The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-06-13
WAR NEWS.

the 9th. On the 2Ath a grand assault was
maue. and though partially effective, failed
i'll the capture Of the position. Admiral
Farragut with his feet engaged the river
batteries, whilst the army under the imme-
diate command of General Banks moved
upon the works on the land side. Our ieen
are reported to have behaved with the most
stubborn bravery, even the negro regiments
Distinguishing themselves. On the left i'm
portant advantages were gained, General
Weiizci' $ forces capturing a heavy battery,
and turning its guns on the enemy. Along
other parts of the line the attack was less
successful. General Sherman was severely
wounded, and had arrived at New Orleans
I \ despatch received on board the steamer
at the mouth Of the Mississippi, and dated at
New Orleans. May 18th, p. NJ, states that
the enemy made an attempt to break through
our left but were driven back with heavy
loss. heavy cannonading was in progress
during the whole of the morning of The
18th
General Banks in his official report. dated
before Port Hudson, May 3oh, gives an
account of the attack at that place. similar
to the facts above published. In speaking
of the negro troops he says they answered
every expectation. Their conduct was
| heroical. No troops could be more deter.
mined or more daring.
They made during the day three charges
upon the bstteries Of the enemy, suffering
very heavy losses. and holding their position
at nightlail with the other troops on the
right of our line. The highest commenda-
.!:''' ;- bestowed upon them by all the officers
i'll command on the right Whatever doubts
may have existed heretofore as to the
efficiency of organizations of this character.
the history of this day proves conclusively
| to those in a condition to observe the con.
duct Of these regiments, that the Govern
ment will find in this class Of troops effec.
| tive supporters and defenders: Our losses
from the 23d to May 3Oth, in killed, wound
ed and missing. are nearly one thousand,
including, he deeply regrets to say, some of
the ablest officers of the corps.
1t appears that there having lately been
considerable movement in the Rebel army
| apparently towards Gordonsville, General
| Hooker determined upon a reconnaissance
in force to ascertain what these movements
were. Early on Tuesday morning the
Engineer corps were directed to throw n
pontoon bridge across the river at what is
known as Franklin crossing, mile below
| Fredericksburg, The Rebel sharpshoo,ers
from their rifle pits attempted to interfere
with the work, but were summarily dis
rersed and one hundred captured, including
| SS'N'di OiICcls, W ItSIuitHt stHt aCiDSS III
boats. The bridges were then completed
and strong cavalry force thrown across,
followed later in the day by General Howe $
infantry division. BY dark our forces had
reached Bowling Green road, without meet
| ing the Rebels in force. Our troops are
represented to be in excellent spirits, and
the celebrity and courage with which the
crossing was effected must astonsh the
Richmond papers who considered the army
demolished by the Charlottesville fight.
The cavalry forces of .he Army of the
Potomac have gained glorious victory over
the Rebel Gen. Stewards cavalry at Beverly
Ford, on the Rappahannock, and discon-
| certed the Rebel arrangement for an extern
sive cavalry raid into Maryland and Pennsyl.
vania. The Rebels, it is believed. had
gathered the whole of their available caval-
ry, estimated by some as high as ten thous.
aud in mum Der, near Culpepper, with the
view OF starting on Il grand raid that was
to sweep over Maryland and Pennsylvania,
carrying devastation in its course. General
Hooker, to meet this anticipated movement,
despatched two brigades Of cavalry, under
Gen Buford,. supported by infantry and
artillery, to Beverly Ford. Our men cross.
ed the ford, took the Rebel rifle pits at a
dash, and after what is said to be the hard
est cavalry fight of the war, drove the Reb
els back six miles towrrds Culreppcr. Over
two hundred prisoners We're taken and II
large number Of the enemy killed and
wounded. Our forces also suffered consid-
erably, and among the killed are several
valuable officers. By this brilliant dash and
success 1t is believed that the intended Reb
ell rand has been frustrated.
The letters of correspondents with the
Army in the rear of Nicksburg are even
more encouraging than the Geographic re
ports that have previously foreshadowed
! General Grants operations. The rcpreSen-
tatives OF the press are unanimous in regard
ing General Grants position impregnable.
and the fall of Wick sburg an assured fact,
for the accomplishment of which only a lit
tie patience is needed. The story which
the telegraph gave few days since, and
which was scarcely thought probable, of a
courier sent by Pemberton to Gen. John
ston, who gave himself up and turned over
his dispatches to General Grant, is fully
confirmed. The dispatches stated in sub.
stance that they were short of provisions
and gun caps, and urged Johnston to come
to the relief of the city within ten days. -
These ten days expired several days ago,
and the condition of the Rebels must now
be desperate. Our shells were doing great
damage in the city.
Rear Admiral Lee forwards to Wash
ington the report of Lieutenant Command
ing ellis giving an account of the eXpedi.
ton up the Mattapouy river to destroy the
large iron foundry ten miles above Walker
ton, in King and Queen county, Virginia,
and thirty miles east of Richmond. En-.
barking four hundred infantry on board the
United States steamers. Lieutenant ellis
! left Yorktown on last Thursday. the 4th
inst, and on the next morning arrived at
Walkcrton, where the troops were landed.
They marched thence to Aylett's Station,
and successfully accomplished the destruc,
ton of the foundry and mills, together with
all their machinery. A large quantity of
grain was destroyed, and many horses,
mules and cattle were captured.
Lieutenant Commanding Walker, of the
United States steam ram De kelb, reports
the destruction of nine large transports on
the Iazoo River belonging to the Rebels.
After his return from burning the Navy
Yard and the vessels building there, Ad,
mral Porter ordered him to reaseend the
Yazoo and capture or destroy the transports
which were known to have escaped further
up the river. Lieutenant Walker faithfully
executed his commands, and the Rebels
have now no means of transportation on
the 1azoo. save two or three very light
draught steamers above Fort Pemberton.-
He estimates the value of the boats des.
troyed at 100000.
From Murfreesboro' we learn that Col
/ Wilder has made another successful foray
with his celebrated "Hatchet Brigade" as