St. Mary's beacon., 1862-06-05

birds are black"
The News.
The war news of the past week indi-
Gates the prevalence of unwoused acfxi-
ty in ,he vicinity Of Richmeqd, -
confirms the successes Of the Confelerate.,
under jackson, Ewell and Johusou. Of
6ci.l dispatches from Gen. Mcclellan
show. that the fighting in front of Rich
mond commenced on Saturday last. and
was brought on BY q Confederate 1t.
tack, in Overwhelming force" upon
Gen. Casey's division. In the early part
Of the engagement. these dispatches adj
init defeat. with the loss Of camp equip
age. two batteries and large number in
killed and wounded, but chin that tie
timely arrival of reinforcernens changed the
fate of the day and left the Federals. at
nightfall, in possession of most of the
ground that had been lest" On Sunday
morning the Confedcrates renewed tho
fight. but we're .epulsed, says Gen. Nc
Clellan, along the entire line. On Monday
there was mole fighting with what result it
it is not stated, but the Federals claim to
have gained ground, and. ON Monday af-
ternoon, report themselves as nearer Rich
mond than when the fight commenced on
Saturday. These DISPATCHES. however.
are misty aud indefinite and 60 to show
that the Federals have, thus far, acted
strictly on the defensive Brilliant bayo-
net charges are reported together with the
statement, that the "rebcls" fight well at
u distance, but cannot Withstand 'eithcr
the cold steel or the superior valor and dis
cipline of cur troops" Notwithstanding
the fattering character of these despatch
es. however, the press at the North is not
altogether satisfied as 70 which side belongs
the victory The Tribune refers to
the affair rs a Federal rv, rse, and
complains of bad generalship on the
part Of Mcclellan. The Times, on the
contrary, thinks victory has been won.
but admits that it is not so decisive as it
might have been. The Federal loss is
officially admitted to have been "very
heavy" though that Of the "enemy" is
put down rs enormous" The Confede.
rate force is estimated at . very high
fgure,-at leas, 200 O0O-and much hard
fighting will probably ensue ere Richmond
shall be taken. Indeed. We confess out
selves at loss to understand the exact
pasture of affairs in this locality. Gen.
Mcclellan, We had though aimed at moth
ing short of the capture Of Richmond.
and he left Washington, we have been
told. for that especial purpose. How is
it, then. that he is now carrying on SIM
ply defensive war, aud Boosting to the
Government that he has succeeded in "re-
pulsing the enemy?" If successful de-
fence is all that he is aiming at. Why has
he placed himself SO near the rebel"
Capitol? We incline to the opinion. how
ever, that he did not 60 so far from home
to carry on defensive war. and SO long
as he fails to capture Richmond, we shall
regard all of his operations in this quar-.
ter rs military failures, if not Federal
reverses.
Late Federal and Confederate reports
from department Of the Shenandoah fully
confirm the complete route Of Banks and
show that bis retreat Was both hurried and
disastrous. AT least 1000 prisoners were
captured by the rebels" whilst the Fed
srsl loss. in killed and wounded, is esti-
mated at from 1000 to 5000. The loss
in artillery. small arms. ammunition,
wagons aud commisssry stores 10 admit
ted to have been heavy. The Confede-
rates claim that the loss on their part is
incsnsidersble. not exceeding 100 in killed
and wounded. Gen. Banks was followed
to the banks Of the Potomac and crossed
into Maryland. He has since been largely
reinforced and hos recrossed. We learn. but.
it is stated, that Jackson is now beyond
Strasburg anG in full retreat. An attempt
was made, BY Gen. Fremont. to inter-
eept him, but it proved unsuccessful.
The pathfinder states. that. "by forced
marches he reached Strasbarg in ad-
vance of jackson aud drew up in line
Of battle" but a. Jackson declined the
fight she permitted him to pass ON. after
a slight sfirmish. though be sent his cav
airy in pursuit." 1t is nov ascertained.
that the rumors in circulation. in refer
enss to Southern barbarity at Front