Litchfield enquirer., 1863-06-11
sigs U tlse Neek.
The Rebellien.

steamer Continental with sdviees to the 1d inst. and from Port Hudson to the 28th ult., We learn that the report of the losses in the battle at the latter place oH the 27th. has been greatly Exaggerated, though the official list is not Jet given.
 No more assaults had been made upon the Ienenys works, and Gen. Banks has adopted the policy of starving them into surrender. It is stated that the rebel commander has of fered to surrender. provided the garrison were allowed to march out with their arms, &c, but Gen. Banks refused to entertain any proposi- |-tion but that of pncondition surrender.
 FRoA VIcEsBuReH.-Gen Blair's expedition up the Yazoo River has returned without the loss of man, and without encountering the rebels in force. Fiity-six miles of country, from the Big Black to the Yazoo, were com. pletely secured. and bridges, grist mills, cot ton-2ins, and large quantity of cotton mark ed 6 c. $. A." were destroyed. The country is described as teeming with agricultural rich. es. Hundreds of negroes stampeded, and fol- lowed the expeditions back to our lines. The gunboats also ran up to Yazoo City, several days ago, and destroyed considerable rebel property. One dispatch states that nothing definite tad been heard from Joe Johnston; wtile another states that Gen. Osterhaus, with bis division. was on the west side of the Big
 Black. watching him, he having appeared there on the lst and 2d inst, with 5000 infantry and some artillery. According to this dis patch. Johnston was supposed to have in all about l8.O00 men. poorly armed and deficient in artillery. No attack from him was feared tis reported that 10 900 men had been with drawn from Bragg to reinforce Johnston, and that Bragg had not over 4, ,OOO men.
 FRoM TENNEssEE.--Reliab!e information as to the strength of the rebel force in East Ten nessee, leads to the belief that no invasion of Kentucky will be attempted in that direction
 At Knoxville. il is said. there are but l2.o00 troops, at Loudon Bridge 800. and at Straw berry Plains 600. Cumberland Gap is held with but 2,000 men, and the force with Ps- gram. now said to he at Monticello, is various ly reported at from 5000 to 8.00O-both num- bers probably exaegerations. At last ac- counts, all was quiet on the Cumberland River
 General Hooker on Friday and Saturday, pushed daring reconnaissance across the Rap pahannock just below Fredericksburgh, and ascertained fully the movements and inten- tions of the enemy. Howes division of the Sixth Army Corps was selected for the du y, and executedit in the most thorough and ef. feetivs manner. The first crossing was made in pontoor boats. in the face of murderous fire from the rebel pickets. The Twenty sixth New Jersey regimeat did this imparsaat ser vice in the most gallant style. They were soon followed by several Vermont regiments. and charge on the rife-pits resulted in the capture of some sixty or seventy prisoners. The pont toons were then laid by the engineers. and the remainder of the divsion was crossed ever. Oar force gradually felt its way out to a position where it remained for the night and on Saturday morning the reconnaissance was continued. Our skirnishers brought in some thirty others prisoners, duping Friday night, making the number captured abons two hundred. The results of the reconnaissance are most important. It is fully ascertained that the rebel force is nearly alt yet in the vi cinity of Fredericksburgh. and that Lee had not yet begun any offensive movement. though his intention to do so is pretty clearly arpa- rent. Gen. Hooker's crossing took him com pletely by surprise, and made great commo- ton in his army. Longstreet's corps was massed in Fredericksburgh on Friday night, fully expecting an attack. Our forces were safely withdrawn after the purpose Of the re- coBnoisance had been accomplished the cas- ualties in the crossing not exceeding thirty.
 TIE ARMY OF THE Po7oxAc.-The recon noitering force from Gen. Hooker's Army. was still on the thitber side Of the Rappahan- mock, on. Sunday evening. No effort had been made by the enemy to Gislodge them, though the enemy still continued to occupy Freder- icksburg in force.
 The Government has received official advi- ces from Gen. Grants army to Wednesday last. the 3d inst No events of startling im- portance had occurred.
 <
 A dispatch from Cincinnati brings intelli- gence from Vicksbursh to tho 2d inst. It contains an assurance that Gen. Grant is able to press the siege, and at the same time to take care of Joe Johnston. who is now said to be still at Jackson. Gen. Blair had gone up the Yazoo River, and important news was ex. pected from him soon. This expedition, prob ably. has some reference to Johnston and his movements. Our siege guns were close np to tie enemy's works-within hundred yards. the statement is. The rebels, on the 1st inst, are said to have shot three hundred horses on the river bank, being unable to feed them. It is reported that the dispatches from Pember- ton to Johnston, captured few days ago. -- zvrI