck,
exploded on the first fire. p D. vaa saT
al (Signed9 DAVID CAMPBELL,
By authority of GEN. McCLELLAN.
ps ~ svp7 Later. asfi5 ., jgS e.
: WASHINGTON, May lS.--No official report
of the gunhoat affair on James River has
been received. Messages received indicate
an opportunity to do better in future The
river is now clear Of distractions to within
eight miles of Richmond At that point
there is heavy battery on high bluff The
river is temporarily closed to navigation by
sunken vessels, among which are reported
suO 1AobNtuWu dhu CduiCStUwLI, pics, CudliiS,
&c. The Monitor could not elevate her guns
to reach the bluff, which rendered her use
less. The banks Of the river are filed with
rife-pits, from which an incessant fire was
poured on our feet, q part of which were
engaged within six hundred to thousand
yards Of the main battery. After an action
Of four hours the fleet, finding it impractica-
BILE to silence the battery on the bluff, with
drew.
Our loss is Is killed and ii wounded. -
Full particulars expected to-msrrow.
OF % shots which struck the Galena, 10
penetrated. Rs None did the Monitor any
damage, all glancing off. Both returned
down the river on FRIDAY last. The Galena
is not materially injured. They doubtless
followed Goldsboro on Saturday up the river.
:. FrOm COrtDth. ~ .{