The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-09

means. The whisky bill proposes an additional
tax Of 10 cents per gallon on distilled spirits on
hand. The sliding scale of duties on both do
nestle and foreign spirits, aud tax on the spir
-, has 70 place in the ill.
PROM rHE ARxy OF Tx POTOMAC.
a letter from the army Of the Potomac IN
forms Is that Lieut.. Scudmore, one Of the Of
GERS Who escaped from Libby Prison with Col
S;reisht and party, came into our lines last
night having been or the way days. de had
intended TO proceed by way Of Gorjonsville, to-
wards tie Ohio River, thinking bis chances Of
getting away in that DIRECTION better than b' the
Peninsula as be telt certain Of being captured
had he gone the latter way. Alter travelling 25
miles, bis knees failed, ard he was forced TO lie
il a mud hole, as he terms it, ior hike days. A
negro took care o; him and became 4 companion
until he resumed his journey. At another tine
he WAS compelled TO lie concealed three d 2.
lie finally reached the RaPldan on SATURDAY.
uight aud crossed, passing within few PAGES Of
the rebel pickets.
F,fty one deserters from Lees a7my arrived
10 Washington fcom she army Of the Potomac,
they having within a week pas, come over our
lines, wading across the Rapidan, bringing with
them their arms sud accoatrements. They
were without gcard, having taken the oath Of
allegiance In Alexandra
Washington, FEB. 2S.
A portion Of the Army Of the Potomac NOV
ed ye,erday, aud was in successful advance to-
day.
New York. March 3
There are reports from Virginia that q cavalry
force under fitzpatrick has got into the rear Of
Lees army, aud is making is way towards Rich
mond; also that ono corps Of tho army Of the
Potomac is making a diversion in Fitzpatrick :
favor against the main body Of rebels. No
thing authoritative has been received ss to the
movements, but it is known that TO battle had
occurred up 10 Yesterday noon.
Gen. Custer started with force Of cavalry
on Sunday 10 make reconnaissance toward Gop-
louisville, the 9th corps under Gen. Sedgesck
following in support. lie passed through Mol
son, where he encountered a rebe picket which
he met, passing across the Rapidan and Raven.
IA Rivers, in the direction OF Charlottesville
lie met the enemy within three miles Of the lat
ter place, where be charged body Of cavalry
under Stuart, driving them a considerable dis
lance. Capt Ash, 9th United States Cavalry
(regulars). charged on rebel camp near this
place with GO men, and drove the enemy beyond
their tents, capturing SIX caissons aud two barges
nd retreated Without the Ices Of uDsn. Tnl:
vas one OF The boldest fights our cavalry Ia,
made during the war.
Finding his small force opposed by infantry
Stuart's cavalry, and several batteries, which
opened upoa him, and number OF trains hav
ing just arrived with troops to oppose his ad
vance, be determined to return. After crossing
the Raveana River, he burned the bridge, de-
-troyed three Touring mills lied with grain and
fell back towards the Rspidsn, bur as his bate
~ horses giving out, he had 10 halt for the right
On nearing the Rspdsn the next morning, he
net lsrge body OF rebel cavalry on the road &c
| Burtons Ford, aud skirmshed with them. u,
found that the rebels bad concentrated their for
ces at this point, when he suddenly wheeled, and
aking the road to Banks Ford, crossed without
oppost on. The enemy followed some distance
Dat failed to inf Ct any damage.
Custer snd his force returned TO camp TO-DAY
wi'h only four men wounded slightly. lie cap.
turod snd h-onght IN about 50 prisoners. q large
nurnher of negroes. some 800 horses, besides
destroying large quantity OF valuaDIee at stan
srdsviile. A number of rebels we're wounded
ia the skrnish near the Rspidsn.
Washington, March 3.
| A note from the Army Of the Potomac, dated
a:SO this morning, saws messengers have come
though from Kiloat,ick, whom they lelt come 10
miles South Of Hanover Junction on Wednes-
day morning. The command had most thorough
Iy AM efficiently destroyed the Virginia Central
Railroad from Beaver Dam TO Hanover Junction,
and the Richmond aud Fredericksburg Railroad
rom the Asttapony bridge 70 Panunky River,
The entire distance destroyed being over forty
niles.
There had been some skirmishing during the
ADVANCE but il vas confined mostly to the right
dauk OF Kilpstick's command. As Wade Hamp
tons rebel cavalry are known TO be re-occupying
she country to the west Of TIE line Of march
taken by our cavalry, It is probable that this is
the Only rebel force that has been engaged.
fitzpatrick ha- 3, 20 pickeIed men and sever
al mounted batteries, and for rapidi', Of move
nent, marches 10 three columns.
Washington, March 4.
The President received a dispatch from Gen.
Butler stating that Fitzpatrick arrived within our
lines with a loss of less than $50 men.
PROM THK SOUTH WEST.
The clerk Of the steamer Pringe says: "Whle
the steamer was Ga forsging expedition to
| Johntons Plantation, at TeeIuseh Landing, 5
miles above Grand Lake, MIS-, on the l4th, a
band Of 90 well mounted gaeuil4s dressed in
Federal uniform surprised a company Of the let
Mississippi Iafaotry (coored). wfo were stand
ing guard about mile and half from the main
body Of the foragiug party, and cap ured and
dissrmed them, and before assistance could 10
rendered, all we're killed OF MORALLY wounded
except two who iegned death. Lieut.. Cox
and Sergt Spencer ordered to strip them, say
that some Of the negroes were pinned TO tie
ground With bayone's; others had their brains
knocked out while Others were shot through the
head while on their knees begging for quarters
The guerrillas escaped without losing n man.
After our dead we're buried, pri ceiy man
sion around which the guard were posted and no
one allowed to enter previous 20 the slaughter Of
our troops. Wa fred and The b8iliing aud its