The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-03-05
War News OF the Week.

Ga Saturday last aR lu'Po' '"
sxpedit:ea was sent out frem the army OF
the Potomac, divided into two coiun'ns,-
enc commanded by Gen Gustav, and the
ether by Ges. Fitzpatrick. The 9th army
corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, crossed the
Ra,idaa q the same time, to make DIV
srs,on in support of the operations ne
programme appears to have been. that
Custar was to move towards Charlottesville,
ssuth-west Of ees'camP, to attract at
tsutisa in that direction; Sedgwick was
70 engage his attention in 'front.' while the
eslumn of Fitzpatrick, which was the
main affair, was to move past Lee on inc
east, get in his rear, destroy his commune
cations with Richmond, and then combine
with movement to be made sinauitahe-
ously by Gen. Butler up the peninsula
seainst the rebel capital.
Gen. Custar accordingly proceeded TO
.Charlottsville, had fight with body oil
rebel cavalry undo, Jeb. Stuart whom he
drove two miles, destroyed considerable
property, took SO prisoners, and returned
to his old camp without losing man
Sedswiek was alike successful in his re
sonnoisanss, had q little skirmish, but lost
NO men.
But how Fitzpatrick Jared, remains yet
. be divulged. All that is known OF HIM
since Monday Is ssere run,or. On the eve
ming of that day he encampsd at Spottsy!'
1a.ia Court House, which is 40 miles
from Richmond From that place, runaor
savs he sent a detachment under Col
Dhalgren.to APPOINT half way from.there to
4ordonsville, whore the rebels had parked
their reserve artillery, to destroy it. How
the enterprise Jared is not known. A
Warrington paper Of the 4th says he
arrived on "Wednesday at White House,
whore he joined the expedition of Butler,
but Butler telegraphed on Thursday
morning that he had heard nothing of
him.
Knoxville, that Gen. Longstrces had left
Strawberry Plains, and was rstreating east
ward Thereupon Gen. Schefield gather
ID up his army and started in pursuit.
But as Lons.trset could run as fast as Schs =
Geld, and had two days the start, of course
the race was hardly close enough to be liz
teresting Whittier Longstreet is head
ing, seems difficult to tell Kentucky
says he moving into that state by the way
Of Pound Gap; his dsserters say he is go
ing to Richmond, while more probable
dispatches than either, says he is going to
Jshnsten by way Of Lynchburg. His
cavalry have gone towards Dalton. Scho
field has given up the pursuit, and return
cd to Kexvllie.
The movement of Gea. Thomas, from
Chattanooga towards Dalton, has paused al
Tunnel Hill, and is not likely to get much
further very soon Indeed, in the Fl "a t
ing At Tunnel Hill en- the 25th, although
some g,ound was gained, the federals suf'
fered good deal more than the rebels
dea. Thomas is now concentrating bis
army at Ringgold, while Palmer, with ths
l4th army corps, is miles this side O
Tunnel Hill. Johnston army is said K
have moved out to meet Thomas 10 miles
this side of Dalton.
The exact whereabouts of Sherman is
still mystery. That be has NO; been al
Selma, nor east much beyond Meridian
appears, however, to be well settled
Rebel dispatches say he is within 40 mile:
of Aobile-asain other rebel dispatches
cay he is retreating towards Vicksburs.
The cavalry expedition Of Gen. II. /.
Smith, which proceeded overland from
Memphis and was to join Sherman a:
Meridian, having failed to do 50 and re-
turned to Memphis, has created tie live
lest approximations for Shernsan's safety
This cavalry expedition. which proposed
70 make such an easy excursion througl
Mississippi, met with some unexpected
Stubborn obstacles in the shape Of a heavy
rebel cavaIfy force under Hoddy and For
rest Although Smith boasts to have des
troyed $l.5OO,0e0 worth Of rebel cotton, te
have taken 100 prisoners and 800 negroes
it is clear he had little to boast OF in hi
ncounters with the rebel cavalry. HI
got to Okolena, about half way from Mem
phis to Meridian, and then turned back
As Sherman depended on junction with
this cavalry, he took very little cavalry
with him. SO that his tanks and rear, az
we'll as foraging parties, are at the mere.
Of Reddy and Forrest
There has been a sad reverse in Florida
The expedition of Gen Seymore, whic!
penetrated to Jacksonville with SO mucl
ease, found it different matter to g
much beyond there. A Lieutenant of .
Rhode Island battery gives this Statement
Of the affair:
The command left Jacksonville en- thu
18th, in light marching order, with tel
days rations. Made Is miles. the roads be
ing heavy. Next day made S miles. 2Utl
started for Lake City, 80 miles distant
which, if We took 1t, would stop supple:
to the western armies of the enemy We
marched is miles, when we met the enc
nv. Skirmished with him the next feu
miles, when We found them in force. De
ployed in line of battle, Hamiltons ba
terry ordered to the frsut. We went il
with four pieces, so horses and IS nler
In 20 minutes We lost A men, 40 horses,
pieces. and officers, when we managed
to get off with what little there was left
1t was our misfortune to have Cor supper
NEGRO regiment, " 10 ran and caused u
to lose eur pieces. The fight lasted tire
much cut up, Gen. Seymore ordered a re
treat We had 5000 men engaged an
lost 1900, as near IS can learn. We re
turned to Jacksonville in two days
Thu fArca Kaa commanded nv GsI