Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-04-17
THE WAR NEWS.

THE WAR NEWS.
The attack en- Charles on was COM
nlenced ON April 7th by nine Mont
tors and the tliyate Ironsides. They
opened fire at the distance OF three
thousand yards, and our batteries
promptly replied and with spirit.
Grim old Sumter bore the brunt of
this fierce cannonading, the fire from
the cncny's guns being concentrated
upon her stubborn walls, but she
stands yet an illustnous example Of
Southern defiance, uninjured by the
malicious balls Of the enemy, though
struck thirty-four times The Iron
sides was struck several times and
withdrew in disabled condition, and
the double turretted Monitor Keokuk
was sunk off Morris Island On ex-
animation Of the wreck Of the Keokuk
her turrett, heretofore supposed to be
ball proof, was pierced through and
through By ball. The enemy have
shown no desire to renew the attack,
and from a dispatch IF the 18th they
have towed the Ironsitles across the
bar and left, four going South and
three going North. Thus far the
preparations of two years have failed
to accomplish any thing against the
Notifications in Charleston harbor and
the determined bravery Of their sdIeat+Ia--
ders. At the time Of the advance Of
the enemy's fotilla, our forces in Sum-
ter were at dinner, but it being an
nounced, they sprang with alacrity to
their posts and unfurled our banner
to the breeze amid the shouts Of the
garrison, the soul stirring strains of
Dixie, and the salute Of Is guns. Pa
tiently did they await the conflict,
and well did they show by their impur-
turbable GOODNESS, invincible spirit, and
almost unerring aim, that they were
equal to the task entrusted to them.
Gen. w. S. Walker destroyed a
gun-boat of the enemy in the Coosaw
River, with his light artillery on the
9th inst.
The enemy are Withdrawing their
forces from the Tallahatchie in conse-
squence of the inability to overcome
the obstacles thrust in their way by
our forces.
The enemy have been Withdrawing
their troops from the peninsula oppo-
site Vicksburg, and number, of trans
ports ladened with troops have gone
up the sTyer.
Port Hudson was fired at, at long
taw, by the lower fleet on the 9TH
inst, but they ceased firing without
having effected any thing.
Gen. Hill has completely surrounded
Washington N. G. cutting off commu-
cations, and altho' having ordered the
removal OF the non-combatants, we
have not learned that he has attacked
the city. Gen. Pettigrew repulsed the
abolitionists under Foster, near Wash
ington on the 18th. They were at
tempting to relieve the troops in
Washington. No loss on our side.
Gen. Jenkins with small portion
of his command succeeded in breaking
up the elections and Spring Courts Of
Pierpont's Government, in all the
counties westofthe Kanawha, took pos
session Of Point Pleasant, killing and
capturing a number Of the enemy, de-
stroying a large amount Of stores, and
bringing off $50 horses and his entire
command in safety.
Col. Tabb (of Gen. Wise's COM
MANDY with the 49th Va. Regiment
gained the rear Of the enemy at Fort
Magruder, near Williamsburg, on the
night Of the 10th inst, and at break
of day attacked a cavalry camp at
Whitaker's Mill, destroying the camp,
commissary and hospital stores and
large amount of ammunition. He
killed five, took nineteen prisoners
and paroled some twenty of the sick,
and made his retreat without the loss
of a man.
We hear rumors of an engagement
at Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock,
between Stuart, and the enemy, but
nothing definite to confirm them. If
there is any news from this or other
points before we 60 to press, it will be
found under the telegraphic head.