The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-03-21
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WAR NEWS.

, age over the river. in the face of u deter
mined resistance |y II considerable body of
itc1el sharpShooters, who were covered by
| houses, rite pits, and II dry mill race with
an abatIis in front. The Ford admitted but
a slngl horseMIam al a time, and the stream
was swollen and lapi,l. Arriving on the
| south side OF the river. our cavalry CHARGED
the Rebels in their ntrcnchmcnts, killing
| and capturing nearly the entire force.
| besides securing Large number of horses
! pickcted near by.
| y short distance from the shore General
| Averill 5 command encountered the Rebel
cavalry under Generals Stuart and fitzhugh
Lee. who had FASTENED from Culpeper to
prevent our passage. They made some
| da5hlng charges upon our troops, who
repuIsed, and in turn charged them with
| fatal effect using sabres only IN the conflict.
| Whenever the Rebels made n stand thty
| were immediately charged upon and routed
| form their position with severe loss.
The battle lasted about five hours, and
was u series of charges and handto hand
conflicts, resulting in the enemy falling
back. The force engaged WAS about two
thousand on each side. The enemy at last
ook refuge behind an intrenched battery,
about four miles from the ford, fankcd by
| rifle. pits and abattis General Averil hav-
ing accomplished his object, and securing
his prisoners, the wounded on both sides,
and large number Of horses. he rccrossed
the river without attack or demonstration
on the Part Of The Rebels, who were so
BADLY whipped that they could not follow to
annoy him.
Among the prisoners is Major Breckn-
ridge, cousin OF the traitor, John G. Brock
inridgc. The prisoners characterize the
affair on our part as one of the most gallant
~ loug Int cavalry raids of the whole war,
and admit that their own troops We're total
~ demoralizcd by the gallant sabre charges
of our cavalry.
About eighty prisoners have been brought
in. The woundcd Of the enemy bear SUI
! ficient marks that the sabre was the only
weapon used on our side
-Governor William Cannon. of Della
ware, has sent a message to the Legislature
| of that State in reference to /" An act to
| prevent illegal arrests in that State" which
| had been passed by that body, in which he
says: Invested by the Constitution with
no power of veto or review of the action of
| the Legislature. the Governor has a general
| control over the operation Of criminal en-
.c,menls, and such control | will exercise
to It's uttermost extent to protect any person
acting under the authority Of the United
States, or any citizen aiding such person iii
bringingto light any conspiracy, or in ar
resting any one guilty of dsloyal practices
or reasonable designs against the Govern
mcnt. shall issue my proclamation in
conformity with these views, giving to the
people of the State Of Delaware information
Of my Intended action" The Governor
accordingly issued the proclamation.
General Lockwood and staff visited
l.ronardtown, Maryland, on Tuesday last,
and remained until Wednesday morning
He is now in command of all the military
forces stationed in Charles and St. Mary's
counties, and will establish his headquarters
either at Point Lookout or leunardtown-
The principal Object of his mission is to sup
press the contraband trade Intercourse, gen.
orally, between, there and Dixie. He
promises to respect the institutions and laws
of Maryland, and to protect the people 50
long as they commit no acts Of disloyalty to
the Federal Government, but he threatens
to punish with II protracted imprisonment
all who are caught in violating the laws Of
the United States. His present force num-
Der about one thousand men. which will be
increased to five thousand, if deemed ncces-
Sary to enforce the measures he is charged
with.
Port Royal adviccs are up to the 18th
instant. General Hunters movement had
not yet commenced, but in his General
Orders issued ON the 9TH it was indicated
that after long and wcarylng delays, due to
causes over which no one in the Department
had control, his command has at length the
cheering prospect of active and very import
ant service. On the same day, Gen. Hunter
issued an order relieving Brgadier General
Naglcc from duty, and ordering him to New
\ ork, to report to the Adjutant General. -
| \ mat Ih.,r N,fp Il 81
the drafting of all able bodied negroes in
the Department between the ages Of Is and
90. not otherwise employed by the Govern
mcnt, to garrison the forts
The attempt to send out a Rebel Priva-
tecr, from San Francisco, was frustrated by
thcvesscl being taken possession of by the
Government officers. About twenty Seces
sonists were captured on board, all well
armed also six brass Dahlgrcn guns, with
carriages suitable for use on ships of war.
Correspondence found on the persons of
the prisoners identified them with II party
recently negotiating for the purchase of VIC
toria for use as privateer. The prisoners
have been confined in the fort. Many more
arrests are likely to follow.
Refugees are constantly coming within
the Union lines They all tell the same
story respecting the suferings and priva-
tons to which the Rebels are subjected
The prices Of all things have increased very
much within IL short time in consequence of
the immence depreciation of paper. Green
backs are worth $50 per cent. premium over
paper of State banks, and $50 over Confed-
crate scrip; the last named is worth only
one quarter its face in gold.
The State of Missouri is now about
cleared of guerri.as, bushwackers and Jay
hawkers, and the farmers are about laying
down the bloody instruments of war, and
will resume those belonging to peaceful
agriculture. Vast quantitrs of corn, wheat.
rye, oats, hemp, flax, NC, will be raised
this year, but in no particular will the in
crease of products over those of the last
two years be more noteworthy than the arti
Gle Of tobacco.
Having seized all the able bodied men
in the South under the CONSUMPTION law, the
rebel chiefs are now subjecting provision to
the same sort of treatment. and are Selling
-four mills and grocery stores for the army.
That kind Of thing cannot last long. One
great defeat and the rebellion will collapse.
Cannot we give them that defeat somewhere
and Immediately?
An American merchant, who arrived at
New York in the City of Baltimore, brings
intelligence Of a new monster which is in
process of construction for the rebels in the
vicinity of London. 1t is $50 feet long,
iron clad, with formidable PROV, and will
be provided with four engines. He de-
l. II