Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-04-24
THE SENTINEL.
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.

FRIDAY, April 1T.-Considerable excitement
exists at Fortress Monroe, arising from the
threatening aspect Of affairs on the Blackwa-
ter. The Conlederates have made their ap-
pearance in force in that region, and very Sc
rious apprehensons were entertained, in some
quarters, for the safety of Suifolk-a town at
the head of navigation, on the Nensemond
river On Saturday last, the Coniederates
crossed the Blackwater from Franklin, with
the supposed intention of getting between
Suffolk and Norfolk, and thus cutting off all
railway and telegraphic communication be-
tween those two points. Rcinforcements could,
however, still reach. General Peck by way of
the Nansemond river, and he had also the as
sistance Of five gunboats, which, unless driven
off by the Confederate artillery, could eilec-
lively prevent the enemy from crossing either
at Suffolk or at any point north of that town.
That portion Of the Confederate force which
crossed the Blackwater river and moved upon
the rear Of Suffolk, appears to have been en-
gagged in several skirmshes during the last few
days, but neither party seems to have been
DESTROYS of coming to close quarters. AS a
further means of preventing direct assault,
the bridge which crosses the Nansemond river
short distance northwest from the town, had
been destroyed by the Federal troops whilst
the smaller bridges in the vicinity--of which
there are seyeral-were prepared for immedi-
ate destruction, if, in the progress of events,
such a course should be regarded as essential
to the preservation to the garrison. Our latest
advices are up to noon on the l4th, at which
time the Confederates after driving in the Fe-
deral outposts, had moved in three divisions
by the Somerset, the South Quay and Iuni
roads, and were concentrating in front of Sut-
folk, on the Petersburg railroad, where their
artillery was placed in position, supported by
very large force Of infantry. General Dix,
who visited Suffolk for the purpose of ascer-
tanning, in person, the exact condition of af-
fairs expressed, it is alleged the opinion, on
his return to Fortress Monroe, that the move
ment on the part of the Confederates was mere
ly feint, to prevent any reinforcements be-
ing sent from that quarter to the relief Of Gre
neral Foster. We are also told that General
Peck is very confident Of his ability to hold
the town; and that the troops are eager for
the attack to be made. The final result, how
ever, appears to depend very largely upon the
ability Of the gunbOats to maintain their po-
sition and as the Confederates were reported
to be bringing up heavy pieces to the front for
the purpose of testing this question, we are
not at all surprised to learn that the movement
on the Blackwater gives rise to some anxiety al
Washington.
General Spinola, who was in command Of
eight thousand troops, despatched by way of
Newbern to the relief Of Gen. Foster, g meet
ing greatly inferior force of the enemy-re-
turned So says the New York Tribune, on
the authority Of ga gentleman from Newbern."
The correspondent of the New York Iierald
admits the fact of the retrograde movement
but justles it on grounds which cannot at
present be made public without injury to the
service
SATURDAY, April l9.-According to the te-
nor Of despatch, which, it is said, has been
received at Fortress Monroe, General Foster
hne INF ~,
a regiment Of Federal troops and supplies of
provisions and ammunition having passed the
batteries on Tar river. That an " ordinary
river steamer should have, succeeded in do
ing what number of gunboats failed to ac-
compllsh, is an exploit so remarkable as to be
worthy of especial note.
From Suffolk we have adyices up to the 18th
instant-We dnesdav last. The C0nfederates
were still investing that town, and quite a
number of skirmishes are represen. Ted as hav-
ing taken place, but with no important re-
suits. On the river, where they have planted I
batteries, they have not only managed to close /
it against navigation, but have disabled "
the gunboat Alert, and have well riddled the /
gunboat West End. The transport Mount
Washington, on her return from Suffolk, was
also found to have received such injuries from |
the Confederate batteries, that her officers
finding it impossible to save her, blew her up
IL Isl however, reported, that the gunboats ST. |
fenced III return some Of the batteries.
From Tennessee the news is stirring All :
the Confederate partizan corps in the rear of
Rosecraas are active. General Wheeler's COM
mand on Cumberland river has succeeded in |
destroying two Federal gunboats and three
transports, which We're, in all probability, a
part OF the totilla that recently left Memphis |
bound, it was supposed, for Nashville.
The reported defeat of fifteen thousand Con-
federates under Van Dorm at Franklin, on Fri
day of last week, with terrible slaughter, turns
out If we may believe the testimony of an
eyewitness, to have been nothing more than
what he styles =" a cavalry dash " of some two
thousand men, who drove in the Federal pick
cts ana occupied the town, but were subse-
quently shelled out Of it by the Federal hattie
rles. General Granger, we are told by the
writer, did not march out to give them battle
hoping to decoy the enemy to the South
bank of the river.'h In conclusion, the writer
says; Evidently the whole thing was a
feint, or "a accommodating of new fort which
he had nearly completed lie does not state
the loss Of the Contederates, but notes the fact
that they left their dead and wounded behind
them. The Federal loss he estimates at thirty
men taken prisoners and three men wounded
On the afternoon of the same day, the pas
senger train was intercepted by detachment
of Confederate cavalry, between Murfreesboro'
and Nashville. They DESTROYED the train, re-
captured forty-three Confederate prisoners.
and carried off part of the guard and most of
the passengers, among whom, were some thir-
ty or forty suffers with large amount of
. greenbacks " in their possession. A nephew I
OF Major General Rosseau was also taken To- |
gether with some fourteen thousand dollars /
entrusted TO his care by soldiers for delivery
to their families Quite ndmber Of Federal
officers fell into the hands of the Condederates
on the same occasion.
1t is very generally believed that no further
attempt will be made at present TO retrieve the
consequences Of the Charleston fasco. The
Federal troops in considerable force, protected
by gunboats, were, nevertheless, at the last
advices from Charleston, encampcd on Coles,
Hawaii and Seabrook's Islands. The entire
iron-clad fleet left during the afternoon Of sun
day last for the southwark.
From letter published yesterday in the
New York Commercial, President Lincoln is
said to be disploased with the report Of Ad-
miral Dupont's reconnaissance. tits there
fore to be followed up-the correspondent does
not say when-with bona fde attack which
is to be continued as long as an iron-clad can
fire gun. We also earn, on the same au-
thority, that President Lincoln has officially