Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-06
War News.

rebels, have been received at Cairo.
The day before her capture she went
down below Chapalaya a few miles,
and captured rebel train of IL wagons
On returning, those who captured the
wagon train were fired upon by guerril-
las near Semmesport, On the next
morning force was landed who destroy
ed all the buildings in that vicinity.
The Queen of the West is said to have
been considerably damaged by the rebel
fire. The steamers which accompanied
her were blown up to prevent their fall
ing into the hands of the rebels.
FnoM VIRGINIA. correspondent
of the Wheeling, Va. Intelligencer, I'M
der date of Winchester, the 26th ult,
gives the following particulars of late
disgraceful affair between portion of
our troops and the enemy, on the 25.h ::
"A rebel cavalry scout, 80 strong, came
inside our pickets on the Strasburg road.
After skirmish with infantry pickets,
10 which two were wounded on each
side they retired, capturing cavalry
picket of twelve men. Five hundred of
the 18th Pennsylvania and New York
cavalry, sent in pursuit, recaptured be-
yond Strasburg most of the prisoners
and horses, and also took a number of
prisoners. The commander of our de-
tachment transcribed his orders ard
pursued beyond Woodstock. After driv-
ing in the rebel pickets he stood in the
road withou; guarding against surprise
the enemy returned in force, charged
upon and threw them into confusion,
killing and capturing 200. Oar men
made no stand, though outnumbering
the enemy.
Tue MIs5I5slPPL--A recent letter
from our army before Yicksburg says
that all intention Of taking the place by .
direct assault is abandoned. Oar gen
erals have for the most part, more faith
in the efficacy of the spade than in shot
and shell. That the former method Of
attack may have fall course aud be gIori-
fed, thousand contrabauds are busily
engaged day and night in welding the
shovel, and to-day learn that four thou
sand soldiers are detailed Tor the same
Interesting duty. Such force, under
intelligent supervision, will work won
crs.' 1t is supposed that Gen. Grant,
BY abandoning the occupation Of rail-
roads, &c, can mass $4,000 men; that
Curtis can supply considerable force
in addition, and that these, with the river
men, can so ef'ectuaIly besiege the place
as to compel its speedy surrender, espe
cially as with SO large a force, properly
employed on the bayou8 and river, the
supplies Of the enemy can be entirely
cut Of.
Rear-Admiral Porter instructed the
captain Of the gunboat Indianola, as he
was on the point of starting down the
Mississippi the other day, to visit the
plantations Of jeff. Davis and his brother
Joe, and carry away every bale Of cot
ton and every able bodied male negro
he could find. II is stated that the In
dianola will so to Black river, this side
Of Grand Gull, forty miles below Vicks-
burg, where the enemys boats are y ing,
and where the jackson and Nalchez rail
road crosses the river. The destruction
Of this road would strike a damaging
blow to the confederates.
IS The steiner Augusta Dinsmore
has arrived at New York from Hilton e
Head the goth. Gen. Thomas j. Ste a
venson of Massachusetts, was arrested by :
Gen. Hunter on the 10th, for publicly
declaring that he had rather be beaten
BY the rebels than fight with negroes
Gen. Stevenson was recently promoted s.
or bravery in North Carolina. 7
Gen. Hunter has peremptorily or
Tered all the staff of Gen. Foster out of
he department of the South for the ut
erance of statements tending to create A
lisaffection, characterization and mutiny.
Heavy firing has been heard in the
)geechee river and it was expected the A
Union iron-clad Passaic, and the rebel
ron-clad Atlanta. had met in conflict.