Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-10
SOUTHERN NEWS.

Richmond Papers to Monday-Federal Ad-
| vance on Richm ond-The Alarm in the
City-Plot to Assassinate jeff. DAVIS.
! The Enc my Across the r apidan-His Par.
| tial Repulse.
| From the Examiner of Mondayl
| We lea1n from an officer who reached here
yesterday immediately from Gen. Lees lines
| mat on Saturday evening the enemy in heavy
| force crof sed the Rapdan at three fords-Mor-
| Ton 8, Baccoon Ford and Barnetts, the last
ABOUT three miles from Orange Court House,
and the others lower down the river A. two
OF the lords Morton's and Barnetts-the en-
emy was repulsed and driven across the river.
AT last accounts the enemy was on the other
slde OF the river, except at Barnett's, where
nIing yesterday morning denoted some action.
| is merely intended to engage Lees attention.
| and to cover his movements on the Peninsula
The War News-Richmond Threatened by
the Enemy-The Yankees in Large Force
at Talleysville.
Some days ago n report was obtained by the
authorities here from Yankee deserter that
! the enemy was contemplating q raid, in con-
| siderable force, on Richmond The report oh.
talneo consistency from a number of circum.
stances, and impressed the authorities to such
| degree that a disposition OF forces was made
| 10 anticipate the supposed designs OF the en-
| emy.
| At nine O'Clock Saturday night force of the
enemy, numbers not known, but consisting of
cavalry with some artillery, made demon
| pickets
The news was not generally communicated
to the public until Sunday morning; the first
signal of excitement being the tap of the alarm
bell, which readily summoned the second class
militia and the local forces in Capitol Square
| and at other places Of rendezvous.
A dispatch was also received early Yesterday
morning from General Wade Hamilton, at
| Hamilton Crossing, stating that the enemy
" as threatening an advance A train was dIs
patched to his relief.
In the meantime, out of the excitement in
Richmond had been suddenly produced the
mos. wild and extrayagant rumors, the enume.
ration OF which would be idle and tedious
In the progress of the day these reports
assumed a more definite form. 1t appeared
that the enemy made another demonstration on
! Colonel Shingler's lines yesterday morning, and
In tins instance were repulsed, some two or
three companies being engaged on our side
The force OF the enemy was not uncovered,
but as far as it could be perceived consisted OF
nve regiments, mostly cavalry: it being doubt
| full, of course, whether they were only an
| advance guard Of the entire force.
1t was not thought necessary Yesterday to
move the local forces beyond the city fortifica-
tions; and the disposition of other troops was
made to hold the enemy in check.
Lieutenant General Hood was assigned to the
command of all tho defensive forces, and took
the heid al an early hour yesterday.
LATER
A1ter their demonstration in the morning at
BottoA's Bridge, the enemy, or 4 considerable
detachment OF his cavalry, crossed the York
RiveE Railroad near Dispatch Station, and at.
Vire Bridge, or what is more commonly known
as NJ cClellan's Bridge, evidently intending to
get J.. our rear. They found it impossible to
lore the Chickahomny here, on account of the
large amount CT felled timber in the swamp
Alter en- Intellectual attempt to get through the
sW amp, they retired in the direction of Talleys-
vile, which is about eight miles from Rotton's
Bridge.
Discovery of an Alleged Plot to Liberate
the Prisoners and Assas,inate the PreSi.
deht-Arrestof of ihe eRimgleaders and Seiz-
ure of Documents.
For several days past the Government has
been in possession OF facts that hinted, beyond
doubt, to the existence of Il secret organiZa-
tion of dlsloyal men, having for its object the
forclble release of the Yankee prisoners held
at the Libby and on Belle Isle, the assassina-
ton OF the President, and the destruction OF the
Government buildings and workshops located
here.
Capt Maccubhin, chief of the detective CORPS
was assigned the duty OF penetrating the mvs-
teries OF the case, and threading the details
through the labyrinths OF rumOr 10 their head
and source
That official put the matter into the hands of
two of his most experienced detectives, Messrs.
Reese and Mitchell, who Immediately set to
work, and on Saturday night they arrested, at
his house on 18th street, between Main aud
Franklin, German named A. w. Heinz, a ba-
ker, upon the charge of being prominent mem.
ber of the reasonable association. He was
furthermore charged with melting Confederate
soldiers to mutiny and the assassination Of the
President. The detectives seized along with
Heinz great number of the most important
papers, including the roll of membership of
the organization, and documents of such a
character as to leave no doubt Of his crime and
the criminality of others.
The documents were taken possession of yes-
terday by General Winder, who ordered Heinz
10 be placed in secure quarters at Castle Thun.
der, and to allow him no comm unication what
ever with any outside parties.
Heinz the repoted ringleader has always been
looked upon as disloyal man, and his associ-
ates in treason are all pretty much of his own
character and social standing.
1t is possible that other arrests will follow,
as the treason will be probed to its depth, no
matter whom 1t affects.
Fifty.cent Loaves of Bread.
The Dispatch publishes the following:
Loaf bread is becoming small by degrees and
beautifully less, if are to Judge their size by
the one which blacksmith named John Dean
purchased for fifty cents, and, on a small wager,
ate at two mouthfuls. This feat occurred at a
smiths shop at the Navy Department, and is
vouched for by several eye witnesses.
Tale of Horror-Two Cavalrymen Muir
dered bv Negro Soldiers.
From the Examiner of Monday.1
We learn that on Friday last two members
OF the Prince William cavalry, named Davis
and Reynolds, succeeded in capturing four
negroes in the Yankee service belonging to the
"Home Guard of Fairfax county. The cav
Friday night placed them in an unoc cup!ed
house. Having ImprudentIy fallen to sleep,
the cayalrymen were attacked and overpow-
cred by the negroes, their skulls cleft by some
sharp instrument, and their bodies mntilated
in the most horrible manner. They We're
found next morning wel'eriag in their blood,
and lived only long enough to relate the cir
cumstances OF the terrible tragedy which had
befalIen them.
Suspension of ahe Habeas Corpus.
tits generally reported that for some time
past the House of Representatives has been
considering, in secret session, a bill to suspend
the habeas corpus; and it is believed by portion
OF the public that the bill has been pass in
this branch OF Congress " with certain re erya-
tions.''
Exchange of Prisoners.
For several days ruror has asserted that the
late secret sessions of the Virgins. Legislature
had been spent in discussing certain resoiu-
tions urging the Confederate Government to
recall the outla wry Of Butler in order that an
exchange Of prisoners may be resu med. We
have no means of knowing whether the rumor
has any foundation in truth. We hope that the
Confederate Government will not allow itself
to be Influenced in the least by any pressure