Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-03-30
NY s. J. RON
CLEARFIELD, PA, MARCH 80, 1864.
THE wA&EWs.

A despatch from Cairo, dated March &c,
says we have good news from the Red river
expedition, which comes from undoubted
authority Gen. A. J. Smith landed MS
forces from transports few miles below Fort
De Russy. The rebel General Dick Taylor
promptly marched against him with hi:
whole force, and attacked him In the rear.
General Smith, instead of attempting to
keep up communication with the river pro-
ceeded, by forced marches, towards the fort.
When Taylor saw the trick, he started for
the same destination, and for time the race
seemed doubtful But finally the Yankees
came in about three hours ahead, capturing
the fort and l l guns, four of thea parrots,
one eleven inch and several thirty two poun-
ders; also, 800 prisoners. This gives Gen.
Smith strong foothold in the country, and
will enable theAdmiral to proceed to Alexan-
dria with his gunboats without opposition.
A dispatch from Chattanooga Of the Goth
says, the railroad is completed to Ringgold,
and train went down to-day. A number of
prominent:offlcers visited the front and found
all quiet Eighty belcavalry made dash
over Taylor Ridge yesterday and carried off
three Union citizens There have been no
other Rebel movements.
A letter from Key west to the Philadel-
phia Inquirer states that the rebel iron clad
Tennessee, which got ashore lately, has settled
into the sand bank, and will probably be
total loss, having already bilged and kealed
over; SO we are even-the Tennessee and At
lanta for the Weehawken and Housatonic.
Key West is healthy.
Several refugees from Rockingham county,
Virginia, have just arrived at Harrisburgh,
Pennsylvania. They left early in February,
and after much suffering succeeded in passing
the rebel pickets and getting into our lines.
For several consecutive nights they camped
in the woods without shelter or food.
Advices from Vicksburg of March 18th
report large number of fires Several gov
ernment storehouses had been set on fire by
incendiaries on that day, and the large rail-
road depot and several adj dining buildings
were burned, consuming large quantities of
government property.
Capt. Hannegan, daring guerrilla, was
taken on Thursday, near Freestone Point, Va,
by scouting party of the lst Michigan Cav
airy. He had passes from Jeff Davis to go
wherever he pleased, and is we'll known for
bis clustering that he would never be taken
alive.
The Raleigh Progress announces that Gen.
d. II. Hill assumes command at Charleston,
and that Beauregard goes to the southwest.
Twenty Yankee prisoners escaped while
under guard, thirty-six miles north of Ra-
leigh, en- route for Americus, Georgia.
By order of the Secretary OF War the fol
lowing articles of clothing VIII hereafter be
gratuitously issued to soldiers upon their dis
charge from smallpox hospitals; One pair
of trousers, cue blouse, one shirt one pair
drawers, one pair socks and one cap.
Gen. Banks has left New Orleans with
force composed of $4,000 cavalry, with
twenty-four light guns i'll four brigades,
under Gen. Lee, and will sweep across the
country and thence into Texas.
The Army of the Cumberland is probably
as large now as it has been at any former pc
riod. Returned regiments have for some
time been passing through Nashville at the
rate of 9, 00e day.
Thirty-two vessels are ready for sea, but
are waiting for crews The transfer of sailors
from the army viii, it is supposed, supply
the demand