Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-03-30

CLEARFIELD, PA, MAR. 80, 1864.
THE WAR NEWS.

| The following is an extract of a private
letter, dated at Jacksonville, Fla on the
lst of March. The writer says: The
troops generally, fought with desperation
When it became impossible to hold the
ground, the First North Carolina (colored)
and the Fifty-fourth, of fighting memory,
were brought up to cover the retreat, and
manfully did they do it. The Fifty-fourth
gave one demoniac yell, and then both these
regiments for more than one hour fought
with the bayonet, like infuriated dogs, until
the retreat was secured and they were order
ed to retire. Here let me record an act
which should be widely known In return
ing with the wounded, the engine on the
railroad gave out, wien they were twenty
three miles out from Jacksonville, and what
was left of the Fifty-fourth, voluntarily
drew In the train, consisting of three cars
loads of wounded and the disabled engine.
Col McCaleb officially communicates to
the authorities at Washington, he part Ia
ken by his command in the late action at
Fidalia, La, which resulted in victory to
our troops. He says that force of three
hundred colored soldiers put to flight, in
great confusion, four or five times their
number of the chivalrous enemy, with loss
to them of one killed, five wounded, some
mortally, and number Of prisoners. Not
man of the command was hurt Major
Chas. w. Smith, commanding the battalion
IN reserve, states that he and the line Off
GERS OF his command were obliged to place
themselves before their men with drawn
swords, and to threaten summary punish
ment to the first man who should attempt
to quit the ranks to join their comrades
fighting in the front, their eagerness to be
engaged being almost irrepressible.
Hughes, Ferguson and Short are on the
northern side of the Cumberland River with
500 rebels. On the morning of the 10th
they attacked one of Hobson' s camps, near
Benefits Ferry, whence the rebels were
shelled with a loss Of four killed and several
wounded. The next day, near Celina, Gen
Hobson's cavalry attacked the rebels under
Col. Hamilton. Hobson has nearly broken
up the guerrilla bands along the Cumber-
land River, many whereof were daily sur
themselves.
An order has been issued from the War
that all men who have been
from their old regiments to 9TH
ers, for the purpose of serving out their
time, on account of not re-enlisting, accord
ing to former order, shall be Immediately
to their original organizations
Deserters come into our lines at an average
Of from six to eight day. A number of
sick viii very soon be removed from the ar
my.
The defences of Richmond are represen- |
ed to be very extensive and elaborate, ex-
ending IN form of semi-circe almost with
,ut q break around the city. Inside of this,
mother line of intrenchments extend around |
he city, with frequent breaks Between
he two is a fine military road, so that it is
'asy to.reinforce any part of the defences at
hort notice. These Notifications are heav-
ly armed with the best of artillery
Two companies of the 9lstregiment, while
couting up the Virginia road, near Cum
'erland Gap, came upon the enemy's pick
is, killing one and wounding another
hey returned to camp on Monday evening
nth four horses, wagons, arms, and seven
risoners, including the notorious rebel GU
rrillas and bushwhackers, Greene and Est
.r, who have long been terror to Union
itiZens.
A dispatch from Strawberry Plains says
he rebels are in large force at Bulls Gap.
hey probably number 10000 The reports
their having sent away most of their ar
llery and wagons by railroad, and mounted
len on all their draught horses, are confirm
l. There is a general belief that the reb-
S intend to make sudden movement into !
The LoeasutHe Journal has a special dis {
atch from Chattanooga which says, on the :
lthority of deserters, that John Morgan's
is still opposite Decatur, and can
1T be mounted from the scarcity of horses. !
eserters from Longstreet's army say that l
, is doubtless moving to join Gen. Lees
my. t
Lieut. Col. Davis of the Ilth Tennessee G
valry, who was wounded and taken pris- !,
Ter on the 22d of February last, has escap- ,
and reached our lines safely. He was
eated very inhuuanly while in the hands
the rebels.
On the morning of the 18th, fifty rebels !
tempted to land near Port Royal ferry, but >
lied. -Four contrabands who escaped from
harleston had reached our blockading feet. ! v