The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-21
War News OF the Week.

Although one hears little from the army
of the Potomac, the dispatches say 1t Is
not to be thence inferred that the army is
idle 1t seems agresd that the larger por-
ton of the army has moved to southern
localities, aud only IA sufficient force retain
ed at Falmouth for the defence Of Wash
ington. Hooker, even, Is said to be at
Suffolk The rebel army at Fredericks
burg, is also said to be nearly broken uP,
tn. larger portions being sent to Charlston'
Vicks burg, &c Nevertheless, the rebels
left at Fredericksburg are busy strength
en,ng their position. being engaged, at
last accounts. in digging rifle pits near the
river, north of the town.
The 9th army rps-Smith (which
was last week ordered to Fortress Monroe,
is said to be destined for North Carolina,
where Burnside will command them.
The reports from Port Royal are some
what conflicting. One says, Foster and
Hunter have auarreled as to which is in
command, Hunter claiming that Foster is
is sent TO reinforce him, and vice versa
As Foster only left Baltimore on Wednes-
tlav TO join his command of Hilton Head,
! the report seems improbable
One of Fosters aids, per contra, who left
Hilton Head on the 18th, reports that the
army is in the best condition, and il
every thing has gone well. Savannah is by
this time Q7th,) in our possessiun. y
Everything has probably not gone well
then, as We are still without news Of the
fall of Savannah, As to Charleston, a fede
raj officer who late escaped from imprison-
ment there, reports that large force has
been collected for the purpose Of repeling
an attack on that city; that the place
cannot be captured without . severe stru.-
gle
ing intelligence that the army Of Gen
| Banks, after 4 months drilling, is ready
/ to take the feli,'' Also that ION the
night of the Sd fishing smack WAS seized
on the lake" Gen Weitzel. on the Sth
had organized an expedition to proceed to
the La Fnurche country to clean out 5000
reteIs reported to harbor there. There is
also a Iumor that portion of BANKS
force had battle with the Port Hudson
rebels miles from that place, the fight
ending in both parties retreating.
The army of Gen. Rosecrans, at Mur.
freesboro, has been paid, furnished with
new clothing, and is in excellent condition,
but the state of the roads prec!udes all
idea OF 4 n Immediate advance. Skirn1ish
/ ing is Of daily occurance with the enemy
/ in front, and a general engagement may
take place any day
The tth Michigan Cavalry has been alb
sent nearly two weeks. making complete
scout of the country between the Cumber
land and the Tennessee. They have cap
/ tured q Large number of prioners. and il Is
reported tina; they made the entire circuI;
! Of III" rebel army. The record of the rI-
+ p!oits of tisis expedition will be eminenrly
brilliant
( The Eews from Eicksburg is interesting
/ The project Of passing Nicksburg 10y the
! Williams canal has given way 10 several
others of Immensely more importance.
/ The army appears now 10 be employ
/ ed on two enterprises. One Is, 10 cut a
channel from & point % miles above
Wick -burc into Lake Providence. end
thence to the Temas and Macon bayous.
which would turn the Mississippi into
Black River on the West. tributary of
Red RIVER The result would probably
be to turn the Mississippi into the Atcha-
fsiaya, leaving not only Eick.5urg 100
miles east, bu. would aIsa leave New
Orleans out in the cold. The other is,
TO open channel from the Mississippi
above NicksirUrg eastward to tine IazoO
and thence into the Big Black. which
would enable Grant to completely sur
round the city with suno,nts. and. if the
rebels cuul,nt then be sheiled out. moth
ing could at least save them from being
starved out Both project. are regarded
as erinently feasible, and are pushed
with vignr.
Discouraging reports still come as to the
health Of our troops at NicksbGrs