Late Southern news.
another fight with Opothleyholo — more Yankee prisoners — the confederate cause in Missouri, &c.
From our Southern exchanges we make up the following summary of news:
Latest from the Indian country — another fight with Opothleyholo — the killed and wounded on both Sides.
From the Fortsmith News, of the 11th inst. we take the following interesting intelligence:We learn from Maj. Clark, of Texas, direct from the camp of Col. Cooper, and the battle took place on the 9th on Bushy Creek, near the Verdigris River, about 180 miles from this place, between the forces under Col. Cooper, and the enemy's under Opothleyholo, estimated at 4000 or 8000, Col. Cooper had only about 1300 men. The enemy attacked Col. Cooper about 11 o'clock, and the fight continued all day until sun down. Col. Simms' Texas Regiment, that were in the fight, fought with great bravery, and the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks, fought like tigers; in fact the battle was one of the hardest fought battles that has taken place in the country.
The enemy followed Col. Cooper several miles and attacked him with great fury. -- Col. C. drove them back to the woods, a distance of two miles. A large number of Cherokees were with Opothleyholo, likewise about 150 Seminoles. Col. Drew with his men, who remained with him, fought well and did good service. The Choctaws took about 150 scalps and the Chickasaws nearly 50. The Creeks did not scalp any because the enemy was their own people.
A white man, by the name of Ell Smith, was taken, who had gone over to the enemy, was tried by a Court Martial and shot. He was a deserter from a Texas regiment. Other deserters were taken and dealt with in the same manner.
Col. Cooper behaved with the greatest coolness and bravery. We understand that he has called on Col. McIntosh for assistance and it is to be hoped that he will furnish it with promptness. If aid is not sent, we will be likely to have terrible times on this frontier.
Later.--From the same paper, of the 16th inst., we gather the following later intelligence:
An express arrived yesterday from Col. Waite, from which we learn that his regiment is on the move to aid Col. Cooper.
Nothing has yet been heard of Capt Parks and his company. It is feared that they have all been killed, and Watie's men are highly exasperated.
We learn that Col. McIntosh, in command of the troops on this frontier, has ordered 8 companies of Col. Young's regiment, 5 companies of Col. Greer's regiment, and Col. Whitfield's battalion to the assistance of Colonel Cooper, against Opothleyholo and his Jayhawking allies.
Who is Opothleyholo?
Some curiosity having been manifested as to the identity of this notorious Indian chief, the Fort Smith News, of the 13th inst. answers the question as follows:‘ Opothleyholo, who is now giving so much trouble, is an old man about eighty years of age, and is a leader among what is now termed the Upper Creeks. His first appearance in a public capacity was about 1824 or 1825, soon after the murder, by the Creeks, of Gen. McIntosh, who was killed for making a treaty with the United States. Opothleyholo's name made its appearance about that time as the leader of the party opposed to the treaty.
He is an eloquent speaker, and wields a mighty influence over the Upper Creeks by his tongue. The McIntosh party compose the Lower Creeks, and there exists still, between the two parties, the remains of the old national fend, and this may be the cause of the present attitude of Opothleyholo and his followers. Indians never forget injuries, and when life is taken the relatives of the killed seldom ever forget it. It is said that Opothleyholo and his Creek followers are very hostile to the Creek Regiment under Colonel McIntosh, who is a descendant of General McIntosh, who was slain by the Creeks years ago.
’
The war in Kentucky.
We take the following from the Nashville Banner, of the 24th inst.:‘ We announce with pride and pleasure that the drums have sounded a forward reveille in Kentucky. The enemy have been driven pell-mell across Green river, and Gen. Hardee pursued them, in full force. He is animated by a firm resolution never to allow them to desecrate the southern bank of that stream with their foot-prints again. He will hardly stop, however, with this brave determination, nor pause on our side of the rubicon. We shall probably hear very shortly of our army, or a portion of it, being thrown across to the northern shore instead; in which event, we are bound to demolish the whole posses of Yankee marauders and Dutch infidels, who infest that region. The tide of wrath has been slowly — too slowly, we have thought at times, but surely, as we have always believed — rolling towards the long looked for forward movement of Gen. Johnston's command. It is now a fixed fact. There are to be no more halls and back tracks, but quick licks and a clear field.
’
From St. Louis — the Confederate cause Increasing.
We take the following from the Memphis Appeal, of the 24th inst:‘ A gentleman who arrived in Memphis yesterday, just from St. Louis, represents the excitement throughout the Northwest as very intense since the reception of the late news touching the warlike attitude of Great Britain. The Secessionists of that city are greatly encouraged by it, and believe the day of their deliverance near.
