The weekly union record., 1864-04-30
News Of the Week.


wounded. The Richmond Enquirer processes
to know all about the Federal programme, and
to have learned that Gen. Burnsides force at
Annapolis numbers about thirty thousand, half
ofwhom are negroes. Il says: The transports
to convey them to their destination were ex-
pec;ed daily. Meanwhile, the organization of
the expedition was progressing with great
industry. The opinion prevailed in Washington,
Baltimore and Annapolis that the james river
would be the base of operations for this formid-
able division Burnside is to land short
distance below Drury's Bluff which be is TO
take by assault, whilst Meade advances on
Petersburg. Troops have been pouring through
Baltimore for the last two months. The regi-
ments are spoken of as full, but of Indifferent
material" Rumors are afloat that the rebel
government is leaving Richmond and that Lee
is falling back behind its defenses. The Peters
burg Express says orders have been given to
the First Auditor to remove his Bureau from
Richmond to Montgomery next week. The
Navy Departments advices from the Potomac
Flotilla say the expedition up the Rappahan-
mock resulted in the destruction of 10 ferries.
Il large lighters, each capable OF carrying 100
men, 3 pontoon bridges. number of large
boats, lot of small arms, and considerable
amount of bacon Some 500 rebels made an
attack on the Eureka, one Of the boats with the
expedition, and were handsomely whipped.
Commodore Porter has information that the
rebels have placed torpedoes in the Rappahan
mock and all branches of the Chesapeake.
Advices from North Carolina, received last
week, from rebel sources, state that they cap
tured Plymouth, with 1000 prisoners, on the
Goth. The garrison was commanded by Gen.
Vessels, who distinguished himself in the seven
days battle before Richmond. They made
brave resistance, and the following official
report from the Navy Department will show at
what fearful cost Of life the rebels achieved
their success: On the afternoon of the 18th,
Fort Gray, above Plymouth, was attacked by
the rebels with a battery Of six field pieces on
a saudbank about thousand yards up the river.
At early dawn on the 18th, the enemy charged
on the fort ard were repulSed, and later in the
day appeared in force in the rear of the town.
At sunset, they commenced a vigorous attack
on Forts Williams and Vessels, but were
repuscd in three different assaults. The gun
boat Southield was shelling the rebels con.
stantly. At three O'Clock on the morning of the
goth, the rebel ram dropped down the river,
and, when near the South6eld, ran across her
starboard bow, her PROV running nro the
Southfeld and causing her to sink in fifteen
minutes. The Miami was pursued for short
distance by the ram, but, in consequence of her
superior speed escaped. The gunboat Mitchell
was sunk on the 18th. An immense slaughter
of the rebels was effected by the garrison at
Fort Gray. The gunboats materially assisted,
and the big guns of the fort poured broadsides
into the rebel column, repeatedly making huge
winrows of their ranks. This engagement was
only equaled in execution and slaughter by the
great battle of Malvern Hill, where the navy
poured such raking volleys Of grape and shell
into the enemys lines. Washington and
Newbern are much more strongly fortified than
Plymouth, and with few more troops and
gunboats, which are said to be Oh the way,
they can be held against all the rebels that
present themselves
Col Fish, late Provost Marshal of Baltimore,
has been sentenced to pay fine of $4,000, CT
be imprisoned in the Albany penitentiary until
the fine shall be paid, for defrauding the
Government.
4 Jacksonville letter, dated April l7th,
says: From reliable sources We have informa-
ton that the rebel army in Florida is quite as
formidable as at any time since the expedition
first landed in the State. They have from eight
to ten thousand infantry and four thousand
cavalry within twelve miles of this place. An
other large camp is at Baldwin. The rebels
must have larger armies in the field than we
credit them with, or else they consider Florida
immensely valuable"
1t is stated, though not officially, that the
Court Martial which tried Admiral Wilkes
sentenced him to be dismissed from the service
Letters in regard to the Red river disaster
say that great Indignation was manifested by
several subordinate officers against Gen Banks
for the conduct of the battle. Correspondents
of Eastern papers report the whole affair as a
complete defeat, and that Gen. Smith only
succeeded in saving the army from destruction.
The Herald's special dispatch says At is said
in high quarters that the President thinks Of
sending Sickles to take the place of Banks" T"
These stories of correspondents. however, par
ticularly of the Herald, must be taken with
several grains Of allowance. Gen. A j. Smith,
who is rendering such efficient services under
Banks. was the first Colonel of the Second
Regiment California Cavalry
The Governors Of the Western States have
H. IL