The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-06-12
WAR NEWS.

The intelligence Of the progress Of the siege Of
Port Hudson received there is said to be satisfae-
tory, but isIwithheld from prudential motives. -
The Bayou T.che expedition had returned to New
Orleans, accompanied by large number of ne
grees and horses and'nules. The troops on the
route were annoyed by the Confederate "uerillas,
and several captured 'bf'.
An expedition to. the. Mattapony river, Va, on
the 9Th instant, succeeded in destroying an iron
foundry and several mills, &c. West Point, on
the York river, has been evacuated by the FEEDER
al forces, ~ -, ,,.,,.,,, ,,.,.!.i.. r.
fredericksburg was still held by the COnfeder-
ates yesterday, the Federal forces making no at
tempt to capture the place, IN rod al;gy, ...
The intelligence from the Lower, Mississippi is
highly important. The last accounts from Port
Hudson were to the effect that Gen. Banks had
crossed the river and was moving on the Confed-.
crate position, An arrival from New Orleans on
Saturday brings the information that general
attack, both by land and water, was made on the
afternoon OF, Wednesday, the 9th ultimroo. The
fighting on both sides is represented as of the
most desperate character; but after gaining some
temporary advantages, the Federal FORCES fell
back to their original position, having lost some
-four thousand in killed, wounded and missing.
The Confederate loss was not 50 heavy. s..,
The Confederate force defending the, position
is, estimated at from ten to twelve thousand
Gen. Banks army is much larger than this, and
is receiving reinforcements from below. A
Southern despatch to Richmond paper states
that General Kirby Smith crossed over to the re-
lief of the Confederate garrison on Sunday, the
BOTH, They claim the battle Of the 9th as a COM
plete victory-ifis aug. ,lsigelQp ..asp
Reconnaissance in force was made across the
Rappahannock on Friday last near Deep Run,
one mile below Fredericksburg. Some sharp
skirmishing occurred, both sides losing some in
killed and wounded and thirty or forty Confed-
crates taken prisoners. The Confederates under
Gen. Longstreet still hold the town and show a
strong front at the upper fords. It is believed
that large portion Of their forces have moved
in the, direction of Gordonsvile. .uq RI
A Charleston (S.C9 despatch gives brief &C
count of another movement of the Federal forces
on the coast The town Of Button was entered
and burned on Thursday last, and at sCombahee
million dollars worth Of property was destroy.
ed, and one thousand negroes carried off. Bluff.
ton is on the pain land south of Pinkney Island
and pombahee is on the river Of that name, ten
miles from the Charleston and Savannah rail-
road,G1ta d,iR bsiid Il bGim oaydw Bus ,nao'
-Advices from Port Hudson to the evening of
the Sd instant state that no fighting Of conse-
qnepce, bad taken place since health ultino
General Banks however, was said to be rapidly
contracting his lines, and approaching the Com
federate works. Both wings of his army rested
on or near the river above and below Port Hud-
son, and it was believed that ,reinforcemenrs
could not reach the beleaguered garrison. il} 1si
JGsns Grant jsjreported to be operating with
increased vigor etsYieksbpygl from which the
latest dates are only to the Sd instant. The
siege guhs commenced a severe bombarrament on
the 3D. instant, ana a general attack was to re
made on the a5th! q Cen sOstsrhadsis on the west
side Of Black river bridge, with his entire divi-
sion, watching Ger. Johnston who appeared on
the lst and I'd inst, with five thousand infantry
ana some artillery Shots were exchanged, and
the Oonfedefates retired Johnston is said to
have, altogether, eighteen thousand men, poorly
srhed ana deficient Ii artillery go h'@aaa D
Tits Stated in q istter from Hilton Head South
Carolina, that 'Goig Montgomery had made arsaid
with his toiored regiment and brought 10 seven
hundred and twehty FIVE conttabands, besides
destroying large quantites Of cotton, rice, &c. -
Only one Thousand Confederate ttoops are report
ted TO beon james Island where there were pre-
sioHsly from ten. to twelve thousand. Tie re-
poffo the burning Of The town u Button, s.
C!g,by the Fedsrals Under Col. Barton is confirm!
ed. siImnasnse Quantities III stores were consun,.
AdHsg1 % as ,Jotiit8t 9ft 10 99gt a'iy2 aly
-.1o6b ----44 ++---sf p-+-1rr4-4-.so gi9sil
.aFAlR Arn FEsgryA ria another column will
be- found notice 0fa iEaiF, festival and Concert
to be held in Bel Air, commencing on Tuesday,
ths 10th inst py, the ladiesgof Rock Spriae
Ghnrcha From thss preparations already made
asndt in progress we are inclined to believe tina,
the ocessior Eill BE- one Of interest. The ladies
have spared NO pains in their sxsrtions to SO ar
range everything that no fault may be found. =
We therefore ask for them 4 liberal patronage BY
our friends and the public.
49, A man might frame and let loose
q star 70 roll in It's orbit, and yet not have
dOns;so memorable /. thing before God a
ne who lets go q golden-orbed thought to