Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-03-11


cinity, he reluctantly gave the order t.
move towards Mcchanicsyile.
That this difficulty to do, soon becam,
: apparent. On every road the rebel pick
, cts confronted them, and series Of man
euvres took place, in which the enem,
were found to be on the alert on ever,
road.
Night coming on, Gen. Fitzpatrick, will
hts accustomed audacity. halted and made
preparations to camp. He had chosen /
place, however, too near rebel camp, ant
Of this fact he was reminded by being out
of his position.
The command CROPPED its way on in The
darkness and gloom. The whiStlug o
locomotives gave warning that the encm,
were hurrring back to Bottoms Bridge to
cut off their retreat.
On Monday Gen. Butler received or
dcrs to send out a force to meet General
Fitzpatrick, and assist him if necessary.
Buffers movement was no part of Kill
patrck's plan, as proposed. Had he
known of or expected a force at New Kent
Court Housc, or at Bottoms Bridge. he
would not have turucd away from Rich
mond, but would have treated Gen. But
ler's forces to a fight for the prize.
Two thousand infantry under Colonel
| Duncan, of the 4th L. s. colorcd regiment
800 cavalry under Colonel Spear. of the
! ilth Pennsylvania cavalry, and Belgcr' S
LIST Rhode Island battery. the whole under
| Colonel West, were ordered to New Kent
Court House, there to be governed by
circumstances as to any further move
mcnts.
The infantry (colorcd troops) left on
Monday afternoon, and reached New Kent
Court House about noon the next day.
having made an extraordinary night march
through the rain and mud. The cavalry
arrived Tuesday afternoon.
About Z. NJ. Colonel Spear took a
part of his cavalry and proceeded to Tun-
stall station. where he burned a new steam
saw mill and its machinery. destroyed a
freight car and &c. 200 feet Of lumber.
On Tuesday night IA portion of kilpat-
rick force was discovered. but not know
ing whether they were rebels or not, pre-
parations were made to give them a warm
reception.
On Wednesday forenoon the question
was solved. and as the two columns Of
cavaly came in on both sides of the color
ed brigade drawn up to receive them. the
mutual cheers were almost deatening.
After resting awhile, the command re-
sumed its march down the Peninsula.
General Davis, who had several men
shot by Suerllas, and General Fitzpatrick
and his attendants, chased a body Of
guerillas, and captured a Lieutenant and
two men.
The force picked up, on the way down,
Colonel Watkins. of an Ohio regiment,
one of the escaped prisoners from Rich
mond.
The troops went into camp few miles
from Fort Magruder on Thursday night,
and yesterday were to move to Williams
burg for the purpose of procuring forage
and resting the command.
The raid has been the most daring dur
ing the war, and hut for the fatalities
mentioned, would have proved complete
success.
The men aud horses have stood the
hard march remarkably well, the sad
dies not being relieved during the trip,
and bat little sleep being given to the
mon.
The men made themselves quite at home
with the inhabitants and their stock of
poultry. hogs. &c. has somewhat de-
creased, The people We're generally given
to living. meme of them having ANYTHING to
eat either for men or horses. Among 9th
cr acquisitions were large piles of Conied-
crate money secured and squandcred by
oar men. One party paid $50 for sup
per for eight, comprising the best the
house afforded. The ratio with the pco-
pie was eretbacls for one sreenback.-
A large number of horses also found their
WAY down the peninsula along with the
command. MANY of the soldiers have
memeutoes of Richmond gathered inside
the fortiiicatioas.
over 500 prisoners Were captured. but
from the nature of the expedition it was
impossible to bring them III.
The casualties have not vet hccn as
certained. Colonel Dahlgren, Major Cook
and 1t Colonel Litchticld, with about $50
men. are missing. The latter is known to
have been wounded. Too much praise
cannot be AWARDED To Col, Dahlgrcn, nor
too much regret felt at lis supposed cap
turc. He had not full recovered from the
loss of his leg in the charge ON Hagcr-
stown. He volunteered his services to
Gen. Fitzpatrick and was assigned to the
Rtost important command on the cxpedit
ion.
The greatest CONSERVATION prevailed i'll
Richmend during the fighting. as well it
might.
The n.cn who have been baffled of their
prey the rebel capital, feel that they would
have been sloriously successful had the
authorities at Washington permitted Gen.
Butler to cooperate with them and kept
pickets Of infantry employed down the
peninsula
NEW YORK, 9th.
New Orleans adviccs of Feb. eth, have
been received.
Admiral Farragut continued his attack
on the forts below Mobile.
4 letter from our fleet Of the cd. says
the whole mortar feet had kept up an in
ccssant fire on For, Powell, which com
mands Grants Pass. since daylight.
The rebel ram Tennessee was off Fort
Morgan. and was expected to attack our
fleet. She is said to be more powerful
than the Merrinac.
Fort Powell cannot hold out long against
our bombardment.
Admiral Farragut was on board the
Calhoun, near the fort.
Our regiments from the Teche were
daily arriving in New Orleans, and were
sent out on transports TO cooperate with
Farragut.
There was an extensive fire at Pensa-
cola on the 10Th ult., and the town is
believed to have been destroyed by the