The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-02-13
War News of the Week.

menced movement. Gen. fitzpatrick {
cavalry crossed the Rapidan at Culpepper
ford, and secured the country from there
to within a few miles eff Fredericksburg
/, finding NO enemy except vidsttes from
Hampden's legion, who occupy Freder
icksburg. At the same time the I'd Corps
was moved across the Rapidan at Martins
ford, Merritts cavalry crossed at Barnett
ford, and the Sd corps crossed at Gerna'
MIA ford, all pushing out in different direc
tions to find the location of the enomy.-
The result was considerable skirnishlnG
with the ensmy's outposts at various
points, the most serious being some two
rn,les from Germans ford in the direction
Of Orange Court House, where Gen. Caid-
we'll took some rebel rife pits with loss
Of So men. Tho reconnaissance proved
that there is no enemy east Of Mile Run,
and that the main body of Lees army IS
tween Gordonsville and Orange Court
House. The object of the reconnaissance
having been accomplished, the army re-
crossed the Rapidau to their old po-
sition'
So say the dispatches. But tho recon
uoisance evidently meant more: for while
this movement was in progress on the Zap
idan. Gen. Butler was making an inpor-
tant movement up the Peninsula, from
which Meade's operations were lntenaea
to distract the attention of Gen. Lee, For
at the same hour on Saturday morning
when Meade's army got in motion, force
OF some 5000 cavalry under Cen Wistar,
backed by heavy force of infantry,
marched from yorktown directly towards
Richmoud, reaching Bottoms bridge, 10
miles from Richmond, at half past two
o'clock on Sunday morning. The object
was to make sudden raid into Richmond,
release all the federal prisoners, and COM
pass as much destruction as possible, and
then return. 1t seems, however, "Ion.
kee Geserter' had given the authorities
in Richmond notice of the movement, and
they had so impeded the crossing at
Bottoms bridge, by telling trees in the
way that the expedition could go no fur
Their 1t halted there until about y
o'clock on Sunday, when the whole force
returned to Williamsburg and Yorktown
The movement it is believed was entire
ly practicable, and would have succeeded
but for the d" Yankee deserter" Only on
Saturday noon, the last 5000 troops left to
guard Richmond had been ordered away
to Lee, who had been alarmed by the
movements of Meade, SO that there were
none but the Home Guards and local
militia left to guard the city. The news
Of the approach of the Yankees was spread
through the city on Sunday morning, and
created the utmost panic. The alarm
bells were rung. women and children ran
to and fro in wild terror, and every body
else was hurry,ng to the Notifications. 1t
was late on Monday, aud only after 1t was
positively known the Yankees had lett,
that the alarm subsidized.
Though this movement failed, it is init
mated that Butler has net yet given up
his purpose to release our prisoners. and 1t
is mysteriously given cut from Baltimore
that another movement IS on foot which
will produce still greater CONSERVATION at
Richmond
The rebel raid into Western Virginia IS
over. Gen. Sullivans forces encountered
Rosssr's cavalry at Moorfeld on the 4th
and after two hours sight finally drove
them out Of the country.
On the LIST inst savage rebel move-
ment was made on Nswbern, n. c. The
first intimation our forces had of it was
the appearance of 4 strong rebel force at
Bachelors creek, Q miles from Hewhsrn,
where our outpost, after desperate strus
gle was captured, our loss in the affair be-
ing $50 men, mostly taken prisoners. The
enemy then boldly marched on Nswbern,
where their first movement waz to board
the gunboat Underwater, which they cap
tured On the Sd Newborn was attacked
but the rebels were repulsed with cens.d-
cradle loss, upon which they returned to
Kingston, and Newborn was relieved
The rebels, however, threaten to return in
larger force.
Since the battle between our cavalry un
der Sturgis and the rebel cavalry beyond
Sevierville On the 9th ult, noticed in cur
last, and the retirement of Sturgis to Knox
vile, the rebels appear to have taken
pretty full! possession of Eastern Tennessee
beyond Knoxville, as well as to have cut
off communication between Knoxville aud
Cumberland Gap. This. however, Id said
t. afford no occasion for alarm. ltwou!d
ta,.e 10000 men to besiege Knoxville now;
and Grant could reinforce the place with
10000 more men in 10 hours.
All quiet at Chattanooga. II is not true
however, that the enemy have retired from
Dalton Not over 50hO rebels hive gone
thence to Mobile. Our army is now on
full rations, and in splendid condition.
Sherman's expedition from Viclssburg AT
last accounts (Feb. 4th) was crossing the
Big Black, evidently moving towards Jack
son, Miss. The rebels say it is so 900 strong
evidently an exsggeratisn. Its ultimate
destination is still a riddle.
There is nothing new in reference te
the movement against Mobile, or the
movements in Texas
No DRAFT IN ILIINoIs-Gov. Iates, In
his recent proclamation Quoted elsewhere,
states that up TO the ist of January, Hi
nois was ahead of every call made upor
ner by the General Government for sol
d.srs, and now The Springfield journal az
sures US that Illinois will also be in excess
Of all her quotas on the LIST of March
The Journal says:
Under the call previous to this last 300,
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