Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-08-28
WAR NEWS.

MONTH. Sumter although a pile Of
ruins has not been evacuated, and
Col. Rhett comd'g. is ordered with
His brave garrison, to hold the outpost
even as forlorn hope-until relieved
or taken Should Sumpter be finally
abandoned by our forces the Yankees
will Tin the language of the Enquirer)
find that they are now only at the be-
ginning Of the siege Of Charleston, and
between them and that city is sill a
fiery path to travel
The Washington Chronicle des-
cribcs what will remain to be done af-
ter Fort Sumpter is silenced it says,
'sfour miles Of well constructed batter
les, lie between that citadel and
Charleston Fort johnson is situas
ted on James Island, one mile distant
from Cummings point. This is a
strong fortress and will next claim at
tention after the evacuation of Sum-
ter Castle Pinckney another formi-
dable fertilization directly opposite an
Iron clad battery on what is known
as the Middle-gr ground Shoal and in adj
dition the monitors will have to look
out for obstructions, chains, torpedoes
and the not altogether innoxious Iron
clads. On the north side Of the harbor
stands Fort Moultrie, and another
work built by Beauregard- both sit
uated on Sullivan's Island are very
strong and heavily armed. The
number of guns that can be used in
the defence Of Charleston is estimated
as high as thirteen hundred"
We have nothing from Gen. john
ston's army IN Mississippi.
From the army of Gen. Bragg we
learned that the enemy shelled Chat
tanooga with little damage. A little
girl from Nashville and ferryman
were killed.
The army Of the Potomac remains
quiet with no prospect Of an early adj /
vance on either side.
The excitement consequent upon
the report Of the near approach Of the
Yankees to our town, has entirely
subsidized. Col w. i. Jackson, was
engaged with them on the Warm
Spring Mountain on Tuesday last,
and for fear Of being out-fanked by
superior numbers was slowly falling
back towards the Bath Alum and
Millboro' Springs, between which
places he is now said to be located.
The Yankees, fearing a force might
gain their rear also fell back and are
now said to be at the Warm Springs. 1
Gen'l Imboden's forces are still en-
camped near our town, ready at mo-
ment's warning to move where most
needed.
Capt. Mcneil with his Partisan
Rangers are also within hailing dis
lance, anxious and ready if an oppor-.
tunity offers tosmeasure swords with
twice their number of Yankees. The
Captain seems to be never better sat-
isfied then when engaged in fighting
the Yanks, and appears to have
special fondness for gaining their rear,
capturing prisoners and horses, and
destroying their trains.
Expedition to the Lower Rappahannock
&C apture of Two Yankee GunbOats
From participant we have obtained
some particulars of the capture of the Fed
eral gunboats Satellite and Reliance"
at StiDgray Point, mouth of the Rappahan-
mock, on Saturday night last.
The expedition, numbering some sixty
men, under command of Lieut.. John Tay
lor Wood, G. S. n, left Richmond on
Wednesday, the 18th of August. and pro-
ceeded to the Rappahanneck, where prep
arations were at once made for the work
which was 50 successfully completed OF Sat
::-day night
Hasiag secured four open boats, the ex-
petition embarked on Saturday night, and
proceeded TO the print designated, which
they reached about half-past II o'clock. -
On approaching the boat they ,yere hailed
by negro guard, to whom they rep,,;ed sat
isfactorily, and in few moments were un-
der the bows of the boats, cutting away the
nettlngs. and clearing the way for boarding
the Yankee crafts. The crews having in
the meantime become aroused offered resis-
lance, but they we're SO taken by surprise
at the audacity Of the undertakings that
they were soon overcome by the gallantry
and rapid movements Of the men under
Lieut.. Wood, and finally yie lded. surren-
deriDg the boats, crews, guns, and every
thing pertaining to the vessels.
81 In the fight we had three men wounded,
including Lit. Hoge and Midshipman Cook
The enemy had one killed. negro-and
six or seven wounded. 1t Hoge was Sc
verely wounded 10 the neck in hand-t..
aud fight with the Captain of the Reliance.
The Captain was also wounded
The armament of the Reliance consisted
of one 80 pound PARROT gun and "a
howitzer; that of the Satellite of a 32-pound
smooth bore gun and II pound howitzer.
Their crews numbered 10 men each They
had no opportunity of firing their heavy
guns, our men being too closeto them when
the sIeE,n was given. Among the captur-
ed were seven negroes. who. with the rest
Of the prisoners. are expectedto reach Rich
u,ond as soon as they can BIZ brought
a Our informant left the boats on Sunday
morning at Urbanna, on the Rappahaunock
river. and it is probable that since then
they have been run further up that stream
We ca " vpsterdav at the office Of the