The War news.
From below Richmond.
At an early hour yesterday morning on cavalry pickets were driven in by a heavy body of Federal cavalry, who crossed the Darbytown road about seven miles from Richmond, and made a demonstration upon our left flank. In order, it is supposed, to create a diversion, and at the same time, if possible, to carry our works, the enemy's infantry moved up in massed columns immediately in our front and charged our earthworks. Their rapid progress was arrested by the thick abattis which had been felled to distance of one hundred and fifty yards from our entrenchments. Here while in these entanglements, they were opened upon by a portion of Major- General Fields's division, comprising the inmented Gregg's old brigade. The fire was so galling that the enemy fell back in disorder; but again rallying, they endeavored to press through the obstructions, when they again met the terrible hail from the rifles of the revengeful and sure aimed. Texans and others of our men, and shrinking in terror from the storm, they turned face backward and dragged off their mangled and howling squadrons to their earthen dens. The cavalry who attempted to flank us made a feeble attack; and seeing the fate of the infantry, they did not press their any round, but left at quick time to the of our field artillerists and whistling Minnie balls.Our less was very slight, as a whole; another brave and good officer has . Major Willis T. Jones, General Fields's chief of staff, was shot dead by a single ball. He was a native of Kentucky; an intelligent and noble man; a warm friend of the late General Gregg; and on Sunday last acted as pall-bearer funeral train. So soon they mingle dust. What may be the effect this repulse on the enemy we are unable to say. It may have been intended as a "feeler, " but, from every indication, there will soon be fought the great battle of the campaign, and our hills will tremble with the reverberations of artillery the dogs of rampant war which guard Richmond, the Carthage of the South.
The following dispatch was received from General Lee last night:
"Headquarter army of Northern Virginia,
"October 13, 1864.
"At seven o'clock this morning the enemy to advance between the Darbytown and City roads, but was repulsed in every attempt.
The most strenuous effort was made about P. M., after which he withdrew, leaving many Our less very slight. "General Breckinridge reports that a force of the came to Greenville on the 12th, and was by General Vaughan. Some prisoners, two of colors, many horses and arms, were captured. The enemy lost many killed and wounded. our less slight.
From the James river Fleet.
A few days ago a letter was captured, saying that our gunboats were very trouble some to the enemy on the Southside and about Dutch Gap, and asking Grant to set his torpedo men to work.We have also information that the enemy are preparing an expedition from the neighborhood of Dutch Gap to make a boarding attack on some of our gunboats. We are all ready.
Major-General Fitz Lee.
This gallant officer is able to appear on the streets again, though he is still weak from his confinement with his wound.--We can ill spare him from the field, and his command will gladly welcome him back.
From Petersburg.
The Express says that, on Tuesday, the enemy made a heavy demonstration in front of the Chesterfield lines to cover a feint elsewhere.All Tuesday night, the enemy were busily engaged in moving forces across his pontoon bridges to the north side of James river. This, taken in connection with the demonstration from Bermuda Hundred, looks as if work were in tended shortly on the north side.
The heaviest mortar shelling of the siege occurred on Tuesday night. It continued several hours. It appears that our mortar shelling is much more precise than that of the enemy, our shells frequently falling into their trenches.
From the Valley.
Passengers by last night's Central train state that the enemy were, at last accounts, at the old battle ground of Fisher's Hill, Still retreating towards Winchester.Our less in the affair at Edinburg is stated to have been between three and four hundred.
It is also stated that we have since recaptured all of our artillery with the exception of three pieces.
It appears that Sheridan has smuggled through an official dispatch to Washington, swelling this affair into tremendous proportions, and boasting of having captured the headquarter wagons of every cavalry officer, general and regimental, in the Valley.
From Georgia.
Sherman has at last arrived and taken command of his army at Altoona. He arrived just in time to see the last battle, and congratulates himself and the dynasty at Washington that "all's well."We will only add: ‘"All's well that ends well."’
Forrest.
An official dispatch from General Forrest, dated Corinth, October 12th, states that Colonel Kelley's success was complete. He surprised the enemy, capturing three guns, twenty-five prisoners and thirty horses. Two hundred of the enemy were drowned in attempting to re-embark in boats. Our first shot penetrated the boiler of one of their transports. Many were scalded and burnt to death. The boats had gone down the river.
From Missouri.
There is no little chagrin and howling over the dashing and determined operations of General Price in Missouri. He has started the fox from his covert, and presses him so closely that he has no time to betake himself to his hole and back down for a fight. The old hero's heart is in his work. He is fighting again on his own broad lands and his own flowery prairies. It is the father fighting for the homes of his children, and his sons are following their sire, for Shelby, Marmaduke and Clarke are there, while Cooper and "Bill Anderson" are swelling the train.The enemy attribute the commencement of their misfortunes to the scandalous defeat of Banks on Red river last spring. Since that time we have crossed the Red, the Arkansas, the White, and now the Missouri river; so that, instead of having the Red and Wachita rivers as a line of defence, the enemy have now their old work to do over again — to drive us from Northern Missouri.
Price has taken Jeff. Thompson's old racing ground, leading from Clarendon, in Arkansas, to Batesville and Pilot Knob, in Missouri. He attacked Pilot Knob and Shepherd mountain in a way quite unexpected by them, cutting all communication with St. Louis, and attacked the garrison in its rear. He pursued the affrighted Ewing towards Rolla, and compelled him to give the order to his men to scatter and save themselves. Then turning his course towards the Osage river, he burned the bridge over the Gasconade and marched toward the Osage river, which he struck at Castle Rock. Here a battle was fought; and latest Northern accounts say that Price has forced the passage of the Osage in spite of the opposition of the Federal troops, and now demands the surrender of Jefferson City, the capital of the State, and it was feared the garrison would be compelled to comply.
Jefferson City is on the Missouri river near its junction with the Osage, and about one hundred and forty miles above St. Louis. It stands, for the most part, on a lofty bluff, and is a position of great strength. One account says that the militia defended the passage of the Osage river, and that they abandoned their position without firing a shot. This is a very probable story, for the people of Missouri prefer Price to any Yankee leader; and no doubt they went over to him.
Major Wilson, of the Third Missouri (Yankee) cavalry, with six of his men, has, says a dispatch to the Baltimore Gazette, been turned over for execution to the notorious Tom Reeves for the alleged killing of some of the latter's associates in Arkansas.
This Major Wilson, with his cavalry surrounded and captured, some time since, the father of Captain Reeves, who was an officer in the Confederate army, and murdered him and a number of his men in cold blood. Hence the retaliation.
