The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-13
Latest War News.


eence of the reported evacuation OF Co
lumbus, KY, the Gi5ralter of the West
The direct information is contained IN the
following dispatch to Secretary WelieS
from Commodore Foote, dated Columbus,
KY, March 4, 1862:
"SIR Columbus is In our possession.
Ny armed reconnaissance on the "a INST,
caused hasty evacuation, the rebels lea
wing quite a number of guns and carrla-
ges, ammunition and stores, large guam
tity Of shot and shell, a considerable num-
| Der of anchors, and the remnant of the
chain lately stretched across the river, to-
+ gether with large number OF torpedoes.
| Most of the auts, tents and quarters were
! DESTROYED The works are OF very great
strength, consisting of formidable tiers OF
! batteries on the water side, and on the
land side surrounded by a ditch and abat-
| It's
| Our forces reached Nashville on Satur-
| day, March l, and occupied the city with
! out opposition-a body of rebel cavalry
! leaving the city at one side while our for
ces entered it at the other. They were
| joyfully received by hundreds of Union
| citizens, who reported the greatest exees-
| had been In the widest terror for a week,
and millions of dollars worth of property
was destroyed by rebel citizens who were
| in daily expectation Of the arrival OF the
Federal army, while the rebel soldiery
were permitted to do just as their passions
| prompted them. Governor Harris and
the Legislature fed the city and have ia
ken refuge in Memphis, to which place
the rebel army retreated.
We have glorious news from General
Banks division Col. Geary has taken
Leesburg, and driven Gen. Hill, with his
whole command from the town and sur
| rounding forts. The Stars and Stripes
now wave over all the hills. Col. Geary
left Lovetsville with his command, and
marched through WheatlanG and Water
ford, taking prisoners at both places, and
putting the enemy to fight. The rebel
troops, who had considered this as one of
their strongholds, could be discovered,
through glass, in full retreat. The
command took a large quantity OF army
stores, and are in possession of the bank,
post Office, and public buildings. Forts
| Beauregard and Evans are also taken.-
! This brilliant achievement, accompanied
by well timed blow, is of vast impor-
tanoe. A detachment of the First Mich
igan cavalry did much service under the
direction of Col. Geary in this movement.
From Arkansas we have the official in
| telligence of most glorious and decisive
victory, eouched in the following Ian
suage, from General Halleck to Gen. Nc
| Clellan ''SIR The army Of the South
west, under Gen Curtis, after three days
hard fighting, has gained most glorious
victory over the combined forces of Van
| Dorm, Price, McCulloch and Mcintosh
Our loss in killed and wounded is esti-
mated at one thousand, and that of the
enemy still larger Guns, flags, provis-
ions, &c, were captured In large quanti-
ties. Our cavalry are in pursuit of the
flying enemy"
By telegraph from Fortress Monroe we
| learn Of most severe and disastrous en-
gagement in Hampton Roads between the
| Federal and Rebel fleets. Early Satur-
day afternoon the rebel iron plated steam
| er Merrimac came out Of Norfolk harbor,
moved slowly down the channel, leading
! TO Newport News and steamed direct for
the United States sailing frigates Cumber-
land and Congress, which were lying at
the mouth Of the James River. As soon
| as she came within range of the Gum ber-
| land, the latter opened fire on her, but
the balls had no more effect on her than
peas from pop-gun. Ia the meantime,
the rebel steamers, Yorktown and James
! town came down the James River and
joined in the engagement. The Merri-
mae kept on her course and ran against
the Cumberland, striking her about mid
ships and laying open her sides. This
movement was repeated aud then the
steamer started for the Congress The
latter having had sharp engagement
with the Yorktown and jamestown, and
having no regular crew on board of her,
at once surrendered. The officers were
I taken off by the jamestown, but the crew
were allowed to escape. The vessel was
then fired. The Minnesota attempted to
engage in the conflict, but ran aground
not far from Newport News The St.
| Lawrence fired number of shots but was
unable to get near the rebel steamers-
After the surrender of the Congress, the
Merrimac sheled our encampments at
| Newport News, but without doing much
damage Most fortunately the new Eric
son irop-clad battery, the Monitor, arrived
in the roads at 10 o'clock in the evening,
and at once went to the protection of the
! Minnesota. She was Immediately attack
! ed by the Merrimac, Yorktown, James
| town, and several tug boats. After a
hr,of II ~.