Gen. Halleek has levied a tax of ten thousand dollars upon all residents of St. Louis, who sympathize with the "Rebels," for the purpose of supporting the "Union" refugees, who are driven there by the indignation of the loyalists of middle and Northern Missouri. A large portion of this levy was upon the property of Bishop Kendrick, of well-known loyal sentiments. The consequence of this move has been that the disaffection of the Irish element, already great, has been increased almost to a state of insubordination.
Our informant says that if Gen. Price should approach within twenty miles of St. Louis the rush of citizens to his standard at this time would be enthusiastic and overwhelming.
’
Defences of Leesburg.
The sequel to the battle of Leesburg, which proved so overwhelmingly disastrous to the Yankees, proves how fortunate it was that that gallant and sagacious patriot, Gen. Evans, determined to defend it against Yankee invasion, instead of quietly surrendering it, as, it is understood, he had previously been ordered to do. We take the following paragraph from the Leesburg correspondence of the Memphis Appeal:‘ It seems to be the determination now to hold Leesburg at all hazards. Fortifications are being erected in proper places. The topography of Leesburg, as surveyed by Lieut. Duval, of the Confederate army, is found to be difficult of fortifying, showing my mistake in stating it as easy, in a previous letter.--However, the work has commenced in good earnest, and in a short time we may have the pleasure of setting down Leesburg as one of the invulnerable places. No movement of the Yankees is noticeable opposite here, of a hostile character. Our pickets on the river report all quiet. Some visiting between ours and the enemy's pickets occur occasionally, which is a most delectable practice in the humble opinion of your writer; for I cannot see how any Southerner can reconcile it to his feelings of honor to hold friendly intercourse with the villains.
’
More Yankee prisoners.
The Memphis Appeal, of the 24th inst., says:‘ On Monday night of last week a successful little movement occurred on the Cumberland river near Paducah, which goes to show that our friends in that region are alert and active. It seems that 28 mounted Federals left Smithland on a scouting expedition, and during the evening they happened upon a "corn-shucking." Thinking to have a good time, they picketed their horses, stacked arms and "pitched in." One of our friends quietly slipped away, and gave the alarm to Capt. Wilcox, who with 14 of his men proceeded to the scene of merry-making, quietly took possession of the Hessians' horses and arms, and then captured the whole party except the captain. The latter endeavored to escape, when he was shot. The prisoners and spells were carried to Hopkinsville.--Capt. W. is now in a condition to treat for the release of a few of his men, including a lieutenant, who were captured a short time since.
’
A deserter turned Bush-Whacker
From the Cumberland Gap correspondence of the Nashville Garrite we extract the following:‘ The bush-whackers of Hancock county, who have caused so much alarm, have been aught and are now in safe hands. They
are the same class of men as the escaped East Tennessean, ignorant and lazy, and pursue this occupation for a livelihood.--Among the number was a man who said his name was Richardson, who had gone from Nashville to Virginia — joining the Southern army under Gen. Floyd in western Virginia whence he deserted and came to Tennessee as a bush- whacker, and I think by the time a court-martial gets through with him he will be bush-whacking in a warmer region.
’
Colonel Solon Borland.
Col. Solon Borland has published an address to the people of Arkansas, justifying himself against the reports which have gained circulation, ‘"that the rumor of seven thousand troops descending upon Pocahontas was false — the officers at that point having been deceived by reports which were thought reliable."’ The Colonel insists in his communication that ‘"there was an overwhelming superior force advancing upon his command, which constituted a part of a system of simultaneous attacks to be made by the enemy from Paducah and Cairo upon Columbus — from Cape Girardeau upon Bloomfield and from Ironton upon Pocahontas — and attributes their failure to advance further, to the disaster which they suffered at Columbus."’
A Lincoln Spy arrested.
The Louisville (Bowling Green) Courier, of the 24th inst., says:‘ A Lincoln spy was arrested a few days since in the neighborhood of Uniontown. His baggage was searched, and a complete plan of the fortifications at Dowling Green and Randolph, Tenn., was found. It is to be hoped that the vile miscreant will speedily meet with a just reward.
’
Encountering a bear.
We clip the following paragraph from the Cumberland Gap correspondence of the Nashville Garette:‘ A few days ago, as a party of our regiment were out on a surveying expedition, they came across a bear and chased him to his den. The same beast came near frightening a picket out of seven years growth, who, for fear of raising an alarm, had to wait patiently until morning.
’
