Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-23


direction of Richmond. On Monday the
Confederate pickets were driven across Bot
toms-or Bottemons Bridge-by the troops
marching in that direction, whilst Stoneman's
cavalry advanced to New Bridge, within
eight miles of Richmond. AS it was not the
purpose, we are tolG, of Gen. Stoneman to
bring on an engagement, he subsequently re-
tired one mile from the bridge and encamped
On Tuesday the WI hole army started early,
expecting to make a long march during the
day, and Wednesday night it is reported that
the headquarters of Gen. Mcclellan were
within short distance Of Richmond If
such were the fact, battle must be imminent
1t must not be supposed, however, that the
progress of the Federal troops has been easy
and unimpeded. On Saturday, according to
the correspondent of the Philadelphia Press
during a reconnaissance in force, they were
met by the Confederates and repulsed with
some loss. That the casualties must have been
quite serious is evident from the fact that the
writer expresses an earnest hope that the state
ment in regard to the affair may turn out to
be somewhat exaggerated.
The gun-boat lotilla which assembled James
river, on Sunday week last, was repulsed at
Fort Darling, seven miles below Richmond
From the report of Col. Campbell to the Sec
rotary Of War, we learn that the engagement
took place on Friday last, and that the aotil-
Ia, which was composed of the gunbdats Ga
lena, Monitor, Naugatuek, Aristook and Port
Royal, were driven back with great loss from
before Fort Darling, and portion of them
fell down the river to jamestown Island.
where Lieutenant Morris made requisition
upon Col Campbell for assistance to bury his
dead. Seventeen bodies had been inferred at
the date Of the report, on the banks of the
river, and there were "anumber" of wound
ed on board, including Lieut.. Morris The
hunGred-pounder gun of the Naugatuck ex-
ploded. What appears to be singular is that
Lieut.. Morris was DESTROYS of intelligence
concerning the condition of the forts below
jamestown Island
Official correspondence between the officers
Of the Virginia Legislature and President
Davis is published, in which he says that it
is not the intention of the Confederate gov
eminent TO withdraw its forces from Virginia
or Of abandoning the State; but if the capt
tol should have to be surrendered-a neces-
sity which he did not see or anticipate-that
would be no reasonfor Withdrawing the army,
as the war could be successfully maintained
for years on the soil of the State.
In addition to the order recently issued by
the Superintendent of the Military Telegraph,
directing that no account Of the pending bat
tie near Corinth shall be permitted to pass
over the wires without the permission Of the
War Department, we have now what is called
a special field order from General Hal,eck, by
which commanders of army corps and diy-
sions are ITO see that their eainps-are cleared
of all unauthorized hangers-on, and any one
attempting to eyade this order will be COM
PEELED to work intrenchments, or batteries
or in the construction of roads" Then fol-
lows, by itself, the significant paragraph
=" This Order is understood TO apply TO all
persons--corresponden incladed"
General Wool has prohibited thesale or dis
tgibution of all newspapers at Norfolk and
throughout the surrounding country. The
transportation there Of supplies or mercban-
disc is also forbidden, and neither soldiers
nor civilians will be permitted TO visit that
city except on business connected with the
Department Of Virginia.
The citizens Of Parkersburg, Va, appear
to have been recently thrown into Il consid-
cradle state Of excitement in consequence of
the movements of parties of guerilas on the
Kanawha. The town Of Burning Springs, in
West county, is said TO have been destroyed,
on the 9th instant, by the Morcassier Rangers
and the same fate is alleged to have befallen
the little village Of Palestine Parkersburg
is reported to be full Of fugitiyes, and as but
one company OF Federal troops is stationed
there, some Of the citizens considered the
place to be in imminent danger Of attack
From Kentucky we learn that bands Of
Confederates are still organized even in the
central portion of the State, four hundred be-
ing encamped at McCormick's, about twenty
two miles east of Mount Sterling. A party
Of thirty mel also passed through Mount
Sterling recently. It's supposed that they
had constituted McCormick's place Of rem
devious, with the ultimate intention Of nov
ing Southwark.
Col. Geary reports that an infantry company
Of his command was attacked ON Thursday
week last BY body Of Confederate cavalry,
and was overpowered, He gives what pur-
ports TO be tao list of casualties, viz: one
man killed and fourteen taken prisoners
Satisfied with this exploit, the Confederatos
are said TO have retired with some loss. 81
have been informed, adds Col Geary, vague
Is, that portion Of Gen. Shields command
had skirmish with them" What the result
Of that skirmish was, he leaves Gen. Shields
to state.
Gen. Mcdowell is still on the north side Of
the Rappahannoek. Gen. Banks whcrea-
bouts is unccrtain--some say, he is at straus-
burg, and Others that he is at Harpers Ferry.
One thing is certain, he is not as near Rich
nond now as he was some dnve a0o