Daily national Republican., 1863-03-09
THE TOWN OF BEATBSVnLE CAPTURED
Lancaster and Northumherland counties, In
Virginia, appears m yesterday's Betdld, ~"
HHkDouARrnRB ARMY on THE POTOMAC,

The expedition under Col. Phslps, to Nor
thumberland county, Va, returned thls after-
noon, After an eniinentfy successful trip. al.
The force lefl Belle Plain last Tuesday, in
steamers, and was composed Of picked men
from the Fourteenth New. York State Militia,
Twenty-second, Twenty-foptth and Thlrtieth
New York Volunteers, ana Captain vlrgen's
company Of the First Maine cavalry. The
Herald correspondent accompanied the exPedl-
ton. ,. t.. ' v. .sH'
Owing 10 tho ignorance Of the pilot concern7
ing the channel, and the high wind, the landing
at the head OF Coon river was not effected until
Wednesday noon, when the whole command
debsrked, and Col. Phelps, with his staf, al
the head OF tho cavalry, dashed on into Heaths-
vile, the county seat OF Northumberland, cap
turing rebel soldier and taking the entire
town by surprise. r..f ... .....a,. q.
The post ofiice was searched, but nothing
was found save few dusty papers and old
letters, the ONCE not having been reopened
since the raid Of Col. Fairchlld, several weeks
since. .4l.yE. .TT .aVaITHE or 81
The jail was next examined, but the cells
were empty. i.FurTrg ,....l.rsaI Hra
At night tho command bivouacked a few
miles outside the place, and NEXT day forAglng
parties were sent out In various directions and
the cavalry dispatched on scouting oxpedi-
tion into Lancaster county D ..s>l...
The forHging parties seized one thousand
bushels Of corn, fiffy horses and mules, large
number Of fine beef cattle and quite an amount
of medical stores. Two post Offices and sever
al stores were visited, and two important rebel
mails captured. Ha .H..,
The cavalry also seized large number of
horses and mules, and are now on their way
overland to Fredericksburg. w Ut ...
Among the prisoners taken was Colonel Clay
brook, Of the rebel army. He was in command
at Belle Plain and Aqua Greek last summer,
during the occupation of those places by the
enemy, and burned a number OF barges loaded
with hay, &C., that had been blown ashore In
the gale at the time of General Burnslde's last
movement. He has also been very active in
enforcing the conscription and the arrest Of
Union people, and his capture has occasioned
not little secret rejoiclngs on the part Of his
ueighbors. His family were exceedingly vlo-
loup WhNh Ntbbls houbos oho VI
them drawing a revolver upon the oflcen.
A smuggler. who had shipped across the Po-
tomsc over one hundred thousand dollars worth
Of contraband goods, was also captured, to-
gether with two influential citizens engaged In
the same trafiic, and who have oppressed loyal
citizens. 4
Two clerks In the rebel departments at Rich
mond were oyerhauled on their way to Mary
land, and large and Important mail found in
their possession. Among the letters were rec
concentrations to citizens of Baltimore, and
Official correspondence to parties In London,
addressed to the care of Barring Brothers.
The country is quite barren, and by the visits
Of both armies has been stripped ofnearly every
thing. The Inhabitants are destitute, and great
suffering prevails. The roads are dry and dusty
like summer, and the few farmers remaining
are busily engaged in ploughing and preparing
for the spring crop.
No rebel troops are upon the neck save few
cavalry, engaged in enforcing the conscription
and escortlng Contraband goods across from
the Potomac.
Several depots for smugglers are established
along the Potomaci but lack of ratlons and
proper transport alton prevented Col. Phelps
from visiting them.
Verylttle Union sentiment was found, though
a few welcomed us heartily, and offered their
survlces as pilots, and conducted the expedition
faithfully through the tortuous channel of Cone
river. A few contrabands came of; but, owing
to the small size of the steamers, the horses,
mules and corn could only be removed, and the
beef cattle were left at the landing.
! Upon the return of the expedition the high
wind compelled the heavily loaded steamers to
lie at anchor yesterday In St. MRrysburg, on the
Maryland shore. While there small boats were
sent on shore for water, and a number of con-
trabands came off to the steamers; but Colonel
Phelps sent them back, having no right to har,
Dor slaves from loyal State. Before their
return, however, their owner made acomplRint
TO one of our gunboats lying above, and as the
expedition came up an officer was sent aboard
with Instructions to detain the command and
take the commanding officers into custody.
satisfactory explanation was given, and thC
party was at length allowed to proceed.
Captain Wadsworth and Lient Wilcox, o.
Gen. Reynolds staff, accompanied the expedi
ton, and rendered great service.
Much credit is due TO Capt. Pitkin, pos
QuartermastGr at Belle Plain, for energy ant
tact In fitting out the expedition. TranspOrta
tlon was very scarce and Of an inferior quality
yet, Notwithstanding these difficulties, tn,
troops were admirably provided for, and obsta
cles overcome that would have effectually de
feated the object OF the movement If affair
had been placed In the hands of less energetic
officer
Yesterday the steamer Frederick Graft wa
run into and sunk of Windmill Point. All oil
board escaped
Affairs in tho army are remarkably quiet
and the restrictions upon the exchange of news
papers have eITectually excluded all news fror
the South. .....rr.. ..
simultaneously with the outset Of COlOnt
Phelps expedition, small force from one Q
the Jersey brigades started upon similar raj
to different part of Dixie. II has not yet re
turned.
The REBEL NAyT.-We saw yesterday cop
of the Register of the Confederate Naval Sci
vice, captured in the late raid In Northumbel