Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-03


the desire to he rid OF slavery is almost uni
versal with the Notwithstanding class, and is
also shared by many of the owners OF slaves.
They see it has been the cause Of all their
troubles, and may continue to be SO in the tu-
ture, and they desire to do away with ii. The
political leaders, some of them sincere men,
while Others are only seeking to 90 with the
current are falling in with this sentiment,
and are using it as the key note of all their
operations. "a return to the Union without
slavery is their motto. Union meetings in
Little Rock got up an enthusiasm on the
question, and the measure is everywhere
received with favor.
THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
A dispatch from Chattanooga, dated Dec. l.
says that Gems Hooker and Palmer evacuated
Ringgold this morning, after burning the
mills, depots, public buildings and railroad
bridges. the cavalry reconnaissance, 20 miles
southward, disclosed no enemy, but they were
found in force at Tunnel Hill. The railroad
from Rnggod to Chickamauga was de-
stroyed by Gen. Hooker.
Col. Cross'S brigade was left on the old
battlefield in Chickamauga, buryng our
dead, large number Of which was left by the
rebels, uncovered, since Sept 20.
Prisoners in large numbers are still coming
in, and the total will foot up 1000. The
mountains are full OF Tennessee and Ken
lucky deserters, trying to get home.
Bragg, with the skeleton OF his army, is
making his way south.
The heads of Il number of our soldiers were
found on the Chickamauga battlefield severed
from their bodies and stuck up ON stumps
and poles.
FROM GEN. BURNSIDE.
A dispatch from Gen Burnside, dated
Nov. 25th, says the enemy ON the 25th
moved up three brigades and attacked one of
his brigades on the south OF the river, three
miles from Knoxville. A hard fight ensued.
The enemy were repused with loss of 100
killed. The position was strengthened, and
though the enemy moved down a large force
with the intention Of renewing the attack,
Gen. Burnside believed it could be held. lie
has been able by using the roads left open to
keep supply .Ot provisions and forage. Re-
intorcements are on the way to him.
EXPLOIT BY COL. HGGGINsoNs CoLoRED SOL
DIERs.
| On Sunday evening, Nov. 22d a scouting
| party OF fifty men belonging to Col. Higgn-
| sons regiment, LIST South Carolina colored
| troops, sent under the command of Capt.
Bryant, 8th Maine volunteers, to release
twentyeight colored people held in pretended
| slavery by Il man named Hayward, near Po-
| cOtaligo, S. G. The expedition was success
full. The captves were released and their
| freedom restored to them. Two rebel horse
soldiers, stationed as pickets, were regularly
| captured as prisoners of war. These men
were members of the LIST South Carolina rebel
| cavalry. Their comrades, seventy five in
number, under command of major, pursued
| the raiding party toward the ferry at Barn
wells Island. The negroes received them in
ambush, and fired on them at twenty PAGES,
emptyng several saddles, and putting them
to flight. Obtaining renforcementS and ar
tillery, they tracked the retreating colored
| troops with bloodhounds (caled in the s0nth
''negro dogs"). The dogs dashed into the
| party in advance of their comrades, the reb-
els. One hound was shot and left with broken
| legs on the field Five others were Eimpaled
upon the bayone of the Union troops, and
| brought into camp.
The gaantry OF the negroes on this occa-
sion was manifested not merely by their bril-.
liant bravery but by the willingness with
which they gave up the terry boats Gn which
| they had crossed to the main land) to their
wounded, and to the non-combatants on their
return In fording the river two of their
number were drowned. Another man,
| brave corporal, Is missing, and is supposed
TO DC hiding upun hostlle soil untE lie Eau
| escape to his regiment Six of the party
were wounded Capt. Whitney shot an Off
| Ger, but 1t is not known accurately who or
| what rank he was. On Thursday last, dur
ing an interview by flag of truce, the rebels
said the dead officer was Capt. John C.. Cal
houn, grandson of that great "nullifier,"
whom Gen. jackson regretted he had not
hanged. But, as rebel statements on. such
matters are by no means good authority, it is
perhaps possible that Gas many beheve) the
reb Il major in command was killed.
| Of the two pickets captured from the enc
my, one fell, as though shot by his comrades in
pursuit man was pointed to by the rebels
| who met the flag of truce, as being the very
same man. He was said to have ''played
| possum" and escaped with two bullet holes
in his blanket. The horses and accoutre.
ments Of the two cavalry men were secured;
! but chance shot from the rebels striking
| one OF the horses, caused him to jump out of
| the ferry boat into the river, and he was lost
The other horse and the riders arms, etc,
are among the spoils of the victors. The
successful retreat Of the little party was kept
| up two hours, with the accompaniment of a
running fight. At the ferry the rebels got
their artillery in position and fired on the
raiders. A section of artillery being ordered
up by Gen. Saxton, dislodged disloyal can
noners, and the victorious party .re-enterd
Beaufort in triumph on Tuesday afternoon,
singing and shouting
GUERRILLA BATTERIES ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Cairo dispatch of Dec. says the guerril-
las erected battery at Water Proof, below
Vicksburg, which fired into the steamers EN-
erald and Welcome, Some five or six per-
sons are reported to have been killed and
wounded.
The tow boat Hornet was fired into at Grand
Gulf on the 18th. She reports a battery of
seven l2-pounders two miles below the mouth
of Red river. Refugees report thirteen hun
dred guerrilas there. The battery fired into
the transport Black Hawk, a l2-inch shell,
which burst in her The Texas was set on
fire and the pilot house burnt. One negro
was killed and a white man was very badly
wounded. The gunboat Choctaw silenced the
battery.
RETRIBUTON.- Punishment has followed