The War News.
Since the shotted salute fired by the Yankees last Thursday evening in honor of Sheridan's victory in the Valley nothing of interest has occurred on the lines below Richmond. The first shell thrown on Thursday from Fort Harrison was evidently aimed at our picket line, and passed through a log-house forty yards in front of our entrenchments.--This firing on our pickets was a mean violation of the tacit truce existing between the hostile pickets, the first overtures towards which came from the Yankees themselves. The understanding is, that the pickets, the first overtures towards which came from he Yankees themselves. The understanding is, that the pickets of neither army are to fire upon the other. This understanding is observed; but when the Yankees feel that an occasion requiring a salute has arrived, they shot their guns and blaze away at our unsuspecting men.It is due to truth to state, however, that most of the Yankee guns were aimed high, and threw their missiles far in the rear of our lines, some of them exploding on the Osborne turnpike and creating an amusing stampede among a number of apple and pie women who were returning from camp to the city.
Our boys in the trenches had the first touch of winter Saturday night. After a raw, tempestuous day a considerable sprinkle of snow fell during the night; it did not stick, but melted as it fell.
The Yankee General Weitzel, the hero of Plymouth, is now in command of Fort Harrison. Our General Hoke, who bagged him at Plymouth, is again very close to him; he had better keep a sharp lookout.
We may here state that Mr. Richard McRae, of the Third Virginia battalion, F. L. D., (recently captured near Fort Harrison,) who was paroled by Butler to come to the city and ascertain the facts relative to the Yankee negro prisoners whom it was alleged by deserters, and believed by Butler, that we had at work on our trenches within range of the Yankee guns, went down to the front yesterday morning to give himself up to General Weitzel.--When General Weitzel was communicated with on the subject, he replied it was his understanding that Mr. McRae had been unconditionally released by Butler, but said he would by noon communicate with Butler and let Mr. McRae know his status.--We have not heard the result of General Weitzel's inquiries.
Our gunboats fired on from Signal Hill.
Early Saturday morning our gunboats lying at anchor in Graveyard bend, below Chaffin's Bluff, were opened upon by a Yankee battery, newly erected on Signal Hill on the north bank, a mile distant further down the river. One of the first of the enemy's shell exploded on the deck of the little steamer Drewry near her fore gun, wounding two men severely. The Drewry weighed anchor and got out of range as quickly as possible. The iron ram Fredericksburg was struck several times, but suffered little injury. The greatest damage done aboard of her was by one of the Yankee shells which exploded immediately over her grating, wounding six men--four very slightly and two severely. It is said the Richmond came in for her share of the fire, and had her smoke-stack knocked into a cocked hat. The enemy kept up the fire for an hour.
From Missouri.
In Missouri our arms are abundantly successful. General Clarke (son of Hon. J. B. Clarke, of Missouri,) captured the town of Glasgow on the 15th instant, with all the garrison, including four pieces of cannon.Glasgow is in Howard county, on the north side of the Missouri river, above Booneville, and about thirty miles directly north of that place. The position was an available one. According to Northern accounts, Price is enlisting men largely in the Southern cause. Six counties have furnished seven thousand men; and they are troops worth having.
Price is scouring the county of Lafayette, and occupies Lexington. The Yankees are pursuing, but to little purpose, as the militia which they can call out are not only very scarce, but go over to Price the first opportunity.
From the Valley.
One thousand four hundred and twenty-nine prisoners, captured by Early on Wednesday, arrived in this city on Saturday night. Persons direct from General Early's army say that the Confederate cavalry, in their retreat and panic, came pouring down upon our artillery in the streets of Strasburg, frightened the horses, threw everything into confusion, and rendered it impossible for the infantry to afford the guns any protection. General Rosser, however, after nightfall, by his personal exertions, collected his cavalry and brought off some of the guns. The enemy's loss was very large. They confess to a loss of five thousand.
