The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-06-22
LATE WAR NEWS.

respondents represent that for two or ihreb
days before CRAFTS march, there were un-
mrstakable evidences o. the diminuiioc of
| The Confederate forces in the Federal front.
The number OF cstn ifres became smaller,
the lines were contracted, aud the picket
firing was less frequen,. By advices from
southern sources il is certain now That Lee
know that Grant con,em plated movement
The Confederate forces al Bottoms Bridge
vas strengthened 10 prevent q crossing
there. The long circuit Of nearly fifty
miles, however, taken by Grant TO reach
Bermuda HundFed, on James River, at fif-
teen miles In direct line from Bouom's
Bridge, secured his safe march He went
around White Oak Swamp, using il as
barrief etween him and the enemy. A.
Grant moved on in this circuit large bodies
OF tonfederates were stationed on the roads
runnTng down the norlherh bank of the
James, 70 prevent an advance on Richmond
. IRON that direction. The m ain body, how-
ever, moved 10 Richmond TO await the de-
! velopnsnt OF the march and, as soon as il
was certainly ascertained that Grant inTens
ded to cross The James, they were hurried
towards Petersburg, twenty miles distant.
The Confederate rear guard followed Grant
some distance down the Chickahominv
skIrnishing with his cavalry. Il captured
one hundred and 6fty Federal prisoners
Gen. Smiths cops, from White House,
was the Hrst part of Grants army which
reached Bermuda Hundred. I: arrived and
landed on Tuesday afternoon. AT dusk Gen.
kauiz, with the cavalry Of Buffers army.
marched out of Bermuda Hundred, crossed
10 the south bank of the Appomarox, and
took the road towards Petersburg At day
light on Wednesday morning Smiih's corps
followed. The four corps of Grants army
which traversed the Peninsula began 10
cross the James al Powhatan Point, sixteen
miles below Bermuda Hundred ,on Tuesday
afternoon. Two corps succeeded in cross.
ing by midnight Hancock;s was one OF
them the other is not known. Hancock
al once marched towards Petersburg On
"Wednesday The olher corps had not vel
come up and on Wednesday night some
OF The army was still at Powbatan Point
and had not crossed 10 the soath bank of
| the James. Gen. KauIz reached the vicini>
y oil Petersburg early on Wednesday motn-
ing. Gen. Gilmore was relieved from CON-
Dand the same day, and Gen. Butler placed
al The head OF his corps. The feet Of COM
missary vessels from While House also
reached the month of The Appomatlox and
began landing supplies.
On Wednesday morning Kautz and Smith
attacked the Confederate euIrenchments in
ifont OF Petersburg. AS this town is on the
south bank OF the Appomaltox, and of lit
tie military value, the enemy al once began
10 retreat across the river. Hancock Join ed
Smith on Wedne esday afternoon, and al dark
the entertainments around the town were
abandoned by The Confederates. Hancock
and Smith entered Them. The rest of The
army had cot come up. Petersburg appears
TO have been abandoned on Thursday. Mr.
Stanton teporIs that thirteen cannon and
l.early four thousand prisoners were caps
lureG in the octer entertainments. The Con
federates confront Grant in line from The
James, below Fort Darling, across The Neck
TO the Arpomai tox at Petersburg. All their
troops are there
few days ago we stated that the Mis-
slssippi was blockaded. This has since
been contradicied on the authority of a re-
ported victory OF Gen a. J Smith over Gen.
Narmaduke, who CT mn anded the Confed-
erate batteries The truth turns out, how
ever, to be as We first stated it. The Cou-
federaIes blCckaded The Mississippi about
fifty miles below the mouth OF the Atkan
sa'. Gen. A. ]. Smith was sent TO drive
them OFT He marched along the western
side of the Mississippi and met the eue.
my's Pickets. They Ieireated before him
TO stream called Fish Bay ou. Here they
laid an am buscade for Smith. He fell into
murderous fire by swift retreat. He re-
turned up the river 10 the place where he
started from, having lost one bundled and
twenty men, besides number Of prisoners.
The Mississippi blockade 10 sill maintained
and Admiral Porter has besn sent for 10 Try
and break it.
The recent Confederate success. near
Memphis, over Generals Sturgis and Grier-
son, was gained by the force under Gener-
al Forrest His official report states that he
captured one thousand prisoners, twenty
cannon and two hundred and fifty wagons.
His loss in killed and wounded was four
hundred. Stu:gis and Griefson have re-
turned TO Memphis with the remnant of
their troops. Fears are entertained Tor the
safety of the city. Gen. Forrest will not
attack it. however Having no Federal tor
ces now near him, he has gone towards
Chattanooga. and contemplates a raid on
Sherman's communications.
On Tuesday last everything was quiet in
front o: Marietta. IN Georgia. There had
b5en fain fof Two days. which made the
roads ini passabls aud prevented movements
by either Johnson or Sherman.
IL is reported that the remnan; OF the
Banks expedition, having been reinforced
by three thousand men from New Orleans,
have been taken by Gen. Candy from the
mouth OF Red River 10 Port Hudson. This
evacuates all Western Louisiana.
Morgan has got safely ont OF Kentucky
Three hundred OF his men have crossed The
Ohio 10 make raid into Indiana
STILL LATER
AT eleven O'Clock on Wednesday morn
ing last Gen. Smith, from Bermuda Hun |
dred, reached the outer line of the Confed- |
erals works northeast OF Petersburg, rum /
ing from Dutch Gap to Port WaIihall. With.
out any resistance they were abandoned 10
him. He then advanced against the second !
lire, running north west from Port Wa ihall /
10 the Richmond Railroad. A stream call !
ed Bakehouse Creek runs in front Of these, |
and forming ravine makes them very !
strong. Smith attacked them and skifrnsh- |
ed until night, but could effect nothing. His |
northern flank crossed fis railroad running |
to Richmond anj held il, bui he could make |