The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-08-29
War News of the Week.


msnced in earnest on The morning of the
18th, and had been kept up almost with
out interruption to the oath, the latest
dates received. At the same time a fu-
rious fire from the Monitors was also open
ed On Forts Wagner and Gregg, and kept
up whenever either showed any signs OF
life. Bdth federal and rebel accounts agree
chat Fort Sumter is about demolished
that the south and east walls are beaten
down, and that nany of our shot nave
zone clean through her. Also that Fort
Wagner is so effectually silenced that the
Monitors anchored directly under her
wills % Ere on Sumter. The last gun of
Sumter was dismounted on the Esd, and
although there has been no surrender, it
is not believed there are 90 men left in the
fort On Friday night, Dist, Gen. Gilmore
opened on the city with Greek fire. On
the next day Beauregard sent protest
against the use of this combustible, on the
ground of its being unworthy of civilized
warfare and the foreign Consuls forward
ed request for time in which to remove
their countrymen. Gen. Gilmore, who had
previously given twepty-four hours, de-
clined to offer any terms but unconditional
surrender. and on Sunday night resumed
the Greek fire Smelling
A dispatch by way Of Stephenson, Ala,
Of the 26th, says that captured rebel pris-
oners say the Chattanooga ReJel of the
18th admits that Charleston has fallen, hut
the report is hardly credible. The progress
of Gen. Gilmore, since he commenced
operations against Charleston, has been SO
rapid that his eventual success seems in-
evitable.; but week, or a month Or sew
eral months. may intervene before the
browning victory is obtained.
There is no change in the sitsation on
the Rappahannock. In spite of all the
runors of Lees advancing and Meades
falling back, there is no evidence that
there has been the slightest change from
the situation month ago, nor any prob
ability Of any taklLg place for some time
to come. Mosby's cavalry is doing con-
siderable havoc among suffers trains on
Aeade's flank and even in bis rear, while
cur cavalry in the same way seem to an
noy the rebels good deal
A cavalry force under Fltzhugh Lee
crossed the Rappahannock on the oath,
near Fredericksburg, and was speedily
routed by a body of Federals Lees head
quarters are in the vicinity of Orange
Court House. on the Gordonsvjlle road
The army of Gen. Rosecrans appeared
in front Of Chattanooga on the 2lst and
opened FIRE on the city at 10 O'Clock 4 "
The enemy responded from 10 guns, all of
which, in few hours, were si,enced by
our batteries
The works Of the enemy on the river
are reported to be very strong. The para
pets are not less than ID feet wide. Sew
eral water batteries on level with the river
have been discovered.
On the 22d all was quiet on both sides,
and since then there is really no authentic
News from that quarter, except rumors
that Bragg is in retreat towards Atlanta !;
that Rosecrans is in Chattanooga, &c, all
Of which need confirmation
Gen. Burnside is undoubtedly moving
with quite a large force upon Knoxville,
Tenn, and the last accounts report him as
having defeated Forrest at Kingston,
about II miles west of Knoxville The de-
tense of Eastern Tennessee is entrusted
by the rebels to Buckner, who is said to
be at Knoxville with from 5000 TO $4,000
men.
Grants Department ali quiet, except
that a cavalry force, sent from La Grange
on the 18th Lieut.. Col Phillips, reache ed
Grenada on the 18th, drove Slemmer with
1000 men and three pieces of artillery
from the place, destroying 81 engines, up.
wards Of 400 cars, the depot buildings,
machine shops, several blacksmith shops,
and quantity of ordnance and commissa.
~ stores capturing 80 railroad men and
3 number of prisoners.
Gen. Steele, who is on his way with quite
4 heavy forss so Litsle Rock, arrived al
Clarendon, Ark, on the 18th where he was
joined by Gen. Davidson's cavalry division
from Pilot knob. Kirby Smith, with a
considerable rebel force, is at Little Rock
and Gen. Price is fortifying at Bayou ale
lior, half way between Clarendon and
Little Rock, so that obviously Gen Steele
will not take tn e capitol of Arkansas with
out some heavy lighting.
I.Ie utmost CONSERVATION prevails il, the
counties of Missouri lying on the Kansa.
border, in consequence of apprehension:
that Jennison and Lane, in taking
revenge for the destruction of Lawrence
by Quantrell, will retaliate in kind on the
people of those counties, most of whom
disclaim all connection with or sympathy
for QuantreIl. Tine eitizensof jackson ano
neighboring counties are fleeing in Srea
numbers from their homes, taking thei
families and goods Of value. Meantime
Lane, after following Quantreli several days
and killing Al of his men Che took nj
prisoners5 has returned to Lawrence
-here he is organizing force OF ] ,OOI
men with which he proposes to invade
Missouri in September.
The notorious guerrilla chief and rebe
Gen. JED. Thompson and staff were cap
turei on the z2d! at Pocoh ontas, Ark, b,
the Cd 80: Cavalry and has been sent t.
81 Louis.
IS3 bodies were buried up TO- Sunday
more bodies were found; lS2 building
burned so Of them brick. IS widows ane
40 orphans were made by Quantrelrs raid
Several merchants have commenced r,
building