The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-08
LATEST FROM THE AORTH.

1880
received by flag of truce. There Is nothing
at all of interest in the Yankee Congress
sional proceedings. OF the other intelli-
gence We give a summary below
RECENT RECONNAISSANCE TowARDs FEwBERN-
YANKEE OFFICIAL REPORT OF 1T.
1t appears that Gen. Pickett's demonstration
upon Ncwbern followed just in the retiring steps
OF a rading party which had been sent out from
there, and accomplished the following results, ac
cerdiny TO an official Telegram from Gen. Butler:
On the d uIi. Gen. Palmer sent an expedition
10 capture force of rebel cavalry In JorNs and
OnsI0w counties, North Carolina. They succeed
I'd In routing the enemy, and captured twenty
three men, with their horses and equipments
They ailo destroyed from 900 TO 300 900 pounds
Of pork, seventy bushels OF salt, ten ihoiisand
pounds OF tobacco, thirty two barrels OF beef and
captured Il large number of mnies ana n ries.
Butler then sends bis next dispatch received
from Palmer, which is Of nn entirely different
NEwHsRN, N. c., Feb. is m.
To M1jor General Butler
Early this morning our 0utpostS n Bachelors
Creek were attacked by the en.my, represented to
be Is 900 strong, consisting OF Ilokc's brigade and
Pickett's entire division. IL being impossible 10
make adequate defence, our force fell back in
good order, destroying the camps, abandoning bui
few stores, with the loss of fifty to one hundred
men and one secti, II of light artillery.
Our forces are now so arranged that we are con
fidcut OF IL successful resistance.
Almost simultaneously with this attack the enc
nv advanced on the south side eli The Trent, with
what force it II diff uit estimate, and were hand
somey rcpuised
our communications continue with Nor. NJ al
city, but the enemy are near the railroad with The
evident intent N of emitting II. The commander at
Beaufort is aware of the situation, and will use
every effort to prevent the interruption OF the road
(Sicned) j. W. PALMER, Brighten.
I.ATER-Thc section oT artillery supposed 10 b,
captured is at Buck Creek, and may be preserved.
CONFEDERATE RAID ON THE BALTIMORE AND ONO
RAILROAD DESTRUCTION OF BRIDGEs-CAvALHY
FIGUTINa--CAPTyREO OF BROADER GENERAL SCAM
MON.
The following telegfams tell the Yankee side rf
the history of Gen. Early's operations against the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. There Were gr' at
upprehensions ar one time of an attack on Mar
tnsburg:
CUMBERLAND, Md :, Feb. 3--Noon Il he guard Of
one company of infantry, posted at Patterson
Creek bridge, eight miles east of Cumberland. was
attacked at half past O'Clock yesterday afternoon
by five hundred rebel cavalry, under Col R0sseT,
and. after a spirited resistance, In which two of
our men were killed and ten wounded, the greater
part of the company were captured.
This accompI shed, the rebels set fire to the
bridge, and leaving it To desrtcti'n, started off
with their prisoners in the direction OF Komncy.-
The employees of the railroad succeeded in stay
ing the fire, and saved the bridge with only slight
damage to II.
Gen Averill with his command, who had been
sent out from Mafiinsburg by Gen. Kelley this
morning overlook the rebels near Springfield and
a severe engagement ensurd. The rebels were
driven through Springfield, and thence to md south
of burlington. Many OF The rebels We're Killed ana
wounded, and our captures are large, including the
recovery of our own men, taken yesterday al Fat
terson Creek, and many horses.
The enemy making RAPID tracks for the back
country, pursued by oar cavalry.
The intended raid on New Creek has been
thwaricd by Gen. Avcriil's quick movrm-n nts aud
the other ample arrangements made by Gen kei
lev, aud their anticipated success turned To CON
pirte rout ard discontinue.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is now entirely
cie ar of The enemy, and the full operation OF the
line will be at once resumed. The weather Is
clear and cold.
HrApQr.RrERs, WESTERN VigGl.IA, Feb. b
After drove the enemy from the bridges yestcf-
day the rebels commenced rapid retreat, our cav
airy closely following them up, and skirmshing
ensuing
Last night portion Of Gen Suilivan's forces, in
attempting To cut the enemy off, encountered a
large force of rebels in Merchandising Gap, near
Eomney, and III the neg'l lofhood OF this Gap a
fight took place. We eventually succeeded iii
comp Hing the enemy to take another road 10 the
right and they shedaddIed with considerable PIE
cipitancy.
in this engagement we took 4 number Of prison
prs. IN rctrtating the enemy fastened 10 make Il
field.
Ii is believed that General Sullivan's and Col.
Muigan's columns have formed junction, and are
now pursuing the rebels vigorously. If the enemy
escapes forces he certainly will not be able 10
take any large portion OF plundef.
WHEELING, Va Feb. 3--Geneiai Kelley tele
graphs this afternoon II Governor foreman that the
rebels have been driven back from the tine Of The
railroad all points, and are now III full retreat,
vigorously pursued by our troops.
The damage to the North Branch and Patterson
Creek bridges is but tifiing, and the Baltimore and
ohio Railroad will be i'll working order in two
days.
Governor Foreman has also received dispatch
from Gapniis, stating that the steamer Levi,
which left that place for Charleston, West Vir
einia, last night, was ca tured and bu ned at Red
House, on the kanawha river. Brisidicr General
Scammon and one of his 81; II were taken prison
crs. The rest of The passengers and the crew were
released.
The rebels also burned The telegraph Office at
Red House,
The Telegraph is now working over the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad.
CAPTURE OF tbs YANKEE FORCE AND DESTRUCTION
OF THEIR GUSBdAT- THEIR STORY.
letter from Norfolk, dated the I'd Inst, gives
the Philadelphia Inquirer count of the recent
Yankee reverse at smiihfeid. The letter con
iesses the utter demolition Of The expedition, but
saws the rebels came upon them in overwhelming
force. The following Is an extract:
In order 10 gain much time as possible, and
thinking that in the meanwhile some assistance
might come to hand, Capt Lee sent d reply 10 the
rebel Colonel, asking Tor personal interview tn be
granted. This was denied, and Peremptory de
mand was made for surrender within hve
minutes. The second reply of Capt. Lee was that
he would not surrender, and that If the rebel com
maader wanted him, he would have To come ana
take him. In less than quarter of an hour he
opened with four guns, beside the infantry and
,iV IN
as rapidly as possible, which wis kept up with
great spirit until about half past twelve O'ci0ck
when Capt Lee was so hard pressed on all sldes
that il became evident iha, he would soon have TO
Yield.
But i'm the meantime, the gunboat Smith Briggs
hauled in sight. The position becoming untenabIe,
the howi,zer was rolled into the stream, and the
men then followed aiong Its line TO reach The pro
lection of the gunb0at. They were followed by
nearly a regiment oil rebel infantry and cavalry,
which araesed them IN their hight. stand was
then made opposite The Smith Briggs, and despe
rate engagement continued until our men were
comuleteiv overpowered by the superior numbers
of the enemy, which war continually augmented
by the arrivals of reinforcements.
Whilst fighting so bravely, our men were shot
down without the least IN. rcy being shown them
This these brave, patriotic men seemed To prefer
rather than surrender 10 the rebel Zoe. AL this
time the gunboat kept up il constant hfe, but so
great were the numbers that had 10 be contehded
with that at last men had To give up hgfiing
and take TO the boat. TO reach il, however, the
Moor fellows had to swim from the shore to where
she lay in the cam, and IN DONG this many
yeidd up their lives to the merci'ess zoe, VINO siot
them as they were real drowning
Upon reaching the boat Captain Lee found It's
commander, Capt. Rowe, severely wounded In the
throat. The engineer was also seriously wounded,
aud out of a crew of about nifty there We're lett
aboard hardly a half dozen men who were not dis
abied. Al the request Of Capt Rowe, Capt Lee
took command Of the boat
lie found her 10 he greatly damaged from the FIRE
of The enemy The pilot housr entirely de