The Shasta courier., 1863-05-02
EASTERN INrELLIcENCE.

Eewbern N. G. April 22d.-The rebel
force which for nearly three weeks invested
Washington suddenly disappeared on the
night of the 18th. General Foster was pre-
pairing an expedition across the country for
the reliefof the beleagIered town, when news
of the departure of the rebel General Hill,
with his entire command, reached here. Pre-
parations were Immediately made to follow
up the rebel force. Phe march from Newbern
to Washington revealed the fact, however,
that small force of rebel cavalry only re.
manned within reach. Two hundred rebel car.
airy were charged upon by seventy men of
the Third New York Cavalry, few miles
distant from Washington, on'Saturday morn.
ing, April 18th. The rebels were routed and
fed en- masses. The rebel Captain, James
Richardson, was captured with several of his
men. Their battle flag was captured, and is
now in possession of the Third New York.
The Massachusetts, troops at Washington oc-
cupied the rebel works at Hills Point on the
morning after their evacuation, and made
number of prisoners who had remained in the
rear. The rebel force is believed to have
gone in the direction of Richmond.
Chicago, April 24th.-A Vicksburg letter
dated April 18th, referring to the running of
the batteries by eight of Porter's gunboats
says: As each rounded the point into cas-
range of the rebel batteries, she opened fry
with bow and port quarter guns, throwine
percussion shell. Coming into close quarterg
they fred broadsides of shrapnel and grapes
After turning the point the Admiral's feet.
closed up, his line of battle being one and
half miles in length, and describing an arc
inside the semicircle of rebel guns five miles
in length. Every battery vas fully manned
and rapidly served. The canpopade was
grand aEd terrible. The heavy roar of Dahl
grena, the keen shrek of the PARROTS, the
explosion Of shells, intermingled with other
sounds, made earth and water tremble. Be-
sides the musketry, there we're oyer two hun
dred guns Of the heaviest caliber worked to
their utmost capacity for two hours. Huge
bonfires built by the rebels lit up the river.
The burning Of the buildings fred by our
shells, and the con6agration of the steamer
Henry Clay lit up scene over which hung
broad canopy of heavy dark smoke, such as
only gigantic war can produce. General
Grant was on the Von Phul, near the point
above. General Sherman was in a yawl be-
low, opposite the mouth of the canal. An
anxious crowd Of officers and soldiers wit
messed the battle. All the boats passed the
Nicksburg batteries unharmed. The Benton
received the heaviest fire. A shell exploded
at her port, killing an officer and wounding
three men. The letter adds that it is not
improper now to state that we have large
land force below Vicksburg on the Louisiana
shore, and that the new canal is a success.
Cairo, April 25th.-Vicksb4rg dates to
April 10Th have been received. The battery
on the levee opposite the city was in full op-
eratiyn and splendidly working for several
DAYS. The guns had been trained upon the
depot and public building. Yesterday. a
huge shell entered the large depot building,
and exploded, leveling the greater portion to
the ground, The enemy fired several shots
in return. most of which struck the iron case
mates, but glanced of without doing any in
jury. They evidently think their position
impregnable. For the last two days they have
maintained becoming reticence. Guns are
now being placed to command the Court
House. There are reports that rebel divis.
ion has been sent to Davis plantation Miss. J,
opposite New Carthage, to oppose the land
ing of our troops.
=. A steamer goes into the canal at Duck
Port, to-day, intending to reach New Garth
age to- morrow. Tie canal is voted a success.
Nothing has been heard from the feet which
ran the blockade few days since.
New York, April 27th.-The Express
learns that there are private letters in the ci-
ernment is now settled, viz To resolutely
stop the fitting out of any more privateers or
vessels cf war in British ports.
The same paper learns that the rebel in
yestment of Washington North Garolina),
was feint to cover the carrying off of all the
grain in Hyde county, in which the rebels
were successful.
Headquarters Army of Potomac, April
-27th-Rumors have been circulating for the
last few days that the rebels are about to ad.
vance their present position. Nothing is yet
known concerning the movement. Prisoners
are brought in a most daily from the out
posts, but their information is conflicting and
unsatisfactory.
New York, 2Sth.-A special dispatch to
the Tribune says Chief Engineer Wood, of
the U. S. Navy, now on duty in connection
with iron clads, has made proposition to
the Secretary of the Navy tn the following
effect he offers to take Monitor up the
harbor of Charleston, removing on the way
any distractions that may impede the pro.
gress of ships, or if the Department only de-
sires the destruction of Sumter, he will ac-
.complish that. A State Senator from Cali
fornia, who enjovs TO large degree the con-
fidence of engineers, also offers to acc 1mpa-
ny Woods on the important expeditian- 1t
is understood that the President and Secreta-
ry Wellcs lack upon the proposition with ia.
vor, but the decision of Government is Of
course not known.
New York, 2Sth.-The Tribune's Hilton
Head correspondence, dated 10Th, represents
that the Monitors and the army were ready
for movement, and adds that one seems
actually in progress. He says that before
the close of this week all the iron clads will
he again over the bar at Charleston. The
attack must come of this time with co -oper.
alton of land forces. The rebels are hard at
work strengthening the land defences on
islan!s south of Charleston. Troops have
been sent from Savannah to assist them.
New York, 2Sth.-A dispatch in the Wash
ington Star of Monday, dated Harper's Fer
ry, April 9th, says information has been re.
ceived that the rebel Generals James and
Imboden, with some force, are at Morse6eld,
probably on the way to New Creek, for the
purpose of destroying the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad in that vicinity. The Baltimore
American of Saturday, 25th, says rumors of
rebel approach to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad assume serious aspect. During
Sunday a movement Of eight thousand troops
was made on the road to strengthen points
west Of Cumberland. Two regiments left
Baltimore to take the places Of those moved
further westward. On Sunday night two