The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-21
WAR NEWS.

WAR NEWS. ga
We have late and important war news
rom Kentucky. The Federal troops had
in the vicinity Of Somerset, where
hey were attacked early on Sunday morning
by Gen. Zollicofer's forcess The battle ragged
until about three o'clock in the afternoon.
v ben the Confederates reiterated to their en-
trenchments. the Federal troops pursuing.-
The loss in this days fight is reported as
heavy on both sides. Among the Confede-
rates killed was their Commanding General
zollicoffer and Bsillie Peyton. q son Of the
ex-member Of Congress OF that name. A
dispatch receiv via Cincinnati, states that
the combined forces Of Generals Thomas and
Schoepf attacked the Confederate entrench-
ments yesterday, and captured the works
with oil their camp equipage and largo
number Of prisoners. The death Of General
Zollicoffer is confirmed, his body being in
the hands Of the Federsls. The loss in the
battle yesterday il also reported - heavy
Another dispatch from Louisville says that
after the retreat Of the Confederatss on Sum-
day, Gen. Thomas followed them up 70 their
entertainments, intending to attack them
yesterday morning, but found the fef.i6sa-
TONS deserted, the Confederates having r.
treated across the Cumberland river. opposite
their encampmsnt At Mill Spring. and left
behind them oil their army stores and veg
ons, which fell into the hands of the FedA-
rails. The bodies Of two hundred and ssv-
enty five Of the killed and wounded Of the
were found on the field. The
Federal loss is not fully reported, but thu In
diana regiment lost seventy-6ve killed and
wounded. Somerset IL . town containing
about fifteen hundred inhabitants, and is
in Pulaski county. eighty-four miles
southeast of Frankfort. and FIVE miles nsrth
Of the Cumberland river. .e,,
A dispatch from Cincinnati states that four
regiments of Federal troops had advanced -
far as South Csrrollton. Kentucky. on tho
route to Bowling Green. The Confedera.ss
in the vicinity Of the last named place are
said to be destroying the railroad, laying
trees on the track. and otherwise obstructing
the advance Of the Federal troops. but it WAS
further reported that they were making pre-
parations to abandon their position on the
Of the Federal forces. q
A Cairo dispatch states that the recent ri.
YER Reconnaissance by the Fedsrals towards
Columbus. Kentucky, has been successful.
The St. Louis Democrat. Republican, pa.
per, of the 18th, contains . dispatch from
Ironton, ~ tho effect that large body, Of
Confederates under Gen. JEFF. Thompson. At
tackled . fosoe Of eight hundred Federal
troops under Col. Miles. about twenty.three
miles from that place, and after = desperate
battle, in which many ON both sides were
killed, the Federals were defeated. and com.
PEELED to retire from the field by the superior
numbers Of tho opposing forces. A large
quantity Of baggage fell into the hands of
the Confederates, and at last accounts the
Fedsrals were still retreating towards Pilot
Knob. No report of this battle had reached
US by telegraph.
Information, it is stated. has been received
10 Washington that the Confederates have
evacuated their position at Manassas, and
retired further South. The object of the
is supposed to be to counterfeit an
approach of the Federal troops from the sea-
board.
Advices from Hancock state that Jackson's
retirement from Hancock, and his pretended
retreat towards Winchester, was ruse, and
that, without returning to the latter place he
with 10000 men to Ronney. Gen.
Lander, following out his instructions, fell
back on Jackson's approach.
1t is said that a Confederate hospital has
been established at or near Manassas, Va,
where all sick or disabled soldiers, in that
section are to be taken-and none sent to
Richmond, hereafter, until they are we'll
enough to travel, or be comfortably remov-
ed. Many of the deaths in the hospitals in
Richmond, are said to have been occasioned
by sending the patients there, before they
were able to bear the fatigue of the journey.