The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-03-12
War News OF the Week.

ing through a process of re-orsanizatio
during the week, the lst and Sd corps b.
ing merged in the I'd, 5th and 9th til
three corp. 10 be commanded respective
" by Gems Sedgwick, Hancock, and Wa
rem The impression gains ground tina
mand, and that Gen Wm. Smith OF Ger
Hooker will take his place. Meade utter
" denied before tho Committee on Col
duct of the " ar that he had given the OF
der to retreat at Gettysburg. as charge
sy Gen Sickles, snd demanded court c
inquiry, but Siekles has preferred II
charges.
The h;efinterest Of the week has beer
concentrated on obtaining the particular
of the cavalry reid OF Gen. Fitzpatrick
The affair may be summed up in few
words. The Command under Gen. X.
consisting of about 1000 cavalry, crossed
the Rapidan at Ely's ford OF Sunday night
Feb % Then by rapid marches went II
SpetsyIvania and Beaver Dam .tation Oh
the Va Central r. r. where many miles
O! the r. r. were tom up, dcpots ana
bridges burnt. aud much property des'
troyed. Then proceeded to within 3 miles
Ct Richmond, within the first line Of fc-,
tifeations, where it had some diminishing
Then crossed the Va Central H. r and
the Chicshominy river near the Meadows
thence crossed the White House r. T.
near TunstalFs station; aud thence pro-
ceded TO New Ken. c. b. and Williams
burg. where il arrived en- Thursday. March
Sd, having been in the saddle nearly four
days. detachment Of 500 picked men,
sent Oh a special Grand under Col. Dahl
gren towards FrederickshalI, to regain the
main body before Eichnlsnd, vas decive.,
by the negro guide, became divided and
somewhat cut UP, Col. Dahlgren being
killed, and about 100 taken prisoners; the
rest only rejoining the main body beyond
the Chickahcminy. The whole loss, III
GLIDING these, was about 80 men The
object OF the expedition appears 70 have
been, l. To compel Lee. by destroying the
railroads, to abandon his strong position
on Mine Run. or 2 To make sudden
dash in to Richmond, and release the fed
eral prisoners Of course, both objects
failed, although, in the way of inficting
immense damage ON the rebels, the expe.
dition was net without valuable results
From Fortress Monroe we learn tia.
200 more of our prisoners Lave been ex.
changed, in compensation for 100 rebels
sent by Gen. Butler to City Point. 1t is
believed general exchange will soon
take place. From the same quarter we
learn that Gen. Peck Is closely besei.ed at
NeTsefn, and that, in fact every federal
post in North Carolina is closely besieged
The movements Of the rebels in North
Carolina are of a mysterious character
a de.erter states that Plymouth is TO be
the first point attacked There are re-
por.< Of great riot at Raleigh, daring
whio.. tii@ Federal flag was cons picuously
displayed
A rebel paper states that Longstreet Is
advancing again towords Knoxville, and
utters the opinion that the battle fer the
possession of East Tennessee will be
fought within week
Definite news has at length been rcee;v-
ed frem the expepiticn Of Gen, Sherman
which returned to Vicksburg on tho 9TH.
Il penetrated Sc miles beyond Meridian,
but was not, or any part of II, at Selma
1t destroyed all the railroads in its route,
and 80 locomotives, with any number Of
cars. Also forage and provisions enough
10 su6sist the whole rskel army 4 months.
He brought in large droves OF rsules and
cattle, and 5000 negroes followed hira
back to Vicksburg-aIl able bsdied men,
as old men, women and children were not
allowed to follow the army. Sherman 5
whole less was about 500 men. He. had
little fighting, except with squads o.
guerilla, and rebel cavalry that hung en-
his TANKS and rear. He took 500 prison.
ers Since his return 20 Viclssburg, Gen.
Sherman and staff have gone below, to
consult with Gen. Banks and Admiral
Porter as to future operations