October 4.
The steamers Chancellor, Forest Queen, and Catahoula, were destroyed by rebel incendiaries at St. Louis, Mo.--information having reached Colonel William L. Utley, commanding the Union forces at Murfreesboro, Tenn., that that post would soon be attacked by the rebels, the following order was issued:
Non-combatants, women, and children will, immediately on the approach of the enemy, repair to the fortifications or elsewhere for safety. All that portion of the city lying adjacent to the railroad will be shelled immediately upon the occupation of the city by the rebels. The remainder of the city will be shelled at the expiration of five (5) hours after the entrance of the enemy. Every possible facility will be afforded the citizens to get to a place of safety. It is to be hoped that there will be no unnecessary alarm, as every precaution will be taken against false rumors, and the citizens will be warned in time.
A slight skirmish took place near Newtown, La., between a party belonging to the Union forces under General Banks, and a body of rebels, who had ambushed themselves until they had fired one volley upon the Union advance; they then fell back, being pursued. National loss was one killed and four wounded.
