The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-26

county, on the south bank Of the Rappahannock,
at the head Of tide water, and e5 miles north
from Richmond, and So miles from Washington,
and has a population Of about6 600.
The town Of Sparta, in Rockingham county,
was occupied by the advance of Gen. Banks
army on Friday. On the approach Of the COL
umn, Col. Ashby's Confederate cavalry destroy
ed their camp equipage and retreated. A large
number Of Gen. Jackson's troops passed through
the town on Thursday and encamped q short
distance from the place. It'll reported that he is
to receive large reinforcements. Gen. Banks be-
lieves that Gen. jackson has left the Valley and
is marching on Gordonsville, where there is a
strong force. &
The latest advices from Com. Foote indicate
that the siege of Fort Wright promises to be
more difficult and prolonged than was at first
anticipated. The Confederates have forty heavy
guns in position, and are mounting others of
long range. The firing On Thursday was very
heavy on both sides, ard was kept up until mid
night, Three Federal gunboats were compelled
to retire beyond the range Of the guns, two of
them having been struck by the shells and in
jured. Two mortar boats were also compelled
to change their position, to escape the firing of
the Confederate land forces. It is stated by de-
serters that Gen. Bragg is in command, and that
he has about 5000 men, and four gunboats
mounting twenty-four guns.
The latest advices from the Tennessee river
state that Gen. Sherman moved his position two
miles into the interior, and maintained his posi-
ton after sharp skirmish, in which the Con-
federates are said to have lost fifty or sixty; the
Federal loss, as usual, mot mentioned.
Gen. Beauregard is said to be busily engaged
in erecting Notifications at Corinth, and has been
so largely reinforced that his army now numbers
over 100, 900 men.
Itappears that the Confederates are still in
force on the right bank of the Tennessee river,
above Shiloh. Two Federal transports were
fired upon on Thursday, the 18th, while ascend
ing the Tennessee river; one man was killed and
several wounded. The troops landed and burn
ed a number of buildings
d,
the Federal troops was accomplished on the 9th
instant. The Confederates had gathered force
of four or five thousand men about three miles
distant from the town, and threatened an early
advance s.a ,sas .s4
A despatch from Gen. Banks division states
that Gen. Jackson is at McGaugheystown, in
Rockingham county, about eighteen miles south
of Sparta, and eleven miles east of Harrisonburg,
the county town. Ashby's cavalry guards the
rear of the army.
Gen. Mcclellan reports that the loss of Gen.
Smiths division at the battle at Lees Mill was
thirty-iye killed and one hundred and twenty
wounded and missing. A Richmond paper
states that the Confederate loss was twenty kill
ed and seventy wounded. aaa ssHa
Col. Jennison, the leader of the notorious
'Jayhawkers". in Kansas, and also officer in the
U. s. army, has been arrested.
General Hunter, now commanding in the South
ern Department, has issued an order confiscating
and declaring free all the slaves at Fort Pulaski
and on Cockspur Island 81"
At latest advices the bombardment of Fort
Wright was still in progress, but with what effect
is not stated. Fort Wright formerly Fort Pillow,
is the first Confederate fol tfcation on the Mis-
sssippi, below New Madrid 1t is at the mouth
the Hatchie river or five miles below Osceola,
Arkansas, on the opposite bluff known as the
Chickasaw Bluff, and about twelve miles above
Randolph and IS miles above Memphis
What is now Fort Pillow is just above Memphis,
at the mouth of Woolf river.
Later advices from Fort Royal represent that
Fort Pulaski was so much injured by the bonn
bardment, that it is now wholly unfit for work
of defence.
A body of Federal troops, while on Whining
ton Island, about IL miles below Savannah, we're
attacked by body of Confederates, and thirteen
oftheir number killed and thirty wounded.
Southern papers state that Gen. Burnside is
advancing towards Norfolk. 1t is also stated
that Federal force of s, 900 men attempted TO
land at Elizabeth City, North Carolina, but were
repulsed with heavy loss. Elizabeth CITY is the
shire town Of Pasquatank county, situated on the
right bank of the river Of that name, about 25
miles from its mouth, and so miles south Of
Norfolk. Luray, the county seat Of Page county,
about 30 miles east of Mount jackson, has been
occupied by the Federal troops.
LIBERALIZATION. The Rev. ]. N. Hnsted viii be-
installed as pastor Of the Presbyterian Church in
Bel Air on Wednesday, the sOth'inst. The ser