The Shasta courier., 1864-02-27
SHASTA COURIER.
WAR NEWS.


New York, February 2Oth.-Hilton Head
accounts report a reconnaissance to johnson
Island. by General Terry, and the capture Of
a rebel battery of field pieces, with ea.ssons,
ammunition and all the gunners.
General Gilmore has issued call to the
Floridans to return to their allegiance, and
prohibiting destruction and pillage of proper
ty by our soldiers.
New York, February 20th.-The follow
ing from correspondent is published oday
Baldwin Fla. J, occupied by our forces, is a
small town, eighteen miles from Jacksonville,
on the Florida Central Railroad Not over
twenty-five families remain at jacksonville,
all of whom claim to be Unionists. The re-
bel forces in Florida are about $500 strong.
under General Finnegan. The railroad is ia
running order, though the rebels had inten-
ded to take up the rails preparatory to the
abandonment of Florida Bourbon's station
and Sanderson-the latter place is forty miles
from jacksonville, and also on the Railroad
have been occupied. At the former place
skirmish was had with the rebels, in which
our loss was four killed and fifteen wounded.
Several buildings in Sanderson were in flames
when our forces arrived there. A document
was found at SaDderson, emanating from the
Chief Commissary of the rebels, which gives
startling evidence Of their desperate condition
Beef and bacon are entirely exhausted
througout the South. and from all quarters
of Florida cries are rising for relief. Our
forces subsequently advanced toward Lake
City, where the rebels were found in force ;
and though we fell back to Sanderson, Fin
negan was tie -riblv frightened and evacuated
the place with his entire force of cavalry and
infantry, estimated at nearly 1900. Lake
City is half way from jacksonville to Talla
hassee. Finnegan carried off all the rebel
property. There is reason to believe that if
he will fight at all he will take a position on
the left bank Of the Suwanee, which is not
fordable and will have to be pontooned Up
to February l4th We had captured fourteen
cannon.
Louisville. (Ky.), February 14th.-Col.
Gallup surprised Colonel Ferguson's COM
mand in Wayne county, capturing sixty
prisoners, including Furguson aud three of
his officers, with eighty stand of arms, large
numbers of stolen horses, and all the rebel
supplies of forage, subsistence and ammuni
ton. 1t was Colonel Ferguson's command
that captured General Scammon.
Chattanooga, February 19th.-Adjutant
General Thomas and staff have arrived from
Knoxville. Officers of the party report that
Longstreet is in retreat beyond French Broad
river to avoid the movement of our greatly
superior forces, The bridge at London will
be completed within week, when the rail
road connection between Nashville and Knox.
vile will be perfect.
johnston has concentrated his forces al
Dalton tGa. and advanced his picket line
to Ringgold. and being fearful of attack, he
cannot spare reinforcements for Polk
The Mnhila Naws COWS Dolb Ioor
shamefully outgeneraled by Sherman, who
had advanced beyond Meridian and got be.
tween him Polk and Montgomery.
The Marietta Rebel has rumors of a hard
fight in Mississippi, February 18th. No par,
ticulars.
Fort Smith, Ark, February I9th.-In-
telligenee has been received here that Gen.
eral Price has received sixty DAYS furlough,
to enable him to go to Texas. The belief at
headquarters and throughout the rebel army
IS that he will never return. He left Cam
den Ark ten days ago, with small escort
General Curtis body guard was fred on
from an ambush near the old battle field OF
Prairie Grove, a few days since but escaped
unhurt.
The survivors of party of Texas refugees
arrived yesterday. The main party were at.
tackled at kenosha valley, one hundred and
twenty miles from here, and all but eleven
killed or captured.
Cairo, February 20th.-From an officer
from the Big Black we have the following
facts: Shortly before entering jackson there
was severe Skirmish between Sherman s
forces and a body ofrebels. supposed to mum
ber 1000 or ; goo. The rebels we're defeat
ed with the loss of forty prisoners Our army
passed through jackson in two columns
the enemy retreating across Pearl river with
such precipitation that the pontoon bridges,
two pieces of artillery and a number of pris.
oners fell into our hands. All kinds of pro-
visions were seized by our forces, and their
advance was more like the sweep of torna-
do than march. Large numbers of deser,
ters are coming into our lines in squads OF
from ten TO thirty men. They are eneour-
aged to desert by the company officers Great
dissatisfaction prevails among the Kentucky,
Tennessee and Mississippi regiments-all
swearing that when their time expires theg
will fight their way out Unnecessary
At the Big Black river forty refugees came
in direct from Mobile. Some Is 900 troops
were in and about the city of Mobile. many
of them old men. But the refugees report
that there is strong Union feeling among
the inhabitants, who cannot, however, ex-
PfSss themselves. Inc poorer CLASSES. VINO
have no property to lie confscated, and who
are suffering terribly, say boldly that they
would rejoice, to see the Yankees take the
city.
Cairo, February 20th.-Sherman reached
Meridian ten days after leaving Vieksburg.
A portion of Littles division. being cut off.
returned to Nicksburg. Mcpherson accom-
panies Sherman with most of his corps.
A Knoxville telegram says: The rebels
are in force at Strawberry Plains. They
completed a..pontoon bridge there and two
brigades cfinfantry have crossed; also some
cavalry that skirmished with our cavalry. six
miles from here. and were driven back to
the river. General Hascoll. with u regiment
OF infantry and battalion of cavalry. en-
eoantered their forces two miles out. cantur
ing nine and killing seven. 1t is reported
that reinforcements, under Buckner. had ar
rived, but this is discredited at headquarters
Washington. Feb. 22.-Several lady refu-
gees have arrived from Richmond VIA Fred
erieksburg. There is report that the rebel
authorities, within the last month. seized all
the meat in the Richmond market, and for
warded it to Longstreets army.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Riehmond papers
state that oficia dispatches of the 18th to the
War Department announce Sherman $ arri-
val at Quitman, on the Ohio and Mobile Rail-
road without opposition. but won't be able