The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-03-25
WAR NEWS.

assumed command of the department of West
Virginia, had narrow escape from capture by
she Copfederates few days since. While at Mar.
tinsburg he rode outside of his picket lines, and
Just at that moment force of two hundred Con-
iederates rode between the General and bis lines.
Had they known of his presence they could, it is
alleged, have captured him with ease. ell.
A dispatch from Cairo mentions report that
Gen. Forrest is organizing Confederate force
for demonstration to west Tennessee, and anoth-
cr dispatch has it that the ConfederRtes, 20, 900
strong, are at Bulls Gap, meditating a sudden
movement into Kentucky. These statements
however, seem to be but mere repetitions Of those
previously received. -..
The Confederates, it is stated, have made.a raid
into Bath, West Virginia, capturing two mem.
beers of the Legislature. A force of Union caval-
~ sent in pursuit by Gen. Sigel are reported to
have oyertaken the raiders and taken several pris-
oners. .r.. ..r.
On Wednesday night detachment of Confed-
crates crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericks-
burg, and on the following day the 18th Penn
sylvania Cavalry captured twenty of them. On
Friday morning another detachment crossed at
Morton's Ford and drove in the pickets of the 18th
Michigan, but were subsequently repulsed and
forced to recross the river. Firing was heard at
Dumfries on Saturday, but it was accounted for
by the Second Army Corps having been ordered
TO discharge all their pieces. Gen. Stuart is re-
ported to have three brigades of cavalry at Char
lottesville and two at Fredericksburg.
Everything is reported quiet in the Shenandoah
Valley. The latest information from the Kama
wha does not confirm the report that the Con-
federates were threatening Barboursville.
Two steamers arrived at New York on Satur-
day, with advices from New Orleans to the 18th
inst. Gen. Banks is on the eve of departure for
Western Louisiana. A fleet Of Admiral Porter's
gunboats has already started, with the intention
OF operating with the land forces In the recent
fight on the Washita river, La, in which Admi-
raj Porter captured Confederate fort at Harri-
sonburg, one of the Union vessels was struck
thirty-ive times. Lieut.. Williams, of tho 4th
Wisconsin, had been killed by gucrilas not far
from New Orleans. 1t was reported at New Or
leans that Yazoo city, with the Ilth Illinois,
had been captured, but the report was doubted
Col. Tevis, with The Third Maryland cavalry,
arrived at New Orleans on The llh inst, from
jacksonville. They had secuted from the latter
place nearly all through the country between
Chappahela and Pearl rivers. There is said to
be not an armed Confederate within sixty miles
Of Madisonville, except probably few strsg-
glers. a..
The estimated force of Confaderates at the re-
cent fight at Yazoo city, Miss, was five thous-
and, and five guns. Two stern-wheel boats were
there, but could render no service without en-
daugering the Federal forces. 1t is stated that
the 9Th Louisiana colored regiment lost eighty
killed, wounded and missing. The LIST NIissisip-
pi cavalry lost fifty in wounded. In all, nine
out of eighteen officers of the 9Th Louisiana were
found dead. ...r. -. ... ..
The Confederates, according TO Chattanooga
dispatch, are in large force in the front, Blu, had
made no demonstration. All was quiet there on
the 18th inst. John Morgan's command had
left Decatur, and it was supposed he intended to
make a raid into Kentucky.
A ruinor has reached New York from Nor
folk that the latter place was threatened with an
attack from the Confederstes. Very little Gre
dence, however, was given to the report.
A despatch received from Washington Tuesday
night states that the quota of Maryland. under
the recent call of the President for 200 900 troops
is 4 1911, ard that the deficiencies to be charged
TO the State under the previous calls amount to
lI4ll, leaving 81, 72s still to be furnished. g
a despatch from Cumberland, Nd, says there
Is no apprehension felt either at Martinsburg or
lIarpers Ferry ofany Confederate demonstration.
The report that Gen. Sgel had narrow escape
from capture near Martiusburg, is untrue. The
story is contradcted on the authority of Gen.
Sigel. 5.g .., .
A refugee from Richmond, who has arrived in
New York, reports that the defenses of that city
are very extensive and elaborate. They are in
the form Of semi-circle, the outer embankment
being continuous, almost without break around
the city. Inside of this another line of entrench-
'AShso SAeChu otOuho VIC SiLJ1 Win frequent
breaks. Between the two is a fine military
road, so that 1t Is easy to reinforce any part of
the deienses at short notice. These Notifications
are heavily armed with the best of artillery
Thursday will be great day in the Army Of
the Potomac. Lieut.. Gen. Grant will review
the entire army. The President Secretary Of
War, Gen. Halleck and other distinguished PEI
sonages will grace the occasion by their presence.
IT is said that in the reorganization of the army
about to be effected, Generals Sedgwick, Hancock
and Warren will retain their places as corps COM
raanders, and General Meade his position as
coInmander--Gen. Giant exercising control over
the whole army.
CoSrEnEwcE or THE NJ P. CHURCH THE An
nusl Conference Of the NJ. p. Church, after o seq
zion of seven days, adjourned on Tuesday, the
5th inst. The Conference was unusually large,
and decidedly harmonious. We are glad to
learn that the Rev. R. Scott Eoriis has been
sgsin placed in charge of this circuit The Rev. |