Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-16
@Ortester 9aiIp SPY
The War News.

THE ARMY AT CHATTANOOGA.
Dispatches from Gen. Grants army of Dec
l4th report that Col. Watkins with the Ken
lucky brigade had made reconnaissance as
far as Lafayette, Ga. He captured rebel
signal station and six officers and forty pri-
Yates. The remainder Of the large force OF
rebels fled.
A rumor prevailed that Longstreet in his
retreat from Knoxville lost 1000 prisoners and
nearly all his cannon and trains.
MOVEMENTS IN VIRGINIA.
Lees cavalry endeavored on Sunday to cut
Gen. Meades communications with Washing
ton, by destroying the bridge across Cedar
Creek, near Catletts Station. about 700
made dash against the guard posted at the
bridge, but were driven off after short fight.
The line Of railroad from the front to Alexan-
drla will he protected by both cavalry and in
tantry hereafter.
NAVAL PRIZE.
The United States gunboat Kanawha cap
tured on the 10Th of November, the schooner
Alesta or WinOna, off Mobile bay. She has
been awaiting an opportunity for many weeks
to escape from Mobile, and was captured soon
after crossing the bar. She had neither log
book nor custom house papers. The suppos-
ed owner, Doyd, was passenger. Her car
go consists of cotton, rosin, and turpentine,
and is very valuable. About SIS 500 in specie
was found on the passengers; also, large
amount Of railroad bonds. The money and
bonds have been placed in the keeping of A.
A. paymaster Penniman of the Kanawah.
THE WILD "AFRICAN BRIGADE" AT WORK IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
Dispatches from Portsmouth, Va, of Dec.
IL, give information of very successful ex-
petition Of Gen. Wild's brigade of colored
fboir of o
The brigade left camp near Portsmouth in two
columns, one taking theroute through Princess
Anne county, the other following the tow
path of the Dismal Swamp Canal--now for
some months outside our lines. The columns
united at Hintonsville, N. c., whence an ad-
vance was made on Elizabeth City, which was
occupied Dec. 10, without opposition. The
rebel inhabitants were taken completely by
surprise at the sudden advent of Gen. Wild's
dusky braves in their streets. Elizabeth City
will be made the base of important opera
tons.
A detachment of fifty-f1ve men from the
first United States colored regiment has Just
returned, bringing in twenty wagon loads of
contrabands that had sought the protection of
Gen. Wild nthe road. Artillery and cavalry
from Gen. Gety's division, as well as con
siderable naval force, have left to cooperate
with Gen. Wild
THE REBEL CAUSE HOPELESS.
Advices from Havana say that the seces-
sionists in Cuba, doubtless acting upon pri-
vate adyices from Dixie, have given over the
rebel cause as past praying for. One of them,
who had about 100000 of confederate bonds
in his hands, has confiscated the whole to the
replenishment of his private exchequer, and
fled Herewith to parts unknown. 1t was I'M
derstood there that the break up of the con-
Germ must be quite near at hand.
VARIOUS MATTERS.
Daniel Foster, late chaplain of the Mass. SD,
who did good service at CHATTANOOGA, has,
since that affair, received an order from the
war department to report to Gen. Wild, now
at Norfolk, and has been commissioned as
captain of the Sd North Carolina (colored)
volunteers. Having just returned from an
expedition in which they captured the rebel
guerrilla Burroughs, and others, he bears tes-
timony to the bravery and endurance OF his
command, adding IL am now in my right
position, with part of colored regiment"
Gen. Schofeld has been removed from his
command il Missouri, and ordered t. report
at Washington
The government has Information, it is said,
that about 10000 desertcrs from our army are
now in Canada, and in destitute condition,
not caring to come across the line for fear of
arrest and sentence. 1t is believed that the
president will issue proclamation pardoning
all who rejoin their regiments in thirty days
from its date.
most important concession has been made
to volunteer officers in the navy by the gov
eminent. Their names will be inserted in the
new naval register, in exactly the same man.
ner as regular naval officers.
Co. A, a New Bedford company of the 3rd
Massachusetts, cavalry suffered severely re-
Gently near Baton Rouge. They had gone
out to repair the telegraph, and were ambus-
caded by a large band of guerrillas.