Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-13

Washington and Sperryville yesterday. The
artillery with him early yesterday morning
shelled the camp of the 8th Illinois cavaly.
Gen. Wilcox, hearing the cannonadng,
promptly moved his division to the support of
Gen. Averill whose entire brigade was but a
short distance from him. Gen. Averill being
ill, Col. FarnSworth of the Sth Illinois now
commands the brigade.
THE CHANGE IN COMMAND.
Correspondence of the New York Times)
WARRENToN, Nov. l0.-The order reliev-
ing Gen. Mcclellan was received at his head
quarters, at Rector Town, before midnight,
Saturday. Gen. German and Il few other Of
fcers were present at the time. The fact be-
came known at daybreak among the soldiers,
occasioning much excitement and discussion,
but not the least indication of an outbreak.
Gen. McClellan's staff, as might be expected
were furious on the government and mankind
generally. Several officers rendered their
designations on Saturday, but they are gener-
ally considered to be of that number who are
waiting for some excuse to turn up for aban-
denlng the army Generals Burnside and
Mcclellan were over here together yesterday
morning, accompanied by their stats, the best
OF feeling existing between them. General
Burnside is 10th to assume the new position,
necessity of having more vigorous leader.
He rode out yesterday, about one o'clock, to
inspect the troops, who were arriving from
various directions. Gen. Burnside is loved
and admired by all who know him, and, fully
conversant with the plan of the campaign, as
first laid down, will, all believe, carry it out
etfectualy. The new troops, and those of
the old army, save portion of the PENN
sula men, are all delighted with his appoint
ment.
DEsoLATIoN AT wARRENToN.
The wealth of female loneliness, for which
Warrenton is greatly celebrated, still remains
here intact, and many an old acquaintance
between the secesh ladies and the Union sol
diers has been revived. OF able bodied males
there are none to be seen upon the street.
Those who did not feel it an important duty
to answer the call of jeff. Davis by volunteer
ing to serve in his army have been ruthlessly
torn from their homes by the recruiting SER
geant under the CONSUMPTION act. Some of
this last class were dragged off yesterday, and
in several instances | know of, their families
are left in hopeless destitution. Tall, gaunt
old men, saunter about the street like spec
tres, and expressed themselves pleased with
the ''reoccupation," for" says an old resi-
dent, 1--WE are almost starved out" Hog and
hominy, it appears, has been the staple and
almost the only articles of food obtainable.
The stores are all closed, because the owners
have nothing to sell but tobacco. The town
is without any of the ordinary Injuries Of life
such as grocerieS-which are considered as
necessaries by most people. The want of
coffee is not severely felt, for rye is a substi-
tute that almost equals-if properly made
coffee itself, and is free from most of the OBJ
jectionable qualities pertaining to coffee.
Sugar-the last that was here-sold for So
per pound; whiskey Warranted to kill at 40
rods,) $25 per gallon, where it can be had at
all; and in fact, every article that is con-
sumed in civilized communities, when to be
had at all, are sold at equally fabulous prices.
EXTRA BILLY SMITH.
EX-GOv. Smith, or he who is more familiar
ly known as extra Billy" resides in this
town, on the Culpepper road, and was found
at his home yesterday, and was paroled. He
is yet confined to his house with wounds re-
ceived in battle and fever that supervened.
He talks despondingly of the affairs of rebel
dom, and predicts that one more battle will
settle the fate of the confederate states. The
fate of this prematurey old man is but an
other illustration that the way of the trans
gressor is hard man of limited capacity of
mind, but of great social influence, he was
the Union, and boastingly sought a traitors
doom. To-day he is a ruined man, Frustrated
upon bed Of sickness from which he will
rise, if at all, mere wreck of his former self
OF his two sons, one was killed in the battles
in front Of Richmond, and the other died from
disease incurred by exposure serving the Sc
cession cause
sKIRHIsHEs ON THE RAPPAHANNoCK.
BEYOND THE RAPPAHANNoCK, Nov. H.
Yesterday forenoon the enemy attacked Cen
eral Pleasantons pcketS, three miles beyond
Amosville, with a large force of cavalry and
artillery, well supported by infantry. As Gen.
Pleasanton had no infantry near at hand, the
pickets fell back to the main body, near Amos
vile, and reinforcements were sent for.
General Wilcox, of the ninth corps, immedi-
ately despatched the second division, under
General Sturges, who advanced his command
from the vicinity of Waterloo, at the junction
OF the Rappahannock river and Carriers run,
and joining General Pleasanton, at once drove
back the rebels and established the pickets
The skirmishing was done principally by Gen
eral Naglee's brigade, who drove the rebels in
me style. General Fenno with his brigade,
at the same time advanced upon and occupied
the town OF Jefferson. The loss in General
Naglees brigade was some three or four
wounded.
HARPERs FERRY.
HARrER's FERRY, Nov. H. - The rebel
plcketS have appeared on the Virginia side of
the Potomac, between Berlin and Point of
Rocks The rebel cavalry are securing the
country on the south side of Loudon bridge
Yesterday they fred upon our pickets in
Loudon valley. A contraband Who came in
from winchester reports the column of Jack
son in the vicinity OF Front Royal, with the
exception Of about two thousand men and ak
erune still In tho vatley 1905 ~