The Portland daily press., 1863-06-10
From Washington.

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From Washington.
WASHINGTON, June 9.
From what can be ascertained from persons
arriving from the Rappahannock, a division
went over the river at Franklin Landing last
night. The rebel rifle pits, foliage, &c. along
the banks have been destroyed, so the enemy
will not find cover from which to annoy u.s.
Earthworls have been thrown up in front,
with the view, it is probable, of preventing a
night attack, and to shield our men, il the en-
envy should open a cannonade. The troops
we have thrown over, are not far from the
town. The rebels have not yet fred their
guns at us. The movements of both armies
are involved in mystery.
Rear Admiral Porter has sent to the Navy
Department report dated, Mississippi Squad
ron, near Vicksbarg, June LIST, in which he
says: After the return of the expedition I'M
der Lieut. Chandler up the Yazoo, and the
destruction of the rams and navy yard, des-
patched the same officer up again, with in
structions to capture the transports. Ienclose
his report. Besides number of steamers
burnt, the rebels burnt the Acadia and Ma
genta, two of their best transports. My object
was to break up their transportation OH the
Yazoo, and with the exception of a few steam
ers beyond Fort Pemberton the rebels can
transport nothing by water on that river. The
steamers, nine in all, to the value of 100000
were destroyed by the late expedition. The
Star of the West was sunk, completely block
aiding the Yallabusha river, and the gunboat
Joy was found sunk near Liverpool Landing.
1t has been determined that while all persons
coming within the provisions of the act of the
enrolment and calling out the National forces
are to be enrolled, nevertheless, under the first
enrolment, those who were in the military
service at the time the act went into effect,
viz, the Sd of March last, are not to be includ-
a -. xlxAN 81. u.
draft. Those of the second class are not to be
called out until those of the first class shall
have been exhausted.
The enemy to-day were at work on the en-
trenchments at the edge OF the road skirting
the plain not far from Fredericksburg.
Gen. Banks, in an official report dated Before
Port Hudson, May 30h, gives an account of
the attack on that place similar to the reports
already published. In speaking Of the negro
regiments, he says, they answered every ex-
pectation. Their conduct was heroic. No
troops could be more determined or more dar-
ing. They made during the day three charges
upon the batteries of the enemy, suffering
heavy loss, and holding their position at night
fall with the other troops on the right of our
line.
Our loss from the 23d to this date, in killed,
wounded and missing, is about 900, includ-
ing, regret to say, some Of the ablest officers
of the corps.
A severe engagement took place this fore
noon between our cavalry and that of the reb-
els under Gen. Stuart, at Beverly's Ford, on
the Rappahannock, five miles above Kappa
hammock Station.
There was an explosion at Fort Lyons this
afternoon.
1t appears at that time, men attached to the
Sd N. Y. battalion, were engaged in exam
lining artillery ammunition at the open door
of hA azita 1xxrl,an
one shell exploded, followed by few others,
and then the magazine. No damage, howev-
er, was done TO the guns or gun carriages
About twenty men we're killed and quite as
many wounded.
An official dispatch received here to-day
from Gen. Rosecrans, dated Murfreesboro,
June 9th, says Last evening despatch was
received from COL J. b. Baird, commanding
post at Franklin, Tenn, as follows 1.-Two
men came into our camp about dark dressed
in our uniforms, with horse equipments to
correspond, saying they were COL Anton, In
spector General, and Major Dunlap, Assistant,
having an order from Adjutant Gen. Town
send, and your order to inspect the outposts,
but their conduct was so singular we arrested
them. They insisted it was very important to
go to Nashville tonight" Col. Baird asked if
there were any such persons in the army, and
il so, their descriptions. | replied at once
they were probably spies, and directed him to
order court, and if they proved to be spies to
execute them Immediately, which was done,
and they were tried and condemned to be
hung, and the sentence was carried into effect
before 10 o'clock this morning. On being dis
covered they confessed they were officers in
the rebel army. One, colonel named Orton,
formerly w. Orton Williams, claims to be first
cousin to Robert Lee, and is said to have been
Chief of Artillery on Gen. Bragg's staff, and
formerly on the staff Of the I'd rebel cavalry.