The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-09
NORTHERN ITEMS

The rebel cavalry crossed the Potomac, Is miles
above Wiliamsport, passed directly across, Mary
land, and entered Pennsylvania going through
Mercersburg. About 500 of McCaasland's men
entered Chambersburg, and demanded the pay
ment Of half million dollars. In default of the
demand being complied with, the town was fired
and nearly the whole of it burned. Gov. Curtin
has called the Pennsylvania Legislature together
to make arrangements for the defence of the State
Two hundred and xty-fve of the most valuable
public and private buildings we're destroyed at
Chambersburg. Most of the stocks of merchan-
disc were removed before the rebels arrived. The
losses from the fire are largely over million of
dollars. Three thousand people have been rem
dered houseless
Wheeling is intended by Breckenridge, while
Longstreet threatens Washington: Early holds
the Valley.
/ The Baltimore American, of the I'd, says the
loyal people are again called upon to show how
they can bear themselves under disaster The as
sault upon Petersburg failed, and the Yankee
forces were repulsed with loss of FIVE thousand,
including prisoners. The strength of the rebel
position was nnimpaired.
The Memphis Evening Times of the 10Th ulti-
mo, says that the steamer Clara Bell was sunk at
Carolina Landing on the Mississippi river, on the
9th, and is a total loss. The gunboats sent to
her relief were driven off.
The rebels are moving up towards Columbia,
With a force ofone hundred cavalry and four pieces
OF artillery. The river is said to be effectually
blockaded. The Pauline Carroll was also disabled
and had to be towed off Eight transports are at
the mouth Of White river, but cannot 60 up.
The rebels, fifteen hundred strong under Gene
raj Dobbs, charged Col. Brooks command of three
hundred, twelve miles from Helena, Arkansas,
forcing them back and following ten miles Col
Brooks, and several prominent officers and thirty
seven prlvates, were killed. Col Brooks remains
have reached Memphis.
lie people OF Kentucky are getting worse and
worse, according to the Louisville Journal On
the 18th ult., the Yankee steamer St. Louis was
burned In the Cumberland river, by guerillas, and
report prevailed in Louisville that quantity OF
hay barees had been captured by guerrillas, at the
mouth Of Salt river.
Bay private letter, received by a gentleman
OF Boston, from London, gives a fact which we
have not seen before published: "At the great
commemoration day at Oxford, last week, Con
tederate officer appeared on the platform in his
norm, and Was cheered to such degree as to rise
several times and bow to the galleries in acknow-
edgment of the honor Washington Chronicle
THE CONFEDERATE STATES AND CHINA.-We
referred some time ago to decree issued by the
Chinese Government, at the reques. of the United
States Minister in Pekin, against the admission of
Confederate vessels to any Chinese port The de-
is, of course, not to the liking of the British
residents in China, and of their organs threat
ems the Chinese with the wrath of President Davis
The decree of Prince Kung" it says, amounts to
casus delii, and if it should suit President Davis
to make trouble about it he will have an excellant
opportunity of doing So If he selects to retalate,
there is no power except the United States that
would care to Interfere and that power could do
but little. Confederate cruisers mi ht open COM
munications with the Talpings, and with ease
sweep the present dynasty from the throne. We
know of nothing which could be more easily effect
ed; and as, speaking with reference to the law of
nations, the Confederate States would have right
their side, unless Prince Kung should select to
eat the leek, there would be little difficulty in crea-
ting suoh complication as might produce most
important, perhaps disastrous results ''-Nc,, York
Tribune.