The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-12-22
WAR NEWS.

FROM EASTERN NORTH CAROLiHA--iNHe'oo
Dec. l7.-Everything was in state OF excitement
down here last night A courier came IN about
dark bringing intelligence to headquarters that the
enemv's cavalry, 400 strong, with one section OF
field artillery had appeared In our front on the up
Der Trent road, IL miles below this place, on the
south side of the Neuse, near Chincapin Chapel,
and at last accounts brisk skirmish was going on
between the parties. .-.s---.-.z..-
The most reliable infarntion that can gather,
land it is from headquarters at tbat IS that 1t Is
mot formal movement, but merely an attempt on
the part of the enemy to surprise our outpost and
capture the pickets as usual. But they did not
succeed in their undertaking this time-our men
being wide awake and on the alert. What has
been the result Of the fracas, up to this writing,
am unable to say, further than that two Of Capt
Tbompson's men, (cavalrymen from Wayne coma
ty,) were brought to town last night wounded. -
Cor. ef Rnlesgh Journal.
RETALIATION Authentic information having
been received that Acting Masters John Y. Beali
aud Edward Mcclure, together with fifteen men.
all belonging to the Confederate States Navy, are
now in close confinement, n irons, at Fort McHen-
~. to be tried as pirates efficient and energet
ic Agent of Exchange, Judge Guild, has notified
General Meredith that Lieut.. Commander Edward
p " illiams and Ensign Benjamin Fl. Porter and
fifteen seamen, now Yankee prisoners in our hands,
have been placed in close confinement and irons,
and will be held as hostages for the proper treat.
ment of our men.--Richneond Enquirer.
AN ENERGETIC RAIDER-The Abingdon
Virginian notices the return there of Capt. Peter
NJ Everett, from raid towards the Ohio river,
having brought in 46 prisoners, capturing 25o
hprses and Killed l9 Of the enemy. 1t says:
He marched los miles in 20 hours, and iought
an hour and half at Salyarsville during the time.
His horses being worn down by the march. he re-
mounted his whole command on fresh Yankee
horses, supplied ~ bare footed men with shoes,
the whole command with new overcoats. destroyed
$50 pistols, 400 Enfield rifles, 100000 worth of
property, and killed Is men. He then proceeded
to Jackson, the Kentucky river. destroyed
100000 worth Of packed pork, and saved tho
Yankees the trouble of slaughtering zoe hogs. and
all without the loss of man, and only two woun
dcd
DEATH or NOTORIOUS YANKEE-A spe-
cial telegram from the Atlanta Appeals regular
Western correspondent, MIR Barr, dated at Oxford,
Miss. November 9th, states that the notorious
Col Hatch, Of the Federal cavalry, was killed at
" off river during the late raid Of Gen. Lee the
Memphis and Charleston railroad The same des
patch says that hundred and twenty others Of
the Federas were certainly drowned.
Capture Of t.co Compuntes Of our Cnralry on
tie Peninsula Two companies Of cavalry
wore captured by the enemy Oh Sunday morning
near Charles City Court house, The facts, as we
have obtained them, with reference to the affair,
would indicate lack of vigilance the
part of our troops at that point On Sunday
morning, hour after sunrise, the whole of Major
Robertson's command, consisting Of two companies
ofthe AID Virginia battalion of cavalry, were CON-
pletely surprised, and, with one or two exceptions,
all the men captured. 1t is said that the surprise
was SO con- lete not to admit of resistance. The
capturing force was composed of cavalry and came
up OH the main road from Williamsburg 1.
mond DiTatch.
RICHMOND, Dec. 1.-THE raid upon Salem,
Va, has>caused sensation here. The movement
is regarded as the bodest attempted by the enemy
since Grierson's raid 1t is believed that Dr.
Fucker piloted directed Averills course, and it
is deemed not improbable that the enemy ulay go
to Danville, Va, or to North Carolina