St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1862-04-03


10 cease its war upoa slavery; and. if it
can find no better pr halter cause in
which to engage. to disband its soldiery
and le. the country be restored to peace.
The News.
The war news that has reacLcd rs du-
ring the past week is unusually compli.
Gated and inconsistent. Official reports
from the 6gh. al Winchester have been
received and greatly detract from its i'm
portanee as Federal victory. Instead
of q Confederate route. accompanied
with great loss u life and munitions OF
war. az at first reported, the Federals
are now forced 70 admit that he engage
ment resulted in far different manner.
The official estima,c of their own loss now
reaches over 700, whilst by no process OF
enumeration can they make that Of the
enemy near 50 large. The $4,000 men
under Jackson have now dwindlcd down
to 5000, whilst their own free. original
" stated to be 5000, IL now asccrtaincd
to have been much larger. The fight
lasted from an early hour in the morning
until dark, and Gen. Jackson was then
permitted to withdraw hls forces without
pursuit or molcsta,ion The Fcderals. i.
is true, claim. to have followed him the
next morning. but without eff.eting any
important result in the pursuit. Gen.
Shields, who was wounded in the fight,
is said to be rapidly convalescing and to
be already in condition to take the field.
lie admits that Jackson's men fought we'll
and exhibited in their retreat evidences Of
the highest discipline and courage. Abou.
230 C.nfederatcs were captured in the
fight. but soms Ct the prisoners stated /.
that the Fcdcrals captured will exceed this
number.
Late reports from Manassas show 8
further advance Of the Ped.rals and the
retreat Of the Confedcra,cs across the Rap
pahannock. From the same source.
however, We are informed that body
Of so Cunfedcra!cs entered Fairfax Cour,
House few days since and destroyed \
lot Of suffers stores, tore down the
Cuion flags and then retired. Again, VIC
are told that. subsequently. another party
has been seen near the Chin Bridge and
that two Union ladies have been captured
in that vicinity. Now. it strikes w. that.
If the Confcderates have been driven
across the Rappahannock and the FEEDER
ais arc in rapid pursuit Of them, the eouu-
try between Washington and Centervill.
would be rather d dangerous locality for
small maraudiug bands Of Confederases "a
be found in. Neither can we understand
how the Federal soldiers are daily sho,
down in the vicinity of Fairfax Court
House. by persons sympathiziug With the
Confedera.es," when the Confederate army
is reported to be many miles distant. Il
is not likely that the class Of citizens HAT
would remain in country overrun by an
enemy. especially when they have had
ample mean, afforded tmhe for escape,
would engage 10 so dangerous an enter
prise, nor is it reasonable to suppose that
such events couls daily trasspire without
at least one instance Of detection. We are
rather Inclined to the opinion that the
cases of shooting either do hot take place
at all, or are the result OF = more manly
and legitimate mode Of warfare. Heavy
firing has been beard for the past week in
the direction Of Washington, and rumor
states that there has been series Of en-
gage,ncnts along the Potomac line in
which the Fcderals have gained no mate.
rial advantage. 1t is even hintcd thai
they have been compelled to fall back from
their advanced positions and that the Con.
federates again oecury both Manassas ana
Ceuteryille. A large Federal force is sale
to have landed at Shipping Point. on th,
Lower Potomac. and Fredericksburg j,
designated as the point Of attack.
Late adviccs from the West show tia
Island No 10. still holds out and is beins
daily strengthened by new ratification
and the arrival Of guns of heavier cslibre
The gun and mortar boats sccm to hav'
made no impression as yet. and basterie
are being erected on the mainland to guare
AGAINST a faux attack. The prtyailip